Baltimore Ravens vs. Carolina Panthers: 5 Things to Watch
By Joe Serpico
The Baltimore Ravens open their preseason schedule on Thursday with a matchup against the defending NFC Champions, the Carolina Panthers. Here are five things to watch for in the first action of football season.
After the NFL failed to give us a game to watch Sunday night, what a feeling it is to know that there is Ravens football on Thursday.
Preseason games do not mean much for the starters, but the Ravens are coming off an injury-plagued and disappointing year. Getting off to a good start would be a nice way to start the new season, but that will not be easy against Cam Newton, the reigning NFL MVP, and the Carolina Panthers.
John Harbaugh and the 2016 Ravens will take the field for the first time with plenty to keep an eye on. The top concern will obviously be the health of quarterback Joe Flacco. Coach has not said whether or not he will play Thursday, but there is no reason to put Flacco at risk in a meaningless game.
With Flacco likely out, Ryan Mallett will start for the Ravens. He beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in his last action in Baltimore, nearly knocking them out of the playoffs. Josh Johnson and Jerrod Johnson will also see snaps at quarterback.
We know the Ravens will be without the five players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list – Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith, Elvis Dumervil, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Breshad Perriman – and injuries are beginning to become a problem once again.
Let’s breakdown who is unlikely to play and what else to keep an eye on against the Panthers.
Next: Injury Bug Still Lurking