Andrew Vorhees in doubt as Ravens elevate 2 OL vs. Falcons

The move came Saturday afternoon, and on paper it was a routine practice-squad transaction.

Aaron Wilson

@AaronWilson_NFL

#Raven elevate Chuma Edoga, Kyle Hergel

It means more than that once you look at the injury report. Vorhees is questionable with a foot injury after being limited in 2 practices this week. Edoga is an 8th-year tackle with 62 games and 25 career starts. Hergel is a guard who was also called up before last week's game and never got on the field. Baltimore doesn't call up 2 linemen for depth it isn't worried about.

There's also the math on the inactive list. Each elevation adds a body to the game-day roster, so the Ravens now have to scratch 6 players, and 3 spots are already taken by guys who were ruled out days ago.

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

With the two elevations (Chuma Edoga and Kyle Hergel), the Ravens will need six inactives. QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), C Cam Jurgens (concussion) and OLB Trey Hendrickson (finger) have already been declared out. So they'll need 3 more.

That list explains the whole week. Lamar Jackson hurt his ankle in the first half of last week's win over the Titans, so Tyler Huntley gets the start. Trey Hendrickson is out with a finger injury. Cam Jurgens has a concussion, so the line is already without its center. Losing a starting guard on top of that is bad news for a backup QB on the road in prime time.

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

The 2 OL elevations might be telling on status of G Andrew Vorhees, who is questionable w/foot injury. Emery Jones Jr. in line to start if Vorhees can't go. Ravens OL options are Stanley, Simpson, Ioane, Jones, Rosengarten, Vinson, Vorhees, Edoga, Hergel. So presumably one of those 9 will be inactive.

Jeff Zrebiec@jeffzrebiec

With the two elevations (Chuma Edoga and Kyle Hergel), the Ravens will need six inactives. QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), C Cam Jurgens (concussion) and OLB Trey Hendrickson (finger) have already been declared out. So they'll need 3 more.

Jeff Zrebiec spelled it out: the 2 OL elevations might be telling, and Emery Jones Jr. is in line to start if Vorhees can't go. That would mean 2 interior starters out at once, plus a 9-man pool of linemen where someone still has to be inactive. Hergel showing up on the elevation list for the 2nd straight week also suggests the coaches want a real guard available as an emergency, not just a swing tackle.

There is 1 bit of good news. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has been dealing with toe and ankle issues but has no designation for Sunday, so he's expected to play, with Carson Vinson behind him if needed. The edges look OK. The middle is the problem.

Keep an eye on the inactive list about 90 minutes before kickoff. If Vorhees is on it, Jones starts and Huntley takes snaps behind a line missing 2 regulars against Atlanta. If Vorhees is active, the elevations were insurance and Baltimore can relax a little. Either way, a Ravens team without Lamar has very little room for anything else to go wrong.