Last Call at The Bank

The Bubble Boys Take Center Stage

The lights go on at M&T Bank Stadium tonight and for roughly 40 of the 90 men in purple, this is it — the final audition. The last call. The Ravens host the Commanders at 6 p.m. (NFL Network), and by 6 p.m. Sunday, Eric DeCosta’s front office has to whittle this thing down to 53. Do the math, folks. That’s 37 dreams deferred, some to the practice squad, some to another town, some to the rest of their lives.

The starters? They’ve done their work in the joint sessions. Tonight belongs to the guys clawing for the bottom of the roster, and there’s real intrigue in Owings Mills this year. So, grab an adult beverage and a crab pretzel, settle in, and here’s what deserves your closest attention while taking in tonight’s game.

The Snap Heard ‘Round Baltimore

Let’s start where it always starts. Up. Front. The center derby is down to two after Danny Pinter‘s season-ending injury reduced the competition to Ethan Pocic and Jovaughn Gwyn, and it’s a fascinating contrast in résumés. Gwyn, the former Falcons seventh-rounder, has been the summer’s revelation — he logged 51 snaps in the preseason opener and graded out as the Ravens’ top offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus. Pocic is the grown-up in the room, still ramping up from the Achilles tear he suffered late last season, and the sense around the building has been that Pocic’s track record gives him an edge — but track records don’t snap footballs in September. Watch who takes the first snap tonight and how long he stays out there. Lamar’s success this season depends in large part on getting this right.

Linebacker Limbo

The final depth chart lists Trenton Simpson or Teddye Buchanan at the weak-side spot, and that “or” is doing heavy lifting. Buchanan was activated off PUP after tearing his ACL in December, and it’s genuinely unclear whether he can hold down the top weakside job when the season opens. Simpson has heard the doubters for two years. One of them walks out of this weekend a starter. If asked, and this is not intended as a slight on Buchanan, my choice for a Ravens breakout player in 2026 is the former Clemson Tiger.

Behind them, keep an eye on the special teams tape. Jay Higgins IV has been a core teamer — over 60% of the special teams snaps in eight games last year — but undrafted rookie Dominic DeLuca has to prove his kicking-game value to pass him in the pecking order. That’s the kind of battle that never makes SportsCenter but decides careers.t

At outside ‘backer, the OLB5 derby might be the most honest competition on the roster. Adisa Isaac, the 2024 third-round pick who simply hasn’t been able to stay on the field, must show he can impact special teams to make this team. Chasing him: undrafted Texas product Ethan Burke, who’s made plays this preseason but may be ticketed for the practice squad, and Kaimon Rucker, who flashed as a rusher and was active early on coverage units in the opener. I’m leaning the way of Burke. The production this summer is hard to ignore. That said, draft pedigree is a factor — until it isn’t.

Ravens EDGE Ethan Burke (EDGE9-Tier 3/Above average NFL starter) posted 1.0 sack, 1.0 TFL, 1 FF, and 2 passes defended in preseason week 2. Burke 1 of 2 P4 EDGE rushers in the past decade with a 20-yard shuttle 12.00%, joining Odafe Oweh. Hoping he… pic.twitter.com/rRl457Xajg

— Adam Carter (@impactfbdata) August 22, 2026

The Trenches Numbers Game

Here’s the domino everyone in The Castle is watching: whether Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike, still working back from neck surgery and yet to take a team rep this summer, starts the year on injured reserve. (More on this below). That decision ripples down to the bubble, where Rayshaun Benny and CJ Okoye are fighting for their lives, and the Ravens could even release veteran John Jenkins with an eye toward stashing him on the practice squad for early-season elevations. Meanwhile, Aeneas Peebles, last year’s sixth-rounder, may have already played his way onto the club. Benny, the seventh-rounder out of Michigan, needs one more loud night.

Cornerback: Too Much of a Good Thing

Somebody good is getting cut here, plain and simple. Five corners appear to be locks — Wiggins, Humphrey, Awuzie, Tampa and Rivers —  Keyon Martin seems like a sure bet and Bilhal Kone might not be far behind. Talented young corners don’t sneak through waivers. That leaves Robert Longerbeam, last year’s sixth-round pick, squarely on the bubble. Despite an impressive preseason showing, Longerbeam is stuck behind a logjam of talent. Expect him to get extended run tonight. Let’s not forget, he’s auditioning for 31 other teams, too.

The Fagnano Factor

The feel-good story of the summer has been undrafted quarterback Joe Fagnano. He carved up the Eagles’ reserves — 22 of 28 for 224 yards and a score — and for the second straight week against Minnesota, the offense simply moved best with him at the controls. The cold reality? Baltimore is unlikely to burn a roster spot on a third quarterback, making Fagnano’s fight one for the practice squad — assuming some QB-needy team doesn’t pluck him off waivers first. Every throw tonight matters.

Joe Fagnano SLINGS IT to Tez Walker for a 27-yard gain pic.twitter.com/UqPoU2Fczk

— Huskies In The Pros (@HuskyPros) August 22, 2026

Odds and Ends Worth Your Eyeballs

Running back Adam Randall is a name to circle. The fifth-rounder — owner Steve Bisciotti’s hand-picked selection — sits on the bubble but could grab one of the last spots with his special teams work, especially with Rasheen Ali‘s mystery injury potentially pointing him toward IR. If Ali’s back on the grass tonight, and that’s step one. But the resume is what it is — the ruptured biceps at the Senior Bowl, the rookie-year neck injury, concussions, and now this undisclosed ailment. That’s so Ravens! If Ali suits up tonight, he’s on the 53. If not, don’t be surprised if DeCosta runs back the 2024 playbook: 53-man roster on paper Tuesday, IR by the weekend, with a return window opening in October.

Beeks to IR?

Yes, it’s a real possibility — and one that’s actively being discussed as we head into cutdown weekend. Here’s where things stand:

Head coach Jesse Minter said Monday that he didn’t have a “definitive answer” for whether Madubuike will be available for the Ravens’ regular-season opener against the Colts on Sunday, Sept. 13. He was activated from the PUP list in late July and has been participating in training camp practices but hasn’t played in either preseason game. Notably, despite being removed from the PUP list, Madubuike has not returned to team activities — he’s only been doing individual drills since returning to practice. He hit the sled for the first time on August 24, a positive sign, but his true timeline remains foggy.

Here’s the key roster wrinkle: because the Ravens already activated him from PUP in July, they can’t stash him on the reserve/PUP list to open the season — that door closed when he passed his physical. So, if he’s not ready for Week 1, injured reserve becomes the main tool. Placing Madubuike on IR to start the season should shock no one, but it would mean he couldn’t play until Week 5 at the earliest, since a post-cutdown IR designation requires missing a minimum of four games.

The alternative would be carrying him on the 53-man roster and simply listing him as inactive week to week, which preserves flexibility but burns a roster spot. Given that he’s just four months removed from April neck surgery and the team is clearly being cautious, IR is looking like a live option. The decision should come into focus around Saturday’s roster cutdown.

More Nnamdi Madubuike pic.twitter.com/MuaS48uhuS

— “Cordell” Woodland (@CordellWoodland) August 24, 2026

And Finally…

One last thing. When the fourth quarter rolls around tonight and the crowd migrates to Fed Hill, keep glued to your TV set. Those anonymous numbers flying around on kickoff coverage? They were once among the best players their hometown ever produced. For some of them, this, sadly, could be the last time the helmet goes on. That’s worth watching.

Cutdown day is Sunday. Sharpen the knives — but tonight, let ’em play.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/08/28/camp-notes/roster-decisons-loom/