The Ravens' depth at left tackle took another hit as Patrick Mekari exited Sunday's game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
Mekari was carted to the locker room with a left ankle injury and was ruled out at halftime. After the game, Head Coach John Harbaugh said the injury isn't too serious.
"Pat Mekari is going to be fine. It's a sprain. He'll be okay. Won't be long-term," Harbaugh said.
That still left the Ravens down to fourth-round rookie Daniel Faalele, who is their fourth string left tackle. Faalele has practiced some at left tackle with the Ravens, but never played it at Minnesota. Faalele had a tough time at first, but settled in well as the game went along.
"Early on we needed to help the left tackle, and we did a couple times but then we didn't need to," Harbaugh said. "Then he kind got his footing there, and then the run game started perking up. I thought the offensive line played just a tremendous football game."
"You know, Faalele is a rookie, so I knew that was kind of going to happen to see where he was," Jackson said. "But I guess one sack happened after that, and he just started dominating like he did in college. I didn't doubt him at all. None of us did. ... Shout out to Faalele because he stepped up major."
Ronnie Stanley is still coming back from last year's ankle surgery and Ja'Wuan James suffe red an Achilles injury in Week 1. Mekari, who is the team's 6th man, stepped in the past two games.
Stanley has been practicing for the past three weeks but has yet to be a full participant. He went back-to-back days for the first time this week but sat out Friday as a recovery day. Stanley was ruled out Saturday and didn't make the trip to New England.
"I really think it's kind of getting to the point where it's kind of week-to-week, day-to-day-ish," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Friday.
"Again, it comes back to him feeling like he's going to be playing at his best. That's really what it boils down to. … When he feels like he's ready to go out there and be Ronnie Stanley at his best, then he'll be out there."
