Ravens Release First Unofficial Depth Chart

With the first preseason game coming up Thursday against the 49ers, the Ravens released their first depth chartof the year.

This is an unofficial depth chart put together by the team's public relations staff, not by Head Coach John Harbaugh, but the lineups can shed some light on which players are running the most with the first team through the first two weeks of training camp. 

Here are seven observations, followed by the offensive and defensive depth charts below:

• Rookie first-round draft pick C.J. Mosley is listed as the starter at inside linebacker along with veteran Daryl Smith. Second-year player Arthur Brown is behind Mosley on the depth chart in what was considered one of the most anticipated competitions of training camp.
• Rick Wagner has the edge in the battle for right tackle, as he's listed ahead of Jah Reid in the competition. Wagner has played well in practice over the last few months, and the preseason will be important for him to solidify his spot.
• Darian Stewart has the lead at safety, and rookie Terrence Brooks still has some catching up to do. Stewart is listed as the starting free safety and veteran Jeromy Miles is his primary backup. Brooks is the third-string safety at this point, as he's trying to make the jump at one of the toughest positions to learn at the NFL level.
• Haloti Ngata is now listed as the starting defensive tackle after playing nose tackle last season. Second-year lineman Brandon Williams is listed as the first-string nose tackle. Ngata played mostly nose tackle last year, but the Ravens may move him a little outside so that Williams can play his natural spot over the center. Ngata is so versatile that the Ravens can use him at multiple positions up front.
• Running back Justin Forsett is currently listed as the No. 3 running back behind Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce. Rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro is listed as fourth-string. There's typically not much attention paid to the third- and fourth-string running backs at this point in camp, but they will be critical early in the season because of Rice's two-game suspension. As of now, it looks like Forsett will get the bulk of thee carries behind Pierce during those first two games.
• Asa Jackson has the edge in the competition at punt returner* *if the Ravens want to use someone other than Jacoby Jones at that spot. Jones has been a Pro Bowl returner in the past, but the Ravens have also mixed in other returners. Jackson is ahead of rookie receiver Michael Campanaro as the punt/kick returners behind Jones.
• Wide receiver Kamar Aiken has been impressive during training camp, and he's listed as a third-string wideout behind the clear-cut top targets Torrey Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Marlon Brown and Jones.

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