While the Ravens dominated in the second half and rolled to victory, All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley was on the sideline with an ankle injury.
Stanley left the game in the third quarter and did not return. However, Head Coach John Harbaugh said he did not expect Stanley to miss significant time. With the Ravens ahead comfortably in their 38-6 victory, there was no reason to chance further injury.
"It's not a serious injury," Harbaugh said. "Just a little tightening up there. He got rolled on. It's not a serious injury to my knowledge right now. (I) don't expect it to become one tomorrow."
Stanley was replaced by D.J. Fluker, the veteran offensive lineman who was signed by Baltimore this offseason. After being examined on the sideline, Stanley walked around gingerly at one point, looking like he wanted to test the level of pain when he put weight on his ankle. It was a good sign that Stanley remained on the sideline instead of disappearing into the locker room for further examination.
While the Ravens finished off the Browns without Stanley, they are not interested in playing without him for an extended period of time. Stanley is arguably the best player in the NFL at his position, protecting Lamar Jackson's blindside while using his athleticism and strength to execute blocks that some left tackles cannot.
"It starts with his athleticism," Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said Thursday. "He's gotten a lot stronger, which I really think has allowed his game to take a big jump the past year, year-and-a-half. And knowledge of the game; he's very intelligent. I was here with Jonathan Ogden, who's probably one of the smartest players I've ever been around. Ronnie's knowledge and experience are climbing, and he's very intelligent when it comes to football. The 'X-factor' – meaning experience – has really factored into a classic story of a guy with a lot of talent, who was young when he first got into the league, was able to go out and play and let experience be his guide. So, we're really happy where he's at and have really high expectations for Ronnie."
Check out the action from M&T Bank Stadium in Week 1 as the Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns.
WR Marquise Brown
TE Nick Boyle
DB/LB Anthony Levine Sr.
WR/RS Willie Snead IV
CB Anthony Averett
LB Patrick Queen
Mo's Rows in honor of Mo Gaba
Poe's Nest
QB Lamar Jackson
QB Lamar Jackson
Ravens secondary huddles up
CB Marlon Humphrey
Ravens Moment of Unity
Ravens team huddle
Ravens enter M&T Bank Stadium
OLB Tyus Bowser
DE Calais Campbell
CB Jimmy Smith, P Sam Koch, RB Mark Ingram II
P Sam Koch
P Sam Koch
DE Calais Campbell, DE Derek Wolfe, OLB Pernell McPhee
DE Calais Campbell
CB Marlon Humphrey
CB Marlon Humphrey
CB Marlon Humphrey
CB Marlon Humphrey
Ravens defense celebrates interception
QB Lamar Jackson
TE Mark Andrews
TE Mark Andrews, TE NIck Boyle
TE Mark Andrews, QB Lamar Jackson
K Justin Tucker
ILB L.J. Fort
ILB Chris Board, DB/LB Anthony Levine Sr.
DB/LB Anthony Levine Sr.
Ravens defense celebrates a turnover
QB Lamar Jackson
WR Marquise Brown
S DeShon Elliott
QB Lamar Jackson
WR Marquise Brown
RB J.K. Dobbins
QB Lamar Jackson
WR/RS Willie Snead IV
WR/RS Willie Snead IV
RB J.K. Dobbins
RB J.K. Dobbins
RB Mark Ingram II
LB Patrick Queen
LB Patrick Queen
LB Patrick Queen
OLB Matthew Judon
DE Calais Campbell
CB Jimmy Smith
WR Devin Duvernay
DT Broderick Washington, DE Derek Wolfe, DT Brandon Williams
TE Mark Andrews
TE Mark Andrews
WR Marquise Brown, TE Mark Andrews
K Justin Tucker
DT Brandon Williams
WR Devin Duvernay
QB Lamar Jackson
CB Marlon Humphrey
DE Calais Campbell
S Chuck Clark, DT Brandon Williams
CB Marcus Peters
CB Marcus Peters
QB Lamar Jackson
TE Mark Andrews
QB Lamar Jackson
WR/RS Willie Snead IV
WR/RS Willie Snead IV
WR/RS Willie Snead IV
WR Marquise Brown, WR/RS Willie Snead IV
M&T Bank Stadium
G D.J. Fluker
OLB Jaylon Ferguson
RB Gus Edwards
RB J.K. Dobbins, G Tyre Phillips
Ravens Touchdown Inflatables
Ravens Touchdown Inflatables
S Chuck Clark
WR Marquise Brown
WR Miles Boykin
WR Marquise Brown
DE Jihad Ward
S Chuck Clark
RB J.K. Dobbins
QB Lamar Jackson
ILB L.J. Fort
QB Lamar Jackson
DE Jihad Ward
RB J.K. Dobbins
RB Gus Edwards
OLB Tyus Bowser
DE Derek Wolfe, OLB Tyus Bowser
OLB Pernell McPhee, OLB Tyus Bowser, S Chuck Clark, OLB Matthew Judon
OLB Tyus Bowser
Poe's Nest
Poe's Nest
TE Mark Andrews
Mo's Rows in honor of Mo Gaba
Ravens employee waves a Maryland flag
TE Nick Boyle
TE Nick Boyle
