Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger) will miss Sunday’s home game against the Tennessee Titans after undergoing a procedure, removing the defense’s top pass rusher for Week 4. The Ravens expect the absence to be short-term, giving Baltimore a chance to protect Hendrickson’s availability for the season while testing its edge depth against a winless opponent.
Head coach Jesse Minter said Friday that the team had Hendrickson’s finger fixed and believes the recovery will be “very, very short-term.” Minter said the decision should be best for the Ravens in the long term, while creating opportunities for players behind Hendrickson.
Locked On Ravens host Kevin Oestreicher said Baltimore will need a broader pass-rush response rather than a one-for-one replacement. Second-year outside linebacker Mike Green is in line for a larger role, while outside linebackers Tavius Robinson, Zion Young and Ethan Burke could also be asked to absorb snaps. Minter said Burke may see his first regular-season defensive action.
Oestreicher viewed Tennessee as a favorable spot for the Ravens to address Hendrickson’s injury, provided the procedure prevents the finger issue from lingering through the season. But that calculation still puts pressure on Baltimore’s defense to avoid giving the Titans a reason to keep the game close, particularly with an inexperienced edge rotation taking on more responsibility.
Baltimore will reveal its final inactive list before kickoff, but Hendrickson’s absence makes Green’s expanded workload one of the clearest personnel questions entering the game.
Ravens News and Notes
– Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) is questionable after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday, then sitting out Friday as a rest day. Tackle Carson Vinson could start again if Stanley cannot play after helping Baltimore hold Dallas without a sack in his first career start last week.
– Centers Jovaughn Gwyn (ankle) and Ethan Pocic (knee) have been ruled out, leaving Baltimore to continue reshuffling its interior offensive line. Vega Ioane is expected to handle center duties against Tennessee.
