Most of Baltimore’s established starters will not play in Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but rookie offensive guard Vega Ioane will make his NFL debut.
Head coach Jesse Minter confirmed Thursday that Ioane will receive some playing time at M&T Bank Stadium. The decision gives Baltimore’s coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate its first-round pick under game conditions while allowing Ioane to continue building chemistry within a reconfigured offensive line.
“Vega will play some,” Minter said.
Ioane was selected with the No. 14 overall pick to become an immediate starter at right guard. The former Penn State standout has worked beside third-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten throughout training camp, giving the Ravens a promising young tandem on the right side of the line. Saturday will provide a different test. Ioane must communicate with whichever center wins the starting assignment, recognize Philadelphia’s defensive fronts and handle NFL pass rushers without Lamar Jackson behind him to correct protections. The Eagles have one of the league’s deepest defensive lines, and even their reserves should provide meaningful competition.
Baltimore will not need Ioane to play deep into the game. The objective should be to give him enough snaps to experience the speed and physicality of an NFL contest without creating unnecessary risk for a player expected to start throughout the regular season.
His run blocking will be one of the most important areas to monitor. Ioane entered the draft with a reputation as a powerful, physical blocker capable of moving defenders at the point of attack. The Ravens hope those traits will strengthen a rushing offense built around Jackson and Derrick Henry.
The opener also provides an opportunity to evaluate Ioane’s pass protection, balance and response to mistakes. Training camp has helped him learn Declan Doyle’s offense, but live action will test his ability to process movement, stunts and pressure in real time.
Ioane will face significantly greater challenges once the regular season begins. Saturday represents the first step and the first opportunity for Baltimore to see how quickly its prized rookie can become a dependable part of the offensive line.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens rookie Vega Ioane will play in preseason opener vs. Eagles