![\"Travis](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1615544375-e1730153642529.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
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The Baltimore Ravens signed a 23-game starter amid injury concerns about multiple defensive tackles, including Travis Jones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0aren\u2019t waiting for injuries to completely wreck their defensive tackle rotation, so the team added\u00a0Josh Tupou\u00a0to the practice squad, amid concerns about\u00a0Travis Jones\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Pierce.<\/p>\n
Tupou, who missed the Ravens final roster cuts this year, returned to the team on Monday, October 28, per\u00a0Ravens.com Staff Writer Clifton Brown. The latter also detailed how \u201cBaltimore\u2019s defensive line has been hit by injuries. Defensive end Brent Urban (concussion) and defensive tackle Michael Pierce (calf) departed in the first half of Sunday\u2019s 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns and did not return. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle) played only 15 snaps after being limited in practice last week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones\u2019 status remains the most important among those issues. He\u2019s been showing dominance during his third season in the NFL.<\/p>\n
A litany of injuries up front means Tupou can feel confident about his chances of being elevated to the main roster. If so, the 30-year-old who has\u00a023 starts\u00a0on his pro CV, won\u2019t be a liability at the heart of the Ravens\u2019 defensive line.<\/p>\n
Tupou fits what the Ravens like to do in the trenches. Namely, fill the area with big-bodied powerhouses who can clog running lanes and push the pass pocket.<\/p>\n
The former undrafted free agent for the\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals\u00a0showcased the latter trait with this impressive rep against right guard\u00a0Matt Hennessy\u00a0when the Ravens took on the\u00a0Atlanta Falcons\u00a0in preseason. Tupou\u2019s formidable strength was highlighted by\u00a0Locked on Falcons.<\/p>\n
A\u00a06-foot-3, 350-pounder\u00a0with this level of play strength can help offset the loss of Pierce and\u00a0Brent Urban. Tupou will also keep the Ravens stout against the run, like fellow veteran D-tackle and practice squad member\u00a0Chris Wormley.<\/p>\n
Being able to elevate one or both will allow the Ravens to reduce the burden on healthy starters\u00a0Nnamdi Madubuike\u00a0and\u00a0Broderick Washington. As\u00a0Brown pointed out, \u201cMadubuike played a career-high 86% of the defensive snaps while Broderick Washington played a season-high 61%,\u201d during the 29-24 defeat to the\u00a0Cleveland Browns\u00a0in Week 8.<\/p>\n
Keeping big defensive linemen fresh is vital for what the Ravens do on that side of the ball. It will be just as important to get Jones fully healthy as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Replacing Jones is a tougher task than coping without Pierce and Urban. The latter pair are tough and resourceful, but Jones has legitimate game-wrecking talent.<\/p>\n
Jones has been taking his game up a level with brute force and a more active pass-rush repertoire. The Ravens third-round pick in 2022 already has a sack and four pressures through eight games, just half a sack short of his totals for all of last season.<\/p>\n
While Jones is maturing as a pass-rusher, the 25-year-old remains a force against the run. Baltimore\u2019s immovable object has been clocking up a strong tally of run stops,\u00a0per PFF BAL Ravens.<\/p>\n
Travis Jones among IDL over the past two weeks:<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udfea 84.8 PFF grade (3rd)
\n\ud83d\udfea 4 run stops (T-6th)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Image\"](\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/GZ-HIG4WkAARyZ2?format=jpg&name=4096x4096\")
<\/div>\nDominant defensive tackles have been a franchise staple since the Ravens\u2019 inception in 1996. The likes of Sam Adams, Trevor Pryce, Haloti Ngata, Calais Campbell and Madubuike have all wrecked the interior of offensive lines.<\/p>\n
Jones is flashing hints he could be the next standout on the inside, so the Ravens should do all they can to manage his health and keep him fresh as this season progresses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Baltimore Ravens signed a 23-game starter amid injury concerns about multiple defensive tackles, including Travis Jones. The\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0aren\u2019t waiting for injuries to completely wreck their defensive… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3276,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n