Helmet stickers to honor pair
Siragusa, Ferguson also to be saluted with ceremonies
The Ravens will honor former players Tony Siragusa and Jaylon Ferguson throughout the season with a helmet sticker, coach John Harbaugh said Friday.
Siragusa, a fan favorite who anchored the middle of a record-setting Ravens defense during the team’s first Super Bowl run, died at age 55 on June 22. His passing came the same day Ferguson, a 26-year-old outside linebacker who was entering his fourth year in Baltimore, was found unresponsive in a North Baltimore home.
The Ravens also plan to honor both players with separate pregame ceremonies later this season and on the “wall wrap” that lines the perimeter of M&T Bank Stadium’s field level. Siragusa, known as “Goose,” played seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and five with the Ravens, clogging run lanes as a hard-nosed, 6-foot-3, 340-pound nose tackle. After his playing career, he transitioned to broadcasting, where he worked as a sideline analyst for Fox, and even took acting roles.
Ferguson, known as “Sack Daddy,” set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career sacks while at Louisiana Tech. Over three seasons and 38 games in Baltimore, he had 4½ sacks. He died from the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, according to a spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. His death was ruled an accident, according to the agency’s spokesman.
Injury report
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley is doubtful for Sunday’s season opener against the New York Jets, while two other projected starters are listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
Stanley, who’s returning from his second straight season-ending ankle injury, was limited in practice Wednesday and Friday and missed Thursday’s session. Ja’Wuan James, who’s converted from right tackle since arriving in Baltimore last year, is expected to start at left tackle and protect quarterback Lamar Jackson’s blind side.
Running back J.K. Dobbins, who was limited in practice all week with a knee injury, is questionable. He hasn’t played in a game since tearing his ACL in the Ravens’ preseason finale last year. Cornerback Marcus Peters, who was limited Wednesday and Thursday before resting Friday, is also questionable. He also missed all of last year with a knee injury.
“They’re all in a good place,” Harbaugh said Friday of Dobbins and Peters. “It just ends up being what’s best for them, what’s best for us, and we’ll see.”
Rookie defensive lineman Travis Jones (knee) was ruled out after missing the week of practice. Tight end Nick Boyle, meanwhile, returned to practice Friday as a full participant and was not given an injury designation. He missed Thursday’s session in part because of an ankle injury.
Jets starting left tackle Duane Brown was ruled out of Week 1 with a shoulder injury. Starting right tackle George Fant, who’s dealing with a minor knee injury, will return to the left side to cover for Brown, who was signed last month to replace injured starter Mekhi Becton. Rookie Max Mitchell is expected to start at right tackle.
“They’re going to have a big, physical offensive line out there,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve just got to focus on us, how we’re playing, and put our best foot forward.”
Besides Fant, three other Jets are questionable for Sunday: starting cornerback D.J. Reed (knee), reserve offensive tackle Conor McDermott (ankle) and reserve cornerback Justin Hardee (calf ). All four were full participants in Friday’s practice.
Extra points
Harbaugh declined to say who would wear the green dot as the defensive signalcaller in Sunday’s season opener against the New York Jets. Safety Chuck Clark, who’s expected to start, has held the role in recent years. “Sometimes it’s different guys,” Harbaugh said. “You know, you’ve got to change the helmets out. We’ve seen that get done, too.”
Harbaugh was optimistic about the preseason development of starting left tackle Ja’Wuan James, a longtime right tackle. “Ja’Wuan’s really made a commitment to changing sides over there, and he’s practiced really well, he’s ready to go,” he said. “Great spirit, great attitude, a hard worker. And, yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.”