Wide Receiver Depth Still a Major Concern for Baltimore Ravens

It’s doubtful that the Baltimore Ravens thought they would still be trying to sort out their wide receiver depth chart this far into the preseason. Unfortunately, that is exactly where Baltimore finds itself, and there might not be any answers anytime soon.

When offseason workouts started, things were pretty locked in place. On one side, Steve Smith Sr. had a starting spot locked down. Smith came to the Ravens before the start of last season and simply picked up where he left off after his 13 seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Smith finished 2014 with 79 receptions for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns.

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Smith enters the season with 915 career receptions and 13,262 receiving yards. In other words, one starting spot is in good hands. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the other side. Here, where there was once a plan, things are more mixed up than ever.

The idea was that former Central Florida star Breshad Perriman would occupy the second spot. The Ravens drafted him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft after watching some electrifying tape. Perriman’s speed was elite among prospects, and he looked like he was the ideal player to replace the departed Torrey Smith.

Unfortunately, Perriman injured his knee on the first day of training camp and hasn’t been able to practice since. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, an MRI on Perriman’s knee showed no new damage to be concerned with. However, with what head coach John Harbaugh called "tendon damage," there is no timetable for the first-round pick’s return.

Additionally, the next-best wide receiver on the roster, Marlon Brown, has been sidelined on and off with back and hamstring injuries and just returned to practice August 11, per Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. If Perriman cannot go and Brown can get healthy, he will likely be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver by default. This isn’t terrible news, but Brown’s game is probably that of a No. 3, and moving him up weakens the rest of the depth chart.

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

So where does that leave the team?

On Tuesday, BaltimoreRavens.com's Garrett Downing wrote that the wide receiver competition was on full display at practice. Downing noted that Kamar Aiken and Darren Waller both made big plays. You know whom Downing didn’t mention? Brown.

There’s a possibility that, if Perriman and Brown aren’t ready to go by the start of the season, Aiken and Waller will be getting significant reps in regular-season games.

What is more disheartening about this situation is how good the rest of the offense is. Quarterback Joe Flacco is among the best in the AFC, the rushing attack is loaded and the offensive line is one of the best in the NFL. However, all those players will be behind the eightball if the Ravens have to compromise at the wide receiver position.

If so, teams will be able to stack the box on running back Justin Forsett, double-team Smith out wide and create problems for the Ravens offense as a whole. What is the answer? It's hard to be certain, but it would make sense to focus more attention on the pass-catching abilities of talented young tight ends Maxx Williams and Crockett Gillmore.

That would hardly be a permanent solution, but until Brown and Perriman are back to full speed, it's the only way to account for Baltimore's lack of depth at wide receiver.