Ravens place starting nose tackle on reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Eagles game

Both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens have placed one player on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of their Week 6 game against each other. It was starting right guard Matt Pryor for the Eagles on Friday. Now it’s starting nose tackle Brandon Williams for the Ravens.

One would obviously hope that the coronavirus is being effectively contained by these two teams and that this week’s matchup doesn’t result in the two teams further spreading it to each other.

From a football standpoint, the Ravens are losing a player who carries the fourth highest cap number on their team. Williams hasn’t been super productive this year, though, with only 15 tackles (tied for eight most on the team), 1.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and zero sacks. Pro Football Focus has him graded 78th out of 127 interior defenders.

Williams isn’t the only member of the Ravens’ defensive line that Baltimore will be missing on Sunday. Starting 3-4 defensive end Derek Wolfe suffered a neck/concussion injury that has him listed as doubtful to play.

The Ravens like to blitz so it’s not like they merely rely on their defensive line to generate pressure. The Eagles’ offensive line, which is starting their fifth different combination in six games, should still have their hands full against Baltimore’s defense. But the Ravens being without two starting defensive linemen could still be some kind of positive break for Philly.