OWINGS MILLS — The last couple of years have been tough for Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
He has been hampered by injuries and heard the criticism about his performance. Stanley has been healthy this offseason and participated in the OTAs and training camp.
Stanley is entering the final year of his contract, so there is added pressure to perform well this season. He’s determined to quiet the naysayers.
“I think the last couple years have not been my best, and I haven’t really been happy about it since a long time – since I can remember as a football player – so, I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself [to] just be the player I know I can be,” Stanley said. “And they say there’s no testimony without a test, so I’m very fortunate to just have the opportunity to prove myself and to prove what I know I can do.”
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Stanley was selected by the Ravens in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. He was named First-Team All-Pro in 2019 and the Ravens have relied heavily on his experience when he is in the lineup.
However, Stanley has been sidelined for 33 games between 2020 and 2022 with an ankle injury. The 30-year-old appeared in 13 games last season after dealing with an early knee injury.
He has not shown any ill effects from the injuries this spring and summer. Stanley also played well down the stretch for the Ravens last season and helped the team reach the AFC Championship Game.
“I definitely felt it get better, but still not to the level where I’m comfortable [and] where I came out of the game knowing I felt like I played at the level that I’m capable of, so I still thought there was room to improve in that aspect,” he said. “And last year was tough just battling through a multitude of injuries and whatnot, and things happen – it’s a part of the game – but right now, everything that I was feeling last year, [I’m] not feeling, so it’s been good. Like I said, [I’m] just having the normal soreness and aches, but other than that, everything is just pretty solid.”
Stanley is one of two returning starters on the offensive line with center Tyler Linderbaum. Their experience will be crucial in helping to get some of the younger players up to speed.
Stanley is not worried about the turnover because it is a part of life in the NFL.
“Having new guys on a line, that’s nothing new to the Baltimore Ravens,” he said. “I think every year, you play with at least a couple of new guys every year, so this is the time where we’re building our chemistry and getting better as a unit.”
