Ravens’ Roquan Smith Out for Monday Night against Chargers

jake ferguson roquan smith

The 7-4 Ravens travel to LA and face off against the 7-3 Chargers in a dual between brothers, as Baltimore will be without Roquan Smith for tonight’s game. This game also has massive revenge narratives for more than a few former Ravens, as the Chargers have many on the roster. This extends to their coaching staff and ownership with their general manager. Baltimore will look to rebound after a tough divisional loss, as the Chargers are coming off a thrilling close win last Sunday night.

Roquan Smith Ruled Out Due to Hamstring Injury

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Roquan Smith will be out tonight for the Baltimore Ravens due to a hamstring injury. The star linebacker and team-leading tackler was out of practice all week after suffering his injury late in the game last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 11. This may be a potential high-scoring affair if the Ravens offense shows up tonight against a tough Chargers defense that struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Even in an away game, Baltimore normally does well on Monday night matchups like in Tampa a few weeks ago.

The Chargers boast a top-10 run defense and are 11th best against the pass, while the Ravens are a bottom unit against the pass. Baltimore will need Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Todd Monken to really cook it up tonight to keep pace with a surging Chargers offense that has been efficient recently. Ladd McConkey is slated to play after being limited due to a shoulder injury he suffered last week.

Kyle Hamilton Key in Pivotal AFC Matchup vs. Chargers

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Nov 7, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) reacts after tips a Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) pass during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

With no Smith, who normally has the green dot for communication on defense, Kyle Hamilton is slated to take the role. Hamilton playing more linebacker will likely have Marcus Williams back in the lineup after he was benched and Eddie Jackson was released. Ar’Darius Washington, who has seen more looks as their starting safety, will likely contribute to defending the slot as a nickel defender with Arthur Maulet also out. It is a concern since Zach Orr’s defense has had communication breakdowns pretty regularly all year. However, they are coming off their best defensive output last week.

Trenton Simpson also gets a bigger role as their starting inside linebacker, with Malik Harrison and Chris Board seeing more looks on defense. The Baltimore Ravens’ interior against the run and pass has been a weakness, so Chargers’ Will Dissly may have a big game tonight. Tight ends have been exploiting Baltimore’s defense all season and will have to clean it up in the backend with no Smith.

Final Thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens Defense for MNF

The clash between Jim and John Harbaugh tonight will likely have fireworks from the passing game on both sides. However, with this injury news, the top Ravens rushing defense that ranks second takes a massive hit, as Jim will want to establish the run early and often to set the tone with former Ravens J.K. Dobbins/ Gus Edwards. This will be a physical matchup between two AFC contenders that look to make noise in the playoffs, so stakes are on the line in the Harbaugh Bowl at So-Fi Stadium.

The struggling Ravens defense that had its best game as a unit last week faces a tough task tonight in a primetime spot against Justin Herbert and company. While Smith hasn’t been playing as well as last year, Baltimore is without its captain on defense for tonight’s game. This might be a must-win for the Baltimore Ravens, as they get the 9-2 Philadelphia Eagles next week and have to keep up with the Pittsburgh Steelers before their second matchup in week 15.

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