As the preseason curtains closed on a rather uneventful match-up, the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers decided to play it ultra-safe by benching their marquee players in what ended up as a 30-7 victory for the Packers. Both franchises are leery of putting any undue tread on their stars' tires before the regular season kicks off, focusing instead on giving fringe players a chance to strut their stuff, as reported by CBS Baltimore.
The preseason finale mattered more for the players who didn’t play, like MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was resting on the sidelines. Teams are being cautious with their star players, and even though the game had low stakes, it was important for those fighting for a roster spot as teams need to finalize their rosters by Tuesday, as pointed out by CBS Baltimore.
One player who seized the opportunity was Green Bay's hopeful linebacker Arron Mosby, who not only strip-sacked Baltimore's Devin Leary but also had the wherewithal to scoop the loose ball and help set up a Packers touchdown—all in a day's work for a guy aiming for a job. Mosby then promptly intercepted a pass on the Raven's subsequent series, somewhat of a preseason audition that's hard to ignore.
The game was not without its casualties, though, as the Ravens saw both center Nick Samac and running back Owen Wright leave the field with injuries, as reported by Fox Baltimore. The last thing you want in a game of lower consequence is to wind up thinning an already precarious depth chart with injuries. But even as backups jockeyed for position, Greg Joseph made a strong case for himself as Green Bay's kicker, putting up points with a 36-yarder and a 55-yarder. The kicker competition could be one of the subtle yet impactful storylines as the team sharpens its cleats for the regular season.
Both sides can now shift their focus to games that count in the standings, with the Ravens set to open their regular season against the perennial powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs, and the Packers gearing up for a showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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