As the 2024 NFL season looms on the horizon, the Baltimore Ravens are pinning many of their hopes on left tackle Ronnie Stanley, whose career has been a rollercoaster of athletic prowess and unfortunate injuries. Selected for the Pro Bowl in 2023, Stanley has repeatedly demonstrated his capabilities on the field, but his consistency has been marred by a series of setbacks over the past four seasons.
Injury Woes and Recovery
Stanley's journey has been anything but smooth. In 2020, he managed to make it through only six games. The following year was even more challenging, with Stanley appearing in just one game. However, 2022 saw him striving to get back on track, participating in 11 games. This past season was a significant improvement, with Stanley back on the field for 13 games.
Reflecting on these challenging years, Stanley shared, "I guess being in that state when I was younger, it wasn't as savory as a moment or savory as a time, just knowing that, 'OK, your career could have been over after one play' and not knowing if I was ever going to feel like that again physically or athletically."
Contract Adjustments
In an effort to ease the financial strain on the Ravens and perhaps to facilitate his recovery, Stanley agreed to a substantial reduction in his base salary, from $11 million to $3 million. This move also altered his contract, designating 2025 as a void year and making him a free agent a year earlier than initially planned.
Stanley's sentiment reflects a man determined not only to support his team but to reclaim his place among the elite. "To be able to perform at the standard I know I can perform at, it just makes me feel more at ease and confident in what I'm doing and that I'm going in the right direction," he asserted.
Offseason Training and OTAs
Stanley's offseason has been marked by rigorous training and participation in Organized Team Activities (OTAs), essential components in rebuilding his physical conditioning. This period of preparation was crucial for Stanley to regain his form and confidence. "It's more of a gradual thing. I think in the offseason, I definitely felt that, where it was like, 'Oh, yeah, I feel really good athletically. I feel like I'm doing these drills on the field really well. I feel like I'm making sharp cuts, being able to get low and be flexible,'" he recalled.
However, Stanley acknowledged that the true test came when he had to translate this progress onto the field. "But it’s all different when you have to translate it to football. Not until I came back here, really through OTAs and just getting back into football stuff, is really when I started to feel more confident about all of that training and that rolling over to actual production."
Looking Ahead
With the Ravens gearing up for the upcoming season, Stanley remains optimistic about his trajectory. His physical conditioning, bolstered by dedicated offseason training, has him feeling more like his old self. "To truly feel like that and be out there and just notice myself getting better every day and feeling more like my old self every day, it definitely makes me happy," said Stanley.
This renewed sense of physicality and readiness is crucial for someone who has endured the uncertainties and frustrations of long-term injuries. "For the most part, just to be able to feel like myself physically has made me a lot happier," he admitted candidly. "To truly feel like myself again, that’s what makes all the difference."
As Stanley prepares to anchor the Ravens' offensive line, his journey will serve as a beacon of resilience and determination. Through the highs of Pro Bowl selections and the lows of grueling rehab, Ronnie Stanley's narrative is one of a player striving to reclaim his prime, not just for himself, but for a Ravens team eager to make a mark in the 2024 NFL season.