Ravens C Danny Pinter carted away on Wednesday

The Ravens are down their top two centers after starting C Jovaughn Gwyn suffered an ankle injury in the same game. Rookie Vega Ioane is being prepared to start at center ahead of Week 4’s game against the Titans. Pocic has appeared on just 10 offensive snaps this season.

Pocic, who took a helmet to the knee, was already in the game to replace Jovaughn Gwynn, who exited earlier with an ankle injury. Now down both centers, the Ravens have called on rookie Vega Ioane to snap the ball for what is quickly becoming a decimated offensive line.

This is terribly unfortunate. We expect him to be placed on injured reserve soon, and we do not expect him to return until 2027. The Ravens brought in Pinter and C Ethan Pocic, who is coming off a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture, to compete for the starting center role after losing C Tyler Linderbaum in free agency to the Raiders. Pocic, 31, has been a reliable NFL starter since earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017. He earned a 62.3 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 63.2 PFF run-blocking grade before injuring his Achilles in Week 14 last year.

“On of them in the mix of the battle is coming off an injury. That timeline may or may not be perfect for that first game,” Minter relayed via the team’s website Monday. Recent signee Ethan Pocic is coming off a torn Achilles in Week 14 of the 2025 season but possesses the most starting experience of the players battling to supplant longtime starter Tyler Linderbaum following his departure in free agency. Minter’s comments, while slightly vague, seem to point towards Pocic as the desired starter, assuming his injury recovery continues to progress without hiccup. Fellow free agent additions Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn will compete with Pocic for the starting role.

The longtime Browns standout heads to a wide-open situation for a perennial contender following the departure of Tyler Linderbaum this offseason. Pocic would appear to have the inside track to the starting center job considering his veteran status, although he will need to prove his health after tearing his Achilles in December of 2025. His new deal includes a $3 million base valuation, after which he can earn an additional $1.5 million in incentives.

Pinter had just 10 starts at center over five seasons with the Colts — he missed 2023 entirely with a broken ankle — and seems like a candidate to compete for the role replacing Tyler Linderbaum. How big of a candidate he is probably depends on how high the draft capital spent on center in this year’s draft is, but Pinter’s got a chance to start for sure.

The Browns confirmed the worst on Monday after Pocic left Sunday’s game with what was initially diagnosed as a calf injury. A replay of the injury, however, suggested a potential tear for Pocic, who will now spend the remainder of this season and all offseason rehabbing his injury. Pocic has started all 13 games he’s appeared in this season for the Browns, earning a PFF grade of 63.6 while allowing two sacks and 14 pressures. It wouldn’t be surprising if this injury impacted Pocic’s offseason, as his current deal with the Browns is set to expire, making him a free agent.

Pocic was announced with a “calf” injury, but it appears Pocic has torn his Achilles’ tendon. It’s the worst possible news for a 30-year-old center who has manned the pivot for the Browns since 2022. They will now have to mix and match along their interior line for the stretch run as they attempt to develop Shedeur Sanders. Pocic’s contract has no guaranteed money remaining, so he could spend 2026 rehabbing as a free agent.

Pinter has played in 60 games for the Colts since joining the team in 2020, with nine starts over those five seasons. He will likely continue in a special teams role and as a rotational offensive lineman in 2025.

Pocic missed Week 6 with the knee issue but returned to the lineup last week. He played all 84 offensive snaps according to Pro Football Fous. His DNP on Wednesday could just be maintenance for a player still still working through a tricky knee injury. If he did re-injure his knee, Nick Harris would take over at center.