Ja'Wuan

James

He is done for the season. James missed all of last season after tearing his Achilles in May of 2021, and Sunday marked his first game action since 2019. With James out, the Ravens need starting LT Ronnie Stanley back healthy next week.

The Ravens are once again down-bad on the offensive line after the seemingly serious James injury. As Lamar Jackson sees constant pressure from the Jets front seven, Baltimore will now have C Patrick Mekari playing left tackle. It’s a situation to monitor for fantasy purposes this year.

This was expected after Stanley was listed doubtful on the injury report. The good news is Stanley got in a limited session on Friday, giving him a chance to return in Week 2. Ja’Wuan James is expected to start for Stanley, with Morgan Moses remaining at right tackle.

James tore his Achilles’ over the spring and was released by the Broncos. He signed a two-year deal with Baltimore as a capable career-long starter with 65 starts under his belt. It’s unclear if James will actually play this season, but the Ravens at least want to get a look at him before next offseason, and this gives them that opportunity. Baltimore will have 21 days to make a decision on the 29-year-old.

Harbaugh added that James has suffered no setbacks in his recovery from a torn Achilles’ that he suffered in May. With Ronnie Stanley (ankle) done for the year, James’ eventual return will give the Ravens extra tackle depth as they head into the playoffs. James opted out of the 2020 season and only appeared in three games for the Broncos in 2019 due to a knee injury.

It’s a best case scenario for James, who was released from Denver after tearing his Achilles last month. James will be six months removed from surgery in November, making it unlikely he’s cleared. The Ravens can wait on James after they signed Alejandro Villanueva to bookend a healthy Ronnie Stanley. Any 2021 contributions they get from James will be a bonus.

Denver released James after he tore his Achilles training outside the team facility. The team voided his $10 million salary and recouped his signing bonus. James, 29, “still has to pass his physical with the Ravens, but it will not include his current injury and no issues expected,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. A late-season return for James -- who opted out of the 2020 season -- is unlikely but possible. The Ravens most likely signed the veteran to start in 2022.

The move comes after the Broncos signed free agent OTs Cameron Fleming and Bobby Massie. James was expected to spend most of 2021 on the NFI list after tearing his Achilles working out away from the team earlier this month. The Broncos plan to void his $10 million salary and recoup his signing bonus, designating it a post-June cut, with any money spread over the next two seasons. A five-year starter that opted out of 2020, James could potentially make a late season return if there’s interest from teams, but he’s more likely looking at a 2022 return.

The signing, pending a physical, comes a week after Broncos RT Ja’Wuan James tore his Achilles. James is expected to miss much -- if not all -- of the 2021 season. Pope, 24, who has bounced around the league since coming out of San Diego State University in 2019, could see significant playing time for Denver this season.

James will likely spend most of the season on NFI, but the Broncos are hoping he can make a late year return. There’s talk the team could recoup some of his signing bonus and $10 million salary. Dalton Risner and Calvin Anderson are in-house options to replace James. Denver is also meeting with free agents Bobby Massie and Dennis Kelly.