Baltimore Ravens Kelechi Osemele expects to have surgery this offseason

Baltimore Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele (72) blocks Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel (99) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens offensive line has been a disappointment this season, but there are signs that this unit will get back on track soon. Eugene Monroe is a major upgrade over Bryant McKinnie at the left tackle position, particularly when it comes to run blocking, and both the Monroe and McKinnie trades look like great ones for the Ravens. Right guard Marshal Yanda is one of the best in the business, and he has a really nice bounce back game in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, so he is returning to an elite level of play following a disappointing start to the season.

When I watched the Ravens play the Green Bay Packers, I was thoroughly unimpressed with the run blocking, and this unit has been manhandled in the running game. They have managed to make two very talented backs in Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce look terrible, but I firmly believe that things will improve significantly sooner rather than later.

Ravens starting left guard Kelechi Osemele is in his second year in the league out of Iowa State, but he has been struggling this season due to a back injury that he admits has hurt his play. Osemele told Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun that he will undergo surgery on his back in the offseason.

“I’ve been dealing with it for a while and it’s getting to the point where I’m going to eventually go ahead and get that fixed. I was avoiding it for as long as I could, gambling with it. I just can’t afford to gamble with it any longer. It’s something I definitely have to do something with after the season.”

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