The Vikings last year had lost just one starter before Week 1. The Baltimore Ravens have already lost one definite starter, another potential starter, and a reserve. The brown stuff done hit the fan.
The dominoes all started to fall back at the beginning of camp when John Urschel -- who was in contention to start at center -- announced his retirement to pursue a doctorate in mathematics. That started off a chain reaction that has made things dicey for the Ravens up front.
Left guard Alex Lewis is out for the season with a torn labrum. Fourth-round pick Nico Siragusa is also done for the year after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee. To top it all, left tackle Ronnie Stanley missed the team's seasond preseason game with an undisclosed injury, and Marshal Yanda is yet to play following offseason shoulder surgery. If you are healthy and wearing a Ravens uniform, you have been touched by an angel.
This is while focusing just on the offensive line. Meanwhile, quarterback Joe Flacco is still not practicing due to a back injury, and back-up Ryan Mallett is doing his best Ryan Mallett impression. It's past time to hit the panic button on this offense.
The two players most likely to feel the brunt of these struggles are running backs Danny Woodhead and Terrance West. West is going in the eighth round of 12-team, point-per-reception (PPR) drafts, according to Fantasy Football Calculator, but his lack of involvement in the passing game may make it hard for him to give a positive return on investment even at that cost.
That's less of a concern for Woodhead, who's going in the fourth round. Woodhead should have a solid floor, but what's his ceiling going to be if the offense can't generate touchdown drives? This is an offense we may want to avoid as a whole, and with Woodhead's cost being what it is, it may be time to start pumping the brakes there, too.