For Baltimore Ravens' left tackle, Ronnie Stanley, the past few seasons have been a relentless battle against injuries. The journey back to form has been long and arduous, often filled with doubt and uncertainty. Last season marked a turning point for Stanley, culminating in his selection for the Pro Bowl in 2023.
Stanley's career took a significant hit four seasons ago when injuries constrained his playing time. The 2020 season saw him participate in only six games, followed by a devastating blow in 2021 when he appeared in just one game. The dire situation began to improve in 2022 as he played 11 games, but it was last season that showcased his resilience as he stepped onto the field for 13 games.
Reflecting on his journey back to the gridiron, Stanley's quotes reveal the emotional and physical toll his injuries took. "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," he shared.
The grind of his offseason training and participation in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) played a pivotal role in his return to form. These efforts allowed him to rebuild his physical conditioning and restore his confidence. "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," Stanley noted.
Transitioning from intense drills to actual games, Stanley's determination began to pay off. The gradual progress he observed in himself during the offseason translated seamlessly into his performance on the field. "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 explained.
But as any professional athlete knows, practice is one thing, and game-day performance is another. Stanley elaborated, "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."
Stanley's enhanced physical condition and restored confidence have been crucial in his ability to meet the high standards expected in the NFL. "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 said. His sense of fulfillment is evident as he concludes, "To truly feel like myself again, that’s what makes all the difference."
In addition to his physical recovery, Stanley made significant adjustments to his contract, reducing his base salary from $11 million to $3 million and making 2025 a void year, effectively aligning his free agency a year earlier. This strategic move presumably contributes to creating a more favorable financial landscape for both him and the Ravens.
As the Ravens gear up for the 2024 NFL season, Stanley's comeback story stands as a testament to perseverance and dedication. The lineman now appears to be stronger and more driven than ever, a crucial asset for the Ravens as they aim to bolster their offensive line and vie for success in the highly competitive NFL arena.