Jah

Reid

The team has a left guard void after Ben Grubbs signed with New Orleans. Osemele played tackle in college and Reid projects as a tackle in the long-term, but the Ravens are set on the outside with Bryant McKinnie and Michael Oher. Marshal Yanda returns at right guard and Matt Birk will man center. Gradkowski, a fourth-rounder and Bruce’s younger brother, is a long shot to win the job.

The Ravens went hard after free agent LG Evan Mathis, but he opted to re-sign with the Eagles Saturday. A 2011 third-round pick, Reid was active for all 16 games as a rookie, but played a total of seven snaps. At 6-foot-7, 327 pounds, Reid would be huge for a guard. The Ravens figure to spend at least one draft pick on a guard.

The 6-foot-7, 327-pound 2011 third-round pick had been speculated as the Ravens’ top in-house option to replace Ben Grubbs, and it’s indeed the case. The Ravens are up against the salary cap, but could still take one or two lost-cost fliers on interior linemen, and are nearly certain to spend at least one draft pick on a guard. Reid will face competition.

Reid suffered the injury during spring practices, and had a setback right before training camp started. He opened camp on the active/PUP and will stay there until he passes a physical and conditioning test. No longer a serious contender for a starting job, it’s fair to wonder if Reid might be on the roster bubble.

Coach John Harbaugh is handling the McKinnie situation “in-house,” but said the oft-overweight veteran has “done a good job” and “worked hard” this offseason. The Sun’s Mike Preston does concede that Jah Reid (“slow and stiff”) and Ramon Harewood (“plays too high”) aren’t realistic options to join the starting lineup. McKinnie should be in no real danger of being released.

The biggest question with Williams is health. If his ankle can hold up at age 35, he’s a good bet to hold off rookie Kelechi Osemele and second-year man Jah Reid. Williams wasn’t a liability in nine starts for the Bengals last season.

It’s Reid’s second aggravation of an injury he originally suffered in minicamp. If Reid can’t get healthy in a hurry, he could find himself on the roster bubble at final cuts.

Reid was sidelined after aggravating an offseason injury right before camp. Out of the running for a starting job, the 2011 third-rounder will provide depth at both guard and tackle.

Reid hasn’t practiced since the Ravens’ second preseason game and won’t play in the season opener. Fifth-round pick rookie CB Asa Jackson (illness) is listed as questionable for Monday Night Football. After missing significant time, Reid is a candidate for the weekly inactives.

Reid has been a liability in three starts, committing three penalties, allowing six QB pressures and two more QB hits. The Ravens will give their 2011 third-rounder a chance to turn it around, but they have to turn back to Williams for the playoffs.