Injuries have marred much of Ronnie Stanley's career, but the resilient left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens is demonstrating a resurgence that has fans and teammates alike optimistic for the future.
A Tough Road Back
Stanley's journey has been anything but smooth. His career has been severely impacted by injuries over the past four seasons. In 2020, he played only six games, followed by a single appearance in the 2021 season. Last year, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope as Stanley was able to participate in 11 games. This past season, he further bettered that with 13 games, a sign that his health is trending in the right direction.
Reflecting on his tumultuous path to recovery, Stanley admits, "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."
Pro Bowl Recognition
The 2023 Pro Bowl selection was a testament to his hard work and determination. Although his base salary was reduced from $11 million to $3 million—a significant financial adjustment—Stanley accepted it gracefully. "For the most part, just to be able to feel like myself physically has made me a lot happier," he expressed, with the kind of optimism that indicates he's looking to future success rather than pondering past setbacks.
Training and Offseason Effort
Stanley's offseason training and participation in Organised Team Activities (OTAs) were crucial in his recovery and comeback. It helped him rebuild his physical conditioning and regain confidence in his athletic capabilities. "It's more of a gradual thing," he explains. "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.'"
However, Stanley recognizes that offseason drills are far removed from the intensity of live football. "But it’s all different when you have to translate it to football," he noted. "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."
A Brighter Future
As the Ravens prepare for the 2024 NFL season, Stanley remains a key figure in their plans. His adjustments, both financially and physically, have positioned him to be a leader on and off the field. His revised contract now makes him a free agent a year earlier, with 2025 set as a void year, bringing both challenges and opportunities.
Stanley's reflection on his evolving state of health perfectly encapsulates his journey: "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."
It's this sentiment that Stanley uses to measure his progress—a day-by-day, game-by-game approach. "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 stated, conveying the mindset of a professional who understands the importance of persistence and resilience.
Indeed, for Stanley, perhaps the most significant triumph is internal. "To truly feel like myself again, that’s what makes all the difference," he concludes. And with that sense of self-assurance, Ronnie Stanley is not only back on the field but back to being the dominant left tackle that the Ravens and their fans have long awaited.