An Unexpected Interruption: Pinter's Injury Casts Shadow on Ravens' Center Battle
Pinter's Sudden Exit from Joint Practice
During a joint practice session with the Minnesota Vikings in Eagan, Minnesota, Baltimore Ravens center Danny Pinter was unfortunately forced to leave the field. He was carted off due to what appeared to be a leg injury, interrupting his bid for the starting center position in his inaugural season with the Ravens.
Initial Reactions and Uncertain Outlook
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter promptly rushed to Pinter's side from the defensive drills to assess the situation. Following an examination by the medical team, Pinter departed the field with a brace secured on his right leg. Coach Minter, while concerned, stated that he had no immediate updates and was awaiting the results of further tests to determine the severity and nature of the injury.
The Quest for a New Lineman
The Baltimore team has been actively searching for a successor to their three-time Pro Bowl center, Tyler Linderbaum, who departed to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent in March. Pinter, 30, had been a frontrunner for the role, having started the recent preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and consistently taking the majority of first-team snaps since joining the squad.
Pinter's Collegiate and Professional Background
Danny Pinter's journey to the NFL began when he was drafted by Indianapolis in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, emerging from Ball State. His career has seen him play both guard and center, participating in 77 regular-season games with 10 starts for the Colts between 2020 and 2025. Notably, he missed the entire 2023 season due to a broken ankle suffered that August. In 2021, he even managed to catch a 2-yard pass for a touchdown.
Pinter's Performance in Indianapolis
In his most recent season with the Colts, Pinter played in all 17 games, making one start. He contributed to 13% of the offensive snaps, totaling 138 plays, and 17% of special teams snaps, with 79 plays, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to the team.
The Ravens' Depth at Center
Pinter is currently listed as the starting center on the Ravens' initial depth chart. Following him are the experienced 31-year-old Ethan Pocic and 27-year-old Jovaughn Gwyn. Coach Minter emphasized the importance of having such depth, remarking that signing players like Pocic ensures robust competition and provides necessary coverage in unforeseen circumstances like Pinter's injury. He expressed confidence in Gwyn's recent performance and Pocic's consistent career contributions.
Pocic and Gwyn: Ready to Step Up
Ethan Pocic, another recent free-agent acquisition for the Ravens, started all 13 games he played for Cleveland last season. His extensive career includes 97 starts in 114 games over nine seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2017-21) and the Browns (2022-25). Jovaughn Gwyn, a seventh-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 draft, has appeared in 19 games over three seasons, although without any starts, and now finds himself in a position where he may be called upon to contribute more significantly.
