The Ravens just can’t shake the bad luck before their Week 1 clash with the Chiefs. The injury bug’s back for round two, and it’s hitting both the defense and backfield right where it hurts. With Adisa Isaac sidelined and Rasheen Ali’s status up in the air, Baltimore’s season opener’s already looking dicey.

Rookie outside LB Adisa Isaac, who was primed to bring the heat off the edge after a stellar 7.5-sack season at Penn State, is officially out due to a nagging hamstring injury. Isaac’s first NFL offseason’s been a rough ride. After missing most of training camp, he tweaked his hamstring in his preseason debut, and now, it’s the other leg giving him trouble. Ravens fans were eager to see their first-team All-Big Ten pick in action, but it seems like his NFL debut’s got to wait.

Meanwhile, rookie RB Rasheen Ali is doubtful for Sunday’s clash against Kansas City with a neck injury. Ali’s been limited in practice all week (LP on Mon/Tue/Wed), and his absence complicates the Ravens’ running back rotation. Even though he is the No. 3 on the depth chart, it could impact depth behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. If needed, Baltimore could elevate veterans John Kelly or Chris Collier from the practice team for some added insurance.

The Ravens aren’t the only ones taking hits, though. Kansas City will be without former Raven Hollywood Brown, sidelined with a shoulder injury. In his absence, rookie speedster Xavier Worthy is expected to step up. Meanwhile, HC John Harbaugh’s steering Baltimore through rough waters, balancing the grief of offseason losses with the relentless demands of the game.

John Harbaugh’s waves of wisdom: Ravens’ resilience tested against KC’s storm

John Harbaugh ain’t just a coach—he’s a master of metaphors. Ahead of Baltimore’s Week 1 opener against KC, the Ravens’ HC found a poetic way to capture the adversity his team’s facing. Talking to his players, Harbaugh compared life to watching waves at the beach. Sometimes they’re calm, sometimes they’re rough, but they never stop. “That’s kind of a time analogy,” he asserted. “You just gotta keep swimming.”

This season, the Ravens are riding those waves of grief. Over the offseason, they lost two pivotal figures—legend Jacoby Jones and OL coach Joe D’Alessandris. Super Bowl XLVII champ Jones passed away in July, and O-line HC Joe D’Alessandris died last month after battling an illness. To honor them, the Ravens will wear commemorative helmet decals. 

Baltimore HC’s message to the team? Keep moving. “Those waves just keep coming,” he reminded them. 

As Baltimore preps for their prime-time showdown against the reigning Super Bowl champs, the 61-year-old knows the tension is high. Harbaugh doesn’t call it anxiety; he calls it “tension,” comparing it to suspension bridge cables. “There has to be tension,” he says. 

For the Ravens, game night isn’t just a game. It’s a test of their resilience against the NFL’s best as well as life’s curveballs.