Bigger Roles Await for Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott

Cover Image
Photo credit © Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

By Joe Schiller

The Ravens' secondary took a blow on Sunday when safety suffered a torn ACL and potentially more damage to his knee in the win against the Steelers. Jefferson was officially placed on season-ending injured reserve.

For now, that leaves Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott to step up and Head Coach John Harbaugh said he's confident in his young safeties to step up.

Harbaugh said that they are confident in Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott stepping into Tony Jefferson's role.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 7, 2019

Clark outsnapped Elliott 16-to-3, and is the more experienced player of the two. He started in a few games down the stretch of the 2018 season when Jefferson suffered an ankle injury. 

Elliott missed his rookie season with a fractured forearm but was a highly-touted talent in the offseason. He made a number of impressive players throughout training camp and the preseason but hasn't seen much action on the defense this season. 

Whoever starts will have the opportunity to play alongside one of the league's top safeties in Earl Thomas. 

The secondary should receive a boost within the coming weeks as Jimmy Smith recovers from a Grade-2 MCL sprain. The veteran cornerback has missed the last four games.