Ronnie Stanley: Bouncing Back Strong After Injury Struggles
For Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley, the recent NFL seasons have been a tumultuous journey filled with highs and lows. Once considered among the elite at his position, Stanley's career has faced significant interruptions due to a series of injuries spanning the last four seasons. However, his resilience and determination have started to pay dividends, culminating in a Pro Bowl selection in 2023.
Stanley's injury woes began in 2020, limiting him to just six games. The following year was even more challenging as he managed to appear in only one game. The 2022 season saw improvement with Stanley participating in 11 games, but it wasn't until this past season that a semblance of consistency returned, with Stanley taking the field for 13 games.
His return to form has not been without sacrifice. Stanley made a significant financial adjustment, reducing his base salary from $11 million to $3 million. This strategic move also restructured his contract, making 2025 a void year and pushing Stanley toward free agency a year earlier than initially planned.
Reflecting on his journey, Stanley candidly shared the emotional and physical toll his injuries have taken. "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," he said.
Despite the doubts and setbacks, Stanley's offseason training and participation in Organised Team Activities (OTAs) played a crucial role in his recovery. "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," he noted. "For the most part, just to be able to feel like myself physically has made me a lot happier."
Stanley's gradual recovery process is a testament to his dedication and perseverance. "It's more of a gradual thing. 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,'" he explained.
However, he acknowledged that the true test of his recovery came with actual football activities. "But it’s all different when you have to translate it to football. 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," Stanley remarked.
For Stanley, the ability to perform at his highest level brings a sense of fulfillment and confidence. "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 shared. "To truly feel like myself again, that’s what makes all the difference."
As the Ravens prepare for the 2024 NFL season, Stanley's comeback story serves as a beacon of hope and leadership for the team. His journey underscores the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of improvement, attributes that are sure to inspire his teammates and fans alike.