The Ravens have waived Tyre Phillips, according to the league’s transaction wire, parting ways with a talented but inconsistent offensive lineman who’d entered training camp in contention for the left guard spot.
Phillips, a third-round draft pick in 2020, played in 22 games and started 13 over his first two seasons in Baltimore. He opened 2021 as the Ravens’ starting left guard but suffered a knee injury in the season opener. After returning to action, Phillips lined up primarily at tackle, where he’d played at Mississippi State, but struggled. He had the team’s highest blown-block rate, according to Sports Info Solutions, and ended the season on injured reserve after another knee injury.
In training camp, Phillips quickly fell behind Ben Powers in the left guard battle, but coaches said they were impressed by his progress. He started the team’s preseason opener at left guard while Powers get experience at center.
“I think he’s doing a really good job in moving in pass protection, back and forth, punching really well, not getting bulled,” coach John Harbaugh said earlier this month. “He’s done a good job with that. The run game’s been pretty athletic. You know, he’s a guard more than he is a tackle, but it’s good to have a guy like that can get you out of a jam, get you through a game at tackle, if you need it. So I credit him for that, but he’s done well. He’s not out of the competition by any stretch.”
Phillips ultimately played more snaps at tackle than at guard in the preseason, raising questions about his place in the line’s rotation. Powers, meanwhile, sat out the preseason finale, a privilege usually afforded to starters.
When the Ravens claimed Del’Shawn Phillips off waivers Wednesday, they needed to make another roster move to fit the linebacker on their roster. By releasing Phillips, the Ravens trimmed their offensive line to 10 players, the number they’d targeted in the preseason.
NFL Network first reported Phillips’ release.
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