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          Superstitious? Ravens' banged-up 2016 draft class has reason to be

          Ronnie Stanley is one of four players from the 2016 draft class not to suffer a season-ending injury last year or this year. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire
          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterAug 14, 2017, 11:01 AM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens dealt with a strange trend two years ago, when five players went on injured reserve in the exact order their lockers stood next to each other.

          That terrible run of luck has now taken its toll on the Ravens' 2016 draft class.

          Seven of the 11 players taken in that draft by Baltimore either spent last season on injured reserve or will go on IR to start this year. On Friday, starting left guard Alex Lewis became the third player from that draft class to get declared out for this season -- and the Ravens are only one game into the preseason.

          "I would say maybe I'm superstitious," said offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, the No. 6 overall pick in 2016. "Definitely have to find the cause of that. That'd be a good thing to be fixed."

          Stanley is one of four players from the 2016 draft class not to suffer a season-ending injury last year or this year.

          In their rookie seasons, linebacker Kamalei Correa (ribs), defensive end Bronson Kaufusi (ankle), defensive lineman Willie Henry (thigh) and cornerback Maurice Canady (thigh) spent a combined 37 games on injured reserve.

          Injuries have been just as relentless on this class this year, when cornerback Tavon Young (torn ACL), running back Kennth Dixon (knee) and Lewis all went down with season-ending injuries. Canady also will miss significant time this season with a knee injury.

          "It's just part of the game," Reynolds said. "I don't really think about it. You can't worry about it. You have to play fast and let everything else take care of itself."

          This draft class has the potential to stand out beyond the injury bug. Stanley, Lewis and Young all started last season, and Correa and Judon started the preseason opener at linebacker. Kaufusi, Dixon, Moore and Canady can develop into impact players, as well.

          The key is to stay healthy.

          "You notice [the injuries] and you pray for your teammates and hope they get better," Moore said. "When you're out there, you just have to ignore it and try to keep playing the best you can and not worry about it."