Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh at a Crossroads in 2023

Odafe Oweh played through a shoulder injury for much of last season after off-season surgery but had a solid training camp. That did not translate into the regular season as he appeared to regress.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh did not make much of an impact over the early part of the season. He got better deeper into the year, but Oweh’s future with the franchise is now uncertain entering his third year.

Oweh was expected to boost the pass rush in 2022, but he managed just 43 tackles and three sacks. He expects to bounce back next season, and his future might depend on it. 

“I just try to play fast, if he was in my way, try to move off the speed and stuff like that,” Oweh said. “That’s how I want to play the game. I’m not a big move guy, I just try to use my athleticism, and it’s going to work for me. Just honing in on that – getting stronger, being faster – it’s going to all tie in together.”

Oweh needs to do a better job shedding blockers to become the impact player the Ravens imagined when they selected him in the first round (31st overall) of the 2021 NFL draft from Penn State.

As a rookie, Oweh finished with 33 tackles (five for loss), five sacks, and 15 quarterback hits. He also forced a fumble by running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire late in the fourth quarter in a huge Week 2 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Oweh also played through a shoulder injury for much of last season. 

He underwent off-season surgery and had a solid training camp, but that did not translate into a successful regular season and he appeared to regress.

Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald expressed confidence in Oweh and said the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

"We’re focusing on process, so don’t get discouraged with the lack of stats," Macdonald said. "He’s being very unselfish in a lot of things we’re asking him to do, so that’s definitely a positive. So, we’re just trying to build on that and just focusing on the process.”

Nonetheless, Oweh will need to have a bounce-back season to show the Ravens they need to further invest in him. 

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