Geno Stone, the second year promising safety for the Baltimore Ravens, has been lost to a serious Achilles injury. This injury has been a massive obstacle in his five-year profession. Stone, who went undrafted in 2021, has shown remarkable resilience, overcoming an injury-filled start and establishing himself as a key player in the Ravens’ secondary.
At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Stone’s lack of physical stature has done nothing to impede him or his play on the field. In Week 8, he filled in for the injured Marcus Williams. This genius move provided an anchor to a rocky secondary, and he started the last ten games of the season. During this back-breaking stretch, the Ravens surrendered a paltry 214 passing yards per game. Their 5.3 yards per carry was an astounding number, good for eighth in the league.
Stone’s impact was evident in crucial moments. In Week 16, he forced a fumble by Russell Wilson inside the Ravens’ 5-yard line, showcasing his ability to make game-changing plays. The very next week, he threw an amazing cuttackle. Most importantly, he turned back Joe Mixon just a yard short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal for the ages. Such performances further highlighted Stone’s developing reputation as a makeable-act defender.
Last year was a career high mark for Stone. He took the field as a starter for a career-high 12 games, playoffs included, and recorded a personal high in 64 tackles. In his limited time this season, he managed to record two picks and eight passes defensed, further cementing his status as an invaluable cog in Miami’s defensive machine. Injuries have derailed his development at every stop. He missed the final seven games of the 2021 season with a foot injury and missed 15 games in 2023 with a chest injury.
On April 21, Stone signed a one-year restricted free agent tender of $3.263 million. On their part, the extension was a huge sign of faith from the Ravens toward him, despite his struggles with injury.
After Stone’s recent misfortune, his teammate Ar’Darius Washington shared his reaction to hearing this news.
“Words can’t describe how I feel right now, up thinking all night why me? Why now? All I want to do is prove I’m one of the best in business year after year. But God said not right now, so until then we wait.” – Ar’Darius Washington
The Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta reflected on Stone’s journey, saying,
“Ar’Darius is a great example of a guy who got a chance and ran with it.”
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