Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is questionable for the week 12 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. At 7-4, the Ravens might want to roll the dice and suit Smith up, but they badly need to let him rest and recover, especially as the team prepares for a late-season stretch.

Ravens’ defensive coordinator Zach Orr has done his best to adjust for the many digressions within his unit depth chart, and Smith has been his anchor. With 101 total tackles, Smith leads the Ravens on defense, but his vocal leadership and pre-play decipher ability will be crucially missed by Orr tonight.

Running back J.K. Dobbins’s physicality poses a massive problem for the Ravens’ defense without Smith. Perhaps linebacker Trenton Simpson can show himself vital by assuming the Mike position. Safety Kyle Hamilton will need to apply himself as an underneath cover man for the Chargers’ tight ends and additionally play as run support.

Attrition may be the deciding factor for the Ravens on the road tonight. If the Ravens’ offense continues to struggle, the defense will be forced to hold steady on the road, where physicality and the Chargers’ might become too much to bear.