Jovaughn Gwyn will be the Baltimore Ravens’ starting center for their Week 1 opener at the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Jesse Minter announced on Monday.
Gwyn, 27, beat out nine-year veteran Ethan Pocic for the position. He takes over for three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum, who signed a record-setting three-year, $81 million free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Got a lot of confidence in him,” Minter told reporters. “This is a guy that when opportunity knocks, are you ready to take advantage? He’s done a really good job. He’s obviously repped a lot with our starters over the last couple of weeks.”
Minter clarified that this was a decision for Week 1, not the entire season.
Gwyn played his first three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, appearing in 17 games last year. He was the Falcons’ seventh-round selection (No. 225 overall) out of South Carolina. Ravens line coach Dwayne Ledford worked with Gwyn in Atlanta.