Villanueva joined the Ravens on a two-year, $14 million deal last offseason. He started all 17 games for the Ravens last year but Baltimore couldn't justify bringing him back at his current cap number. The team was expected to release him if he didn't retire. Villanueva took over as a starter in Pittsburgh during his rookie season and proceeded to start 90 consecutive games for them. He did not miss a single regular season game during his seven-year career. Villanueva also earned two Pro Bowl nods during his time with the Steelers. 

The Ravens are entering the offseason without much cap space, though some of that could be alleviated via an extension for Lamar Jackson as he's currently carrying a $23 million cap hit. Villanueva will turn 34 in September and was not the spot starter the Ravens hoped they were getting. Tavon Young (currently on a $9.18 million cap hit), Ben Powers, and Miles Boykin are other Ravens players that Zrbiec could see becoming cap casualties, trade targets, or restructure candidates. 

Villanueva was fine as a fill-in left tackle this year, but with both LT Ronnie Stanley and RT Ja'Wuan James on the way back, his $6 million cap savings could be spent elsewhere. It is possible Villanueva decides to call it a career. 

He also sat out Wednesday's practice. Villanueva played every snap against the Browns, so it is not clear when he picked up this injury. Likely to fill in for an injured Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley could have some trouble if Villanueva is not able to suit up.