Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is inactive for the team’s Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Smith, a four-time All-Pro, hasn’t practiced all week and will miss the game with a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old leads the team with 110 tackles – which ranks third in the NFL – and also has an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

As Baltimore’s left center back in its 3-4 lineup, he is an important cog in the defensive system and serves as the team’s signal caller. In his seven seasons with Baltimore and the Chicago Bears, Smith never had fewer than 101 tackles.

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If Smith is out, safety Kyle Hamilton is expected to wear the green dot and relay defensive orders, but Smith’s performance will be much more difficult to replace. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr said the Ravens will replace Smith “by committee,” which presumably means Malik Harrison will play primarily on run downs and Chris Board on pass downs. Both are known more for their special teams play.

The 7-4 Ravens have allowed more passing yards between the numbers (1,794 passing yards and a completion percentage of 75.8) than any other team in football. Baltimore enters Monday night’s game ranked 25th in yards allowed per game (362.0) and 23rd in points allowed per game (24.6). The Ravens also rank 27th in first downs allowed per game (21.2).

Without Smith, the Chargers can further exploit the Ravens’ already existing weakness. Quarterback Justin Herbert hasn’t been particularly aggressive in attacking the middle this season, but he has the offensive coordinator (Greg Roman) and insiders (Ladd McConkey and Will Dissly) to do so.

ESPN was first to report that Smith was unlikely to play in Monday’s game.

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(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)