On Thursday afternoon ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reported that the Ravens and seven-time Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda agreed to a one-year contract extension to keep Yanda in Baltimore though the 2020 season.

Quieting some of the speculation that swirled this off-season that this could be his final NFL season, seven-time Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda and the Ravens reached agreement on a one-year contract extension that ties him to Baltimore through the 2020 season, per league sources. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 11, 2019

Schefter’s tweet sums it up nicely. With Yanda entering the last year of his deal and turning 35 on September 15, some reporters and Ravens fans questioned if Yanda would remain with the team after 2019.

That question has been answered. Unless Yanda suffers another significant injury during the upcoming season, he’ll definitely play for Baltimore again in 2020.

The key for him is staying healthy. A few weeks ago at the Ed Block Courage Awards Yanda spoke with Nolan McGraw about how he overcame a fractured ankle that costed him 14 games of his 2017 season in addition to undergoing a shoulder surgery a few months after suffering the ankle injury. The shoulder issue popped up during a lifting session, aggravating an injury sustained during the 2016 season.

Needless to say, Yanda has been through a lot since turning 30, but he suited up for all 16 games in 2018, on his way to getting elected to his seventh Pro Bowl.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said at the team's pre-draft presser that he wanted Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda to play beyond this season. Now, nine days later, Yanda signs a one-year extension, per @AdamSchefter. — Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) April 11, 2019

Coming into last season, Marshal Yanda had allowed just one sack since 2015, per @PFF. In 2018, he logged the most regular-season snaps among guards (1,162) at 34-years-old and allowed 15 pressures and 0 sacks. — Joe Schiller (@JoeSchiller123) April 11, 2019

With the offensive line expected to be one of the positions the Ravens target in the upcoming draft, particularly at left guard and center, locking up Yanda for an additional season can’t do any harm. Even at his advanced age he’s one of the best guards in the NFL. He’s also a great role model for not only the Ravens young offensive linemen, but for the entire team.

The 1-year extension, which was first reported by @AdamSchefter, keeps the 34-year-old under contract with the Ravens through 2020, gives a potential timetable for his retirement and crosses off a big item on next offseason's to-do list. — Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 11, 2019

The Ravens have made it known that they want to continue running the football in 2019. Regardless of how much running Lamar Jackson will be doing as the starting quarterback, having a future Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman protecting him will only benefit the Ravens.

Image Credit: USA TODAY