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The Ravens’ first training camp practice was Wednesday, and with the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills just months away, The Baltimore Sun offered thoughts on the 43 defensive players on the team’s roster. The offense’s version can be found here. Interior defensive line Nnamdi Madubuike Madubuike’s pressures, sacks and run stops all regressed last season after the team awarded him a four-year, $98 million extension. But the Ravens’ most proven lineman faced a high rate of double teams and still finished top 10 among defensive tackles in sacks. He’s primed for a bounce-back season. Travis Jones The pass-rushing defensive tackle had his best season in Baltimore last year, tallying a career-high 35 pressures from the interior, according to Pro Football Focus. Over 65% of his snaps come in pass-rush opportunities, which is among the highest in the league for defensive tackles. He’s entering a contract year and could earn a pay raise in the offseason. Aeneas Peebles The Ravens wanted more pass-rushing juice from their interior linemen, which is why they selected Peebles in the sixth round of April’s draft. The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler had Peebles graded as a third- or fourth-round prospect. At just 6 feet and 288 pounds, the former Virginia Tech standout’s low-center of gravity helps his pocket-pushing ability. Broderick Washington The Texas Tech product has been a reliable option for Baltimore since he debuted in 2020. As a rotational player, Washington is solid as a run stopper and should continue to play alongside Madubuike on early downs. John Jenkins After Michael Pierce’s retirement, the Ravens needed a nose tackle to replace the 355-pound veteran. Enter Jenkins. The 6-3, 327-pound lineman is entering his 13th NFL season and will be playing for his seventh team. He played a career-high 609 defensive snaps with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, but he likely won’t be asked to play that large of a role with Travis Jones in the mix. Jayson Jones Jones, who was rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle in Alabama as a high schooler before switching positions, committed to Oregon before transferring to Auburn. He totaled 84 total tackles including four for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery over three seasons with the Tigers. Adedayo Odeleye From Nigeria, Odeleye played for the Houston Texans’ practice squad for two seasons. Before that, he played for the Berlin Thunder in the European League of Football. C.J. Okoye Another defensive lineman with Nigerian heritage, Okoye has one of the best stories on the team. He was a part of the NFL Africa camp in Ghana in 2022 and then was invited to the NFL International combine in England, where he was eventually selected to the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which allocated him to a team. He played in the Los Angeles Chargers’ first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams and recorded a sack in his first organized game of football. Okoye said afterwards that he didn’t know what a sack was until after the game. Edge rushers Odafe Oweh Oweh added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason to increase his power off the edge. He had a strong season last year, setting career highs in sacks and pressures as well as ranking 17th among edge rushers in pass rush win-rate, per ESPN analytics. But almost all of his pressures came with speed rushes. With plenty of young edge defenders in waiting, Oweh could price himself out of Baltimore with a strong season. Kyle Van Noy It’s not often that a player in his 11th season in the league has a breakout campaign, but Van Noy’s 56 pressures last season were the second most of his career. He’s reliable, can play on every down and is one of the vocal leaders on the team. The 34-year-old is a perfect fit in the edge room. Kyle Van Noy chats during Ravens training camp in 2024. The pass rusher had a career season in 2024, reaching double-digit sacks. (Staff file) Mike Green Green slid in the draft because of two accusations of sexual assault against him. He’s one of the most talented pass rushers in the rookie class and could make an immediate impact in Baltimore as a rotational edge rusher. Green racked up 17 sacks with Marshall in his final college season. David Ojabo The 2022 second-round pick hasn’t found his footing in Baltimore. He was a healthy scratch in four games last season and failed to play in more than 50% of the team’s defensive snaps in a game after Week 2. Entering a contract year, Ojabo has one more chance to make an impact with the Ravens. Tavius Robinson The 2023 fourth-round pick took a leap in his second season, registering 13 pressures. There is a firm belief within the Ravens’ pass rush room that Robinson is tracking toward a breakout year. Pass rush coach Chuck Smith called Robinson a “bona fide pass rusher” and John Harbaugh said that he’s established himself as a three-down player in December. Adisa Isaac Isaac was drafted in the third round of the 2024 draft but was limited during his first training camp and was eventually placed on the non-football injury list. He showed a lot of pass rushing juice at Penn State, which could help Baltimore. Diwun Black The former Florida and Temple player was unproductive in college but has some strong athletic traits. In 2021, he was the No. 1-rated junior college recruit according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Malik Hamm A Baltimore native, Hamm has had some horrible injury luck. The City College graduate has suffered two season-ending knee injuries in consecutive seasons, which prevented him from potentially making the roster both years. Kaimon Rucker Rucker signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina. He has some bend and was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 2023. Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith practices during the team’s minicamp in June. Smith made it a goal to show up to training camp in better shape in 2025 compared to previous seasons. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Linebackers Roquan Smith The unquestioned stalwart of the Ravens’ defense, Smith led the team in tackles (154) and wore the green dot as the on-field communicator. But it was also a down season by his standards. PFF ranked Smith as just the 86th best linebacker in the NFL last season with a mark of 65.2. Through his first nine games, he had only one tackle for loss, no sacks or quarterback hits, and three pass breakups. Smith acknowledged that his play last year did not match his goals, and he said that health and covering for others’ mistakes were the main reasons. Expect a bounce-back year for the 2018 first-round pick. Trenton Simpson After Patrick Queen left last offseason, Simpson was expected to be a breakout candidate. Instead, his snaps completely dwindled after the midway point of the season and he was benched. But with Malik Harrison and Chris Board departing in free agency, Harbaugh said that Simpson is the first in line to fill the void. It’s a big season ahead for the former Clemson star. Teddye Buchanan The fourth-round rookie led California in tackles and stops for loss in his final college season. A former high school quarterback, the 6-2, 235-pound Buchanan can be a strong depth piece and also play on special teams in his first season. Jay Higgins IV Cut from the mold of old-school Iowa linebackers, Higgins was the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year in 2024. He racked up 341 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles with the Hawkeyes, but the 6-2, 232-pound Higgins does not have great lateral movement and struggled in zone coverage in college. He’s on the roster bubble and seems like a strong candidate for the practice squad. Chandler Martin Martin transferred from East Tennessee State to Memphis and was named first-team All-American Athletic Conference. He had eight tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery in the Tigers’ win over Florida State. Jake Hummel Hummel set the Rams’ record for preseason tackles in 2022 and played for the team for three seasons. The 6-1, 227-pound linebacker was a special teams standout, making eight tackles in 2024 and blocking a punt that led to a touchdown. William Kwenkeu Baltimore signed Kwenkeu to its practice squad in 2024, adding training camp depth at a thin position. Cornerbacks Nate Wiggins There weren’t many rookie cornerbacks better than Wiggins last year. The 2024 first-round pick had 13 passes defensed and allowed a 47.8% completion rate when targeted, according to Next Gen Stats. If he becomes a true No. 1 boundary corner, the Ravens’ secondary has the potential to be the best in the NFL. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown this past season. Wiggins is a projected starter at cornerback entering 2025, with the Ravens hopeful the second-year player can blossom into one of the NFL's best. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Jaire Alexander After quarterback Lamar Jackson advocated for the team to sign his former college teammate, the Ravens added him just days later. The former Green Bay Packers star has been one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL since entering the league, and he’s got a chance to reestablish himself as a premier player. If Alexander is healthy, he’s a home run addition by general manager Eric DeCosta. Marlon Humphrey The longest tenured Ravens defender had one of the best seasons of his career last year. He’s thrived since moving to the nickel spot, which should continue this year with Alexander and Wiggins playing on the outside. Humphrey spoke this offseason about wanting Baltimore’s defense to return to the premiere defenses of the 2000s and how much time he’s spent in the facility. Jalyn Armour-Davis Armour-Davis has been impressive in offseason practices, often manning a starting outside cornerback position. Entering his fourth season in the league, the Alabama product could be the Ravens’ top cornerback reserve. He also has the ability to play safety. Chidobe Awuzie Awuzie had one of the worst seasons of his career last year, according to PFF. He played in only eight games for the Titans, who released him just one-year into his three-year, $36 million contract. As a backup with positional versatility, the 30-year-old Awuzie has a chance to be a versatile depth piece. Bilhal Kone The rookie’s story is filled with perseverance. He grew up in poverty, lost his younger brother to cancer and had to move away from his family. Kone led Western Michigan in passes defended each of the past two years and was ranked as the No. 14 cornerback in the 2024 class, according to The Athletic. He’ll be competing against fellow rookie Robert Longerbeam and 2024 fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa to make the 53-man roster. T.J. Tampa Tampa was viewed as a draft steal in the 2024 class, but he did not make an impact as a rookie. The former Iowa State star did make a plethora of excellent plays during OTAs, including an interception during a red zone drill. The 6-1, 199-pound defensive back needs his strong play to continue in training camp to beat out Armour-Davis or the pair of rookies. Robert Longerbeam The other sixth-round rookie cornerback, Longerbeam was a three-year starter at Rutgers who led the team in passes defended in three of the past four seasons. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine but is only 175 pounds. Reuben Lowery It will be tough for an undrafted rookie to make the team in a crowded secondary, but Lowery seems to have the best chance. The 5-foot-9, 204-pound corner from Chattanooga is small but extremely physical. Keyon Martin Another sub-6-foot cornerback, Martin is an undrafted rookie out of Louisiana. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Marquise Robinson Robinson transferred from South Alabama to Arkansas and registered seven pass breakups with the Razorbacks. He started in eight games and will be battling for a spot on the practice squad. Safety Kyle Hamilton One of the NFL’s top safeties since entering the league, Hamilton is a true wildcard. But after the Ravens’ secondary struggled mightily at the beginning of the 2024 season, he shifted to a different role. He played as the deep safety more than 50% of the time over the second half of the season, a 32% increase from the beginning of the year. But with Malaki Starks expected to fill the free safety slot, Hamilton can return to being the game-wrecking chess piece who plays all over the defense. Malaki Starks The prized first-round pick of the Ravens’ draft class, Starks has immediately assumed a starting spot during offseason practices. He’s mature, ball-savvy and communicative for a rookie. The Georgia product could be in the mix for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Related Articles Ravens’ Jaire Alexander leaves Packers in the past: ‘I got good vibes here’ Ravens observations: Too many tight ends? Not on this team. Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy knows clock is ticking, but doesn’t plan to slow down READERS RESPOND: Fans think the Ravens are the best team in the NFL 43 thoughts on every Ravens offensive player as training camp begins Beau Brade Brade was one of the top stories during last year’s camp, making the roster as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland. The second-year player from River Hill is battling for the third safety position with Sanoussi Kane. Brade played in the box at Maryland and is a downhill, physical safety who typically defends the run well. Sanoussi Kane Kane has a strong athletic profile, running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at 210 pounds. The Ravens picked him in the seventh round in 2024 and he will compete with Brade for the third safety role. Desmond Igbinosun A physical safety, the 6-2, 223-pound Igbinosun totaled 186 tackles at Rutgers. He set the team record for tackles for loss in a Big Ten game with four against Michigan State. Keondre Jackson An undrafted rookie from Illinois State, Jackson was named to the Senior Bowl after earning FCS All-American honors. He’s got a strong chance to make the practice squad. Ar’Darius Washington Washington’s Achilles tendon injury will likely hold him out for the entirety of the regular season. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Ah, its practice, they are told to make tough throws to challenge dbs, to see if wrs can make challenging catches

He isn’t looking very good I hear.

Not the big toe according to reports, but they did have him in a cart to get to the locker room. Ah the start of turf toe? Well, certainly arthritis once he reaches old age (it sucks). Not a big deal right now unless he needs surgery later in the season, and for a running qb, knee, ankle, foot/toe are huge injuries to them. Many players had to retire because of a toe injury, Sanders, Dieon, had to have his chronic bad toe amputated... stay tuned, maybe it will be a lucky on and be one of the middle toes...

The jawing was friendly, but Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander wasn’t backing down. He wanted a piece of tight end Mark Andrews. But the one-on-one drill during Thursday afternoon’s practice came to an end too soon, leaving the juicy matchup to the imagination, if not another day. “What I like most is his swag to the game,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said of his new defensive backfield mate. “I think confidence is the biggest key you can have at corner. “He’s a perfect fit for our secondary.” So far, Alexander, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has been getting acclimated to his new teammates, surroundings and the defense. It was just the second day of training camp, and Alexander, who was released by the Green Bay Packers earlier this offseason, didn’t sign with Baltimore until the final day of mandatory minicamp in June, when players broke until earlier this week. Still, he’s made his presence known on the field. On Wednesday, he had a couple of pass breakups and was on the receiving end of a dime from his former college teammate, quarterback Lamar Jackson, who didn’t waste any time connecting with new receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a back-shoulder fade up the sideline. Hopkins was ruled out of bounds, but Alexander, who was in tight coverage, bowed in appreciation. “I’m in love, what can I say?” Alexander said Thursday of his early impressions of the Ravens in what was his first meeting with reporters since signing a one-year, $4 million contract that’s worth up to $6 million with incentives that are mostly centered around his ability to stay healthy. Staying healthy has been a big if, though. Alexander, 28, has missed at least 10 games in three of the past four seasons. Last season, he appeared in just seven games because of quadriceps and knee injuries. After Thursday’s 2-hour session he said, “physically, I’m great.” Mentally, too, it seems. “It’s definitely a different culture here,” he said. While Alexander did not elaborate on what was an ugly exit from Green Bay, it’s hardly surprising that he is thrilled to be reunited with Jackson. “That’s my boy,” he said. “We was always talking about this.” He also acknowledged that he might not have signed with Baltimore if not for the quarterback. “That’d be tough man,” he said, pondering the question. “I probably would’ve explored more options. But that’s my boy and I wanna win [a Super Bowl] with him.” Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander catches a pass during training camp. When healthy, Alexander is one of the NFL's top cornerbacks and a likely starter for the Ravens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Even with Jackson pleading for general manager Eric DeCosta to sign Alexander the moment he came available and the signing taking place the following day, it at least took some thought. Alexander drew interest from about a dozen teams. He also wanted to play for a contender and where the “vibes” fit his unique personality. Check and check. “Vibes never lie,” Alexander said. “I’m big on energy, energy exchange. I got good vibes here. They wanted me here. They cared. That played the biggest part in it.” It didn’t take long, Alexander said, to notice that things are “different” compared with his first seven years in Green Bay. Recently, some Ravens players have rekindled breakfast club workouts, a tradition started by former Ravens safety Eric Weddle. A group of about eight, including Humphrey and Alexander, gather at 6 a.m. in the team’s weight room. If a player gets there at 6:01, Humphrey said, it’s too late. The idea is to create an environment where everything matters, with accountability being important. “We work hard here,” Alexander said. “The workouts are intense.” As for Alexander’s role, that’s still to be determined, but his addition gives the Ravens plenty of flexibility in the secondary, including using Humphrey more in the slot, where he was an All-Pro last season, and playing more match-ups depending on the game and opposing receivers. It also provides depth with injuries inevitable. “I’m embracing any role here,” Alexander said. “My goal, and I know the team’s goal, is to win the Super Bowl, so however we can do that. What does he provide in that goal? “I’m gonna bring that energy and that juice,” he said. “Everything else will fall into place.” Related Articles Ravens observations: Too many tight ends? Not on this team. Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy knows clock is ticking, but doesn’t plan to slow down READERS RESPOND: Fans think the Ravens are the best team in the NFL 43 thoughts on every Ravens offensive player as training camp begins This photographer shoots from the stands. Ravens players love his work. He added that he “loves” the Ravens’ potential, and being around Humphrey, who Alexander said might be more weird than him. Alexander also spent time watching tape of old Ravens games, including one from two years ago when an agitated Humphrey mixed it up with a couple of Steelers defensive linemen during a game in Pittsburgh. It’s no wonder then that Alexander and Humphrey have jelled. Alexander also said he didn’t circle Week 17 on his calendar, which is when Baltimore travels to Green Bay to face his former team. “I circle every week,” he said. “Everybody’s gonna get it.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens have a problem a lot of teams in the NFL would welcome. They have five tight ends on the roster and three of them — Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar — are really good. It was intriguing on Day 2 of training camp Thursday to watch how the Ravens would rotate them, but the team has different formations. The catch of the day belonged to Likely, who made a one-handed grab on a pass across the middle from Lamar Jackson, easily turned the corner and took off for what would have been a 65-yard touchdown. But throughout Thursday’s practice, all three quarterbacks used the tight ends on different formations, both inside and outside of the red zone, as well as in the 7-on-7 period. One of my favorite plays was a toss to running back Derrick Henry with Kolar leading the way. That’s a sign of versatility while also using Henry’s great vision. Rookie watch Training camp is only two days old, but rookie safety Malaki Starks, the first-round pick out of Georgia, has been impressive. Not only does he play well on the back end of the secondary, but he breaks on the ball extremely well. He knocked down one pass intended for Kolar and then intercepted what looked like an arm punt from Jackson late in the team period. There is talk that Starks is the best safety to come out of college since the Ravens took Kyle Hamilton in the first round out of Notre Dame in the 2022 draft. First impressions It wasn’t an exceptional day for newly acquired cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was beat for a long touchdown down the right sideline by Devontez Walker. First of all, let’s give Walker credit. The second-year receiver out of North Carolina has played well though offseason workouts and so far in training camp. As for Alexander, he has looked good so far in practice. He backpedals well, can sit down with receivers and recovers quickly. The 28-year-old veteran against the 24-year-old Walker is one of the better matchups in training camp. Injury updates While on the subject of receivers, veteran DeAndre Hopkins didn’t practice because of a knee injury he suffered on a hard landing in Wednesday’s opening practice. The injury is not believed to be serious. Also, slot receiver Zay Flowers was at full-tilt in practice for the second straight day after suffering what appeared to be either a knee or ankle injury on Wednesday that forced him to miss about 10 minutes of practice. Flowers was at his artful best catching several short passes and easily juking defenders. He is by far one of the best open-field runners after the catch in the NFL. Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is competing to start next to Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Secondary shaping up Receiver Rashod Bateman ran an out-and-up against cornerback Nate Wiggins that resulted in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Jackson. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player tried to make the same play versus Wiggins on the next snap, but the second-year player wasn’t fooled and knocked down Jackson’s pass intended for receiver Keith Kirkwood. Wiggins might only be in his second season, but he’s no fool and could become one the best at his position in the NFL. Because of his ability, he might not get tested a lot this season with Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis and Alexander competing to play on the opposite side. The Ravens had Armour-Davis playing over the slot at times during Thursday’s practice and even blitzed him a couple of times off the edge. This is a big season for Armour-Davis, as well as outside linebacker David Ojabo. Both are about to enter their fourth seasons before entering free agency. Offensive line battle Ben Cleveland and Andrew Vorhees both took snaps with the first-team offense at left guard Thursday, but Vorhees seems better suited for the position. Why? Neither are great pass blockers, but Vorhees is more versatile and durable. Play of the day The best overall play of the day was middle linebacker Roquan Smith running stride-for-stride with running back Justice Hill down the left sideline and knocking down a long pass. The Kansas City Chiefs exposed Smith’s inability to cover in the season opener a year ago and several teams attacked him in similar fashion in the early part of the season. Smith, though, regrouped and appeared to get in better shape deeper into the year. Pass rush intrigue When watching the Ravens do sled work, no one rocks it harder than 6-foot-4, 341-pound Travis Jones, the fourth-year defensive lineman out of Connecticut. When he strikes it, the earth moves. Outside linebacker and third-year player Tavius Robinson also showed good technique and explosion. Also of interest, fifth-year outside linebacker Odafe Oweh is thicker across the chest but appears to be not as quick as a year ago. It will be interesting to see what weight he plays at during the season. He is listed at 6-5 and 265 pounds. Kicker watch With sixth-round kicker Tyler Loop sitting out, presumably for a scheduled day off, undrafted rookie John Hoyland went 9-for-9 on his field goal attempts. Three were from 40-plus, and one was from 50-plus. Hoyland was wearing a GoPro camera on his helmet, which coach John Harbaugh said allows coaches to see what he’s looking at and different angles of his leg. Related Articles Ravens’ Jaire Alexander leaves Packers in the past: ‘I got good vibes here’ Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy knows clock is ticking, but doesn’t plan to slow down READERS RESPOND: Fans think the Ravens are the best team in the NFL 43 thoughts on every Ravens offensive player as training camp begins This photographer shoots from the stands. Ravens players love his work. Draft gem? If you want to see quickness, keep an eye on rookie defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, a sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech. He is getting better with the spin move and did a lot of work with pass-rush specialist Chuck Smith before the beginning of practice. Still getting better One of the best improvements from Jackson is his ability to drift to the left, even with a soft shuffle, keep his eyes down the field and complete the pass. The eighth-year veteran couldn’t do that earlier in his career. In fact, he wasn’t very good rolling to his left at all. It’s all part of his development as a top-tier quarterback. Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Cohn contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Kyle Van Noy knows he isn’t LeBron James or Steph Curry. The 34-year-old Ravens linebacker won’t be playing as long as two of the NBA’s oldest superstars, ages 40 and 37, respectively. Van Noy’s career clock is ticking. But as far as he’s concerned, he can play as long as he wants to. “That’s my mindset,” he said, after Thursday’s training camp practice in Owings Mills. “I thought about it a lot this offseason. I’m just grateful to continue to play. My body’s still good and I can play at a high level.” Van Noy is coming off the most productive of his 11-year career. The one-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion led all Baltimore pass rushers with 12.5 sacks — the first double-digit sack season of his career, worthy of a Chuck Smith-branded hoodie. Baltimore has emboldened him as a pass rusher, he has said before, more than any of his four prior stops. Van Noy still believes he’s one of the best at the position in the league. He logged the fourth-most sacks in the NFL and his pass rush win rate (16%) last year was top 20. He also finished top 20 in quarterback hits (9) and total pressures (52), per Pro Football Focus. Still, PFF ranked him as the 30th best EDGE rusher entering 2025. Van Noy didn’t contemplate retirement this offseason. But there was some internal dialogue about the state of his career and current situation. It’s been an “interesting offseason,” he said. Van Noy was asked to clarify that adjective. “There’s just other situations where I feel I’m very valuable,” he said. “And some people think I’m more valuable than others.” This season is the last on Van Noy’s two-year, $9 million deal. He’s set to make $3.75 million in 2025, carrying a $6.1 million cap hit — by all accounts a bargain for Baltimore considering his 21 1/2 combined sacks the past two seasons. Van Noy is also the oldest pass rusher in a group that includes 26-year-old Odafe Oweh, who logged double-digit sacks last season and is also entering a contract year; Tavius Robinson, who has gotten rave reviews from his coaches about his development; and now rookie second-round pick Mike Green. But Van Noy said he’s grateful to be with his Ravens teammates. He wants to insert himself a bit more to help uplift the younger guys. And he would love to celebrate a win in February under confetti alongside his family. Van Noy told The Sun back in February that he knows he can still play at a high level. “It’s something where they have to make a decision, too,” referring to Ravens decision makers. General manager Eric DeCosta said during his end-of-season news conference that Van Noy “comes to work every day with a great attitude, he’s a leader, and he’s a fun storyline this year for us.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh sees no signs of slowing down from Van Noy. Related Articles Ravens’ Jaire Alexander leaves Packers in the past: ‘I got good vibes here’ Ravens observations: Too many tight ends? Not on this team. READERS RESPOND: Fans think the Ravens are the best team in the NFL 43 thoughts on every Ravens offensive player as training camp begins This photographer shoots from the stands. Ravens players love his work. “Guys play until they can’t,” Harbaugh said. “He’s playing great. He’s still playing at a high level. So all these other narratives, the age narrative, it’s all nothing.” In March, Van Noy completed a 72-hour water fast. In other words, he only drank water for three days — no meals, no snacks, no other drinks. Just H2O. He wrote on X that he “ate real good” on vacation and needed the reset. UFC CEO Dana White was the inspiration, and he saw a few others online try it. Outside of some headaches, Van Noy said the water fast had him feeling brand new. He shed a handful of pounds. The chicken, caesar salad and vegetables after the three days helped get him back on track. Diet aside, the secret to playing at the level he has been able to the past two seasons, at his age, he said, is being “built different from a lot of kids these days” and “part of an old school cloth.” Van Noy has always considered himself a valuable asset, albeit an underrated one. ESPN did not include him in its top-10 EDGE rushers, nor was he one of four honorable mentions or among the seven who also received votes. He scoffs at that stuff. But it’s certainly fair to question whether he can repeat such a productive year entering the twilight of a long career. “The end is closer than the beginning, I know that. Everybody knows that,” Van Noy said. “But I can play as long as I want.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Desmond Watson, Tampa, the real big fella in the draft, 464 pounds, has been put on the non football illness list as a precaution, to help him get down to a healthier weight

We asked readers who they think is the best team in the NFL ahead of the 2025 season. The Ravens are among the franchises beginning training camp this week, and they open their 2025 season on Sept. 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Here are the results from our online poll: Ravens — 62% (97 votes) Eagles — 21% (33 votes) Chiefs — 9% (14 votes) Bills — 3% (5 votes) Lions — 3% (4 votes) Other — 2% (3 votes) Rams — 0% (0 votes) Here’s what some fans told us about the NFL’s best teams (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Dallas will be better this year. America’s team! — Jeff The Ravens have the best and deepest roster. But they need to be the best in the playoffs or it will be another disappointing finish. — Pat Kiernan The Ravens always have the best team. Makes you wonder why they don’t win the Super Bowl. — Rob Fickes Right now, it’s the Eagles. — Michael Andrews The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

With Ravens training camp set to start this week, The Baltimore Sun offered a few thoughts on the 42 offensive players on the team’s roster. The 53-man roster will be finalized Aug. 26 before the Ravens’ regular-season opener Sept. 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Lamar Jackson One of the NFL’s biggest stars keeps finding new sources of motivation. Jackson was ranked as the league’s No. 4 quarterback in ESPN’s poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts, behind the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow. The 28-year-old veteran is coming off a record season, albeit without an NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He was ranked as the most efficient quarterback in the NFL, both by expected points added and yards per attempt. Jackson threw 41 touchdown passes to just four interceptions, becoming the only quarterback in league history with those numbers. Baltimore’s Super Bowl hopes ultimately rest on his shoulders. Cooper Rush Rush signed a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million this offseason, giving the Ravens their most proven backup in years. Despite looking mediocre in voluntary offseason practices, the 31-year-old Rush went 9-5 as a starter with the Dallas Cowboys and has offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s trust. Devin Leary The former Kentucky quarterback is aiming to potentially make the practice squad or the 53-man roster. The NFL allows teams to elevate a third quarterback from the practice squad for games, but that player would count against the game-day roster limit. Running back Derrick Henry “King Henry’s” 2024 season was perhaps the most impressive of his career, as he converted his 20.4 touches per game into 2,114 combined rushing and receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. That earned him a two-year, $30 million extension in the offseason and he should continue to get heavy usage. How the Ravens balance the 31-year-old’s workload with other talented running backs, including Keaton Mitchell in his return from injury, will be a storyline to watch. Justice Hill The Oklahoma State product has carved out a nice role in Baltimore as RB2. Hill was the Ravens’ best receiving back last season, catching 42 passes for 383 yards, both career highs. His usage could dwindle with Mitchell returning, but Jackson clearly trusts the 27-year-old out of the backfield. Keaton Mitchell After suffering a devastating knee injury in December 2023, Mitchell, 23, is looking to return to form as both a running back and potentially the Ravens’ kick returner. Mitchell reached 22.4 mph during an offseason workout inside the team’s practice facility, which is faster than his reported speed before the injury. “He looks way better than he did at the end of last season just as far as movement,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I have hopes for him. I expect him to be really good.” Rasheen Ali A fourth-round draft pick in 2024, Ali was a nonfactor last season. He played in just six games, recording 10 carries. The former Marshall standout has some juice, and his draft pedigree puts him squarely on the roster bubble. But with Henry and Hill entrenched in their roles, and Mitchell coming back, Ali’s chances are slim. Marcus Major The 24-year-old rookie signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota after playing five seasons at Oklahoma. He’s squarely fifth on the depth chart. Wide receiver Zay Flowers The Ravens’ No. 1 wideout missed last season’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, an underrated aspect of the loss. Flowers took a massive leap in his second season. The 24-year-old made the Pro Bowl, led the team in catches (74) and receiving yards (1,059) and was 16th in the NFL in yards per route run at 2.25. Baltimore wants to involve the third-year star even more: he had five or fewer targets in five games and had less than 50 receiving yards in eight regular-season contests. “We’ve just got to get him the ball more,” Monken said. “He’s an unbelievable football player. He’s not only an outside receiver that has elite route-running skills, but he’s unbelievable with the ball in his hands.” Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers works out during a June practice. Flowers has spent time working out with quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason, building increased chemistry ahead of the 2025 season. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP) Rashod Bateman Bateman earned his third multiyear contract with the Ravens, becoming the first wideout in the team’s history to do so. Finally healthy, the 25-year-old was second in the league with one or more steps of separation while getting open, picked up 39 first downs, forced 10 missed tackles and had 26 catches of 15-plus yards, according to Pro Football Focus. If he can avoid the injury issues that have plagued his career, Bateman is a perfect complement to Flowers as the Ravens’ No. 2 receiver. DeAndre Hopkins Perhaps the biggest offseason addition on offense, the 33-year-old Hopkins is looking for a Super Bowl ring in Baltimore. While not the receiver he once was, the five-time All-Pro is still a big outside target who can allow for Flowers and Bateman to shift into the slot. Expect modest numbers but valuable contributions from the veteran this season. Tylan Wallace Wallace has never had more than 15 receptions, 200 yards or two touchdowns in a season, but he’s tied for the longest-tenured receiver on the team and can play in a pinch. The 26-year-old former Oklahoma State star brings punt returning experience, including a game-winning touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and could be the Ravens’ best option at that spot. Devontez Walker Walker, 24, played in just 11 games as a rookie and recorded one catch for a touchdown but has looked improved this offseason. He’s got the frame (6-1, 200 pounds) and speed (4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine) to be a depth piece and should make the roster. Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker leaves the field after a September practice. Walker was rarely used as a rookie, but he has impressed during offseason workouts. (Staff file) LaJohntay Wester The lightest player on the offense (170 pounds), Wester has a chance to make the roster on special teams. He’s a dynamic athlete, showcasing a ton of wiggle during OTAs. He took the majority of reps at punt returner during practices. His punt return average was 12 yards and his kick return average was 15 yards during his lone season at Colorado. Anthony Miller Miller made a spectacular one-handed catch during offseason practices, but the 30-year-old veteran is a known commodity at this point of his career. He’s played just two games over the past three seasons, both with the Ravens. Malik Cunningham Cunningham has one of the most interesting stories on the team. He was selected in the 2023 USFL draft, although he chose to bypass the regular season and signed an undrafted contract with the New England Patriots as a quarterback. The Ravens reunited him with Jackson, his former college teammate at Louisville, in 2024 and transitioned him back to wide receiver. The 26-year-old signed a reserve/future contract with the team in February. Keith Kirkwood Another big body, Kirkwood has been in the league since 2018. The Ravens signed the 30-year-old to the practice squad during training camp in 2024 and he seems destined for a similar role in 2025. Xavier Guillroy The undrafted free agent out of Arizona State recorded 43 catches for 565 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons with the Sun Devils. He posted a 39-inch vertical jump at his pro day, which could make for fun training camp catches. Dayton Wade Wade, a former Ole Miss standout, is a shifty athlete who is expected to back up Wester and Flowers during training camp. Jahmal Banks The 6-4, 220-pound Banks starred at St. Frances and then at Nebraska, where he led the Cornhuskers with 587 receiving yards in 2024. Tight end Mark Andrews Jackson publicly defended one of his closest teammates after Andrews received harsh criticism for his crucial playoff drop against the Bills. With a lengthy injury history, the 30-year-old veteran can’t be expected to play a full season. But when he’s on the field, Andrews is one of the league’s most consistent tight ends, finishing top 10 in yards, touchdowns and average depth of target at the position last year. From left, Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are shown during OTAs. The duo forms one of the best tight-end tandems in the NFL. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Isaiah Likely The 2022 fourth-rounder keeps improving. Likely’s six touchdowns were eighth in the league at his position and his yards per route run ranked top 15 among NFL tight ends. With another offseason, could this be the season the 25-year-old surpasses Andrews in the pecking order? Charlie Kolar Kolar, 26, is one of the best third tight ends in the game. He’s a strong blocker and should continue to get on the field in heavy packages and near the red zone. Sam Pitz Beyond the top three, the depth chart is unsettled. The undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota Duluth is a camp body with strong blocking experience. Zaire Mitchell-Paden The 25-year-old Rockville native was signed to the team’s practice squad in October but did not appear in a game. Offensive line Ronnie Stanley The 31-year-old left tackle made his second career Pro Bowl in 2024, which earned him a three-year, $60 million extension this offseason. Stanley is the longest tenured Raven and started all 17 games for the first time in his career last season. He did earn a career-high four holding penalties, which was a part of a larger penalty issue. Andrew Vorhees Vorhees, 26, is competing for the left guard spot, Harbaugh said. The Ravens scooped up the USC graduate in the seventh round of the 2023 draft and he started three games for them last season. After tearing his ACL in the predraft process, he looked fully healthy this offseason. Tyler Linderbaum With Lions center Frank Ragnow retiring this offseason, Linderbaum has a claim as the best center in the NFL. The 25-year-old has not allowed a sack since his rookie year, according to PFF, and was graded as the fourth-best run blocker at the position last season. Daniel Faalele Once the NFL’s heaviest player, the 370-pound Faalele was the 70th-rated guard last season, according to PFF. Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, right, talks with Roger Rosengarten, left, during 2024 training camp. Rosengarten performed well as a rookie and is the team's projected starting right tackle in 2025.(Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Roger Rosengarten Another young offensive lineman, Rosengarten was excellent as a rookie last year. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team in 2024 and started 16 games at right tackle. Ben Cleveland The 26-year-old guard signed a one-year deal worth $1.17 million this offseason even after his playing time significantly dwindled. He played just 49 offensive snaps last year, the lowest of his career. Cleveland was cited for a DUI in Georgia over the offseason. Emery Jones Jr. The rookie has not practiced this offseason with a shoulder injury and Harbaugh said that he’s not expected to be ready for the start of training camp. Even if he were able to return, it’s difficult to imagine Jones earning the opportunity to start with such little practice time. Joe Noteboom A strong veteran signing, Noteboom started almost half of his games in his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. The 30-year-old can play both tackle positions and has experience at guard. He’s the likely backup tackle to Rosengarten or Stanley. Carson Vinson The fifth-round rookie out of Alabama A&M impressed at the NFL scouting combine with his agility. The only HBCU draftee in 2025, Vinson has an opportunity to make a mark with Jones out. Garrett Dellinger The Ravens loaded up in the trenches during the draft. The LSU graduate played left tackle, left guard and center during his time with the Tigers and that positional versatility enhances his chances to make the roster. Nick Samac The center did not appear in any games in 2024 and should be in a battle for a backup role. He does have a year in the system, which should give him an advantage over other options. Related Articles This photographer shoots from the stands. Ravens players love his work. Ravens observations from opening practice of training camp What to expect in the Ravens’ kicker battle featuring rookie Tyler Loop Ravens QB Lamar Jackson not ‘trying to think about Super Bowl yet’ Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Trump White House visit: ‘I root for our president’ Darrian Dalcourt Dalcourt starred at St. Frances and committed to Alabama as a four-star recruit. He started 16 games at center for the Crimson Tide and signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Jared Penning Penning, the younger brother of 2022 first-round pick and current New Orleans Saints tackle Trevor Penning, was a standout at Northern Illinois. Corey Bullock The Maryland graduate transferred to the Terps for the final season of his college career. He was the only steady force amid a shaky offensive line and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Ravens. Gerad Lichtenhan The Oregon State left tackle was the Offensive Lineman of the Year in the two-team Pac-12 Conference and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. He earned an 81.8 overall grade from PFF and committed just one penalty while giving up two sacks. Reid Holskey Holskey started 44 games at Miami (Ohio) and was named first-team All-MAC in 2024. Ozzie Hutchinson Hutchinson was named All-Coastal Athletic Association last fall despite playing just six games because of injuries. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Lamar Jackson prefers to work in private. During the offseason, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player doesn’t post training montages or pictures from the gym like many of his counterparts around the league. There’s a vague smokescreen of mystery shielding Jackson’s football life from the time one season ends and the next begins. Earlier this month, Hassan Edwards, a Baltimore native and freelance photographer, got to break that veil. He was invited to South Florida — reaping two-plus-years haphazardly sneaking his camera into M&T Bank Stadium — to capture Jackson throwing passes to Zay Flowers. “I was just like, ‘Dang, that’s my favorite player in front of me,’” Edwards said. Edwards, a 23-year-old graduate of Baltimore City College then Baltimore City Community College, had a camera growing up because he admired the one his uncle had. But it was never anything he used seriously. Then a friend needed a favor: someone to shoot his brand event. After that, Edwards brought his camera to a friend’s high school football game. There was something about capturing a moment, tapping into his creativity, that clicked. That imaginative side of Edwards, an interest in multimedia storytelling, was always there, but he never had much of an outlet for it. That changed in 2018. Someone sent a Ravens hype video in their group chat. Edwards didn’t like the way it came together. So he made his own; an “Avengers” style mixtape that gained some traction on social media. Mixing NFL highlight tapes is “where my creative process came from,” he said. But it was barely a hobby, overshadowed by a life he wasn’t happy with. In 2021, Edwards felt himself spiraling. He was in school and working part-time at Home Depot, then Target. He didn’t have any discernible passions. Late 2022 was “probably the lowest I’ve ever been.” “Photography was something I could use to escape from all that,” Edwards said. “It just helped me distract my mind off everything.” He made it to a few home Ravens games in 2022. Game day photography became part of his weekly schedule by 2023, as he chronicled the No. 1 seed’s chase to an AFC North championship. Edwards’ pictures picked up steam on social media, enough so that when Rashod Bateman needed a photographer for a lifestyle shoot, someone recommended the local kid. Other players started to catch on, asking Edwards for game photos of themselves to post to their own social media accounts: Isaiah Likely, Nate Wiggins, Keaton Mitchell, Trenton Simpson and more. Lamar Jackson during a private workout in South Florida from early July. The two-time MVP quarterback doesn't post much from his offseason training. Hassan Edwards had the chance to capture some of the summer magic (Courtesy: Hassan Edwards). There are two pictures from last season that Edwards still speaks fondly of. First was from Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Edwards snapped the frame and showed it to his buddy. “I was like, ‘Ooh, I like this one.’” It was Jackson, his back to the camera, slamming on the brakes and propped up on his tippy toes like Michael Jackson, while two helpless defenders flew by. The other was a touchdown pass to Bateman against Cincinnati, more famous for Jackson turning away from the throw chucking up three fingers like it was a Steph Curry triple. “Somebody said my pictures always look like a lock screen,” Edwards said. “I do that on purpose as well. I leave space at the top. I’m not on the field. Since I’m not up close I can’t get the whole body and keep all the quality. I try to keep a certain style where you can see a story within it but you can also grab it and use it for your lock screen.” View the full article

A lot of plays on both sides of the ball, no real injuries, and perhaps the best news of the day

Just ir jones.

And a little more from Jeff Zebreic: "The Ravens’ notoriously difficult conditioning test has delayed the training camp debuts of many players over the years. However, it didn’t hold anyone out of action this year. Eighty-eight of the team’s 91 players participated in the first practice. The only exceptions were third-round offensive tackle Emery Jones Jr. (shoulder), defensive back Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles) and inside linebacker Jake Hummel (hand). Jones is on the non-football injury list and is expected to miss the first couple of weeks of camp. Washington will miss most, if not all, of the regular season after tearing his Achilles during an offseason workout. Hummel cut his hand in a non-football accident and will likely miss at least the first week of camp."

This sums it up: https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/jaire-alexander-ravens-standouts-training-camp-day-1-practice-report

Well, Day One is over...takeaways included all members of the O & D lines coming to camp already in shape, Flowers tweaking something in leg but returning to play at full-go (hopefully OK tomorrow with no swelling), and in general, just good vibes from the team about how and where they want to go.

The Ravens opened training camp for the 2025 season Wednesday with a 90-minute session that amounted to a glorified offseason practice — except the top players were in attendance. As expected, coach John Harbaugh declared it a good practice and certain things were clearly noticeable. It appeared that most of the players reported in good shape and were ready to go, even 6-foot-8, 370-pound starting right guard Daniel Faalele. Linebacker Jake Hummel, who will be out a week with a cut on his hand, was the only unexpected absence. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the coming days as the temperatures get hotter, but that’s plus for the offensive line. Other starters who looked good were veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who has rebuilt the lower half of his body recently, and second-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten, who looks bigger and thicker compared with his rookie campaign. The full pads go on Monday. Here’s what else we saw from the opening day of camp: Nice hands There were several top catches on Day 1. Even though he was out of bounds, veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins hauled in a one-handed, quick 15-yard out after the ball rolled along his back. Tight end Mark Andrews caught a long touchdown pass while streaking down the right hash mark. Andrews completed the play with a 20-yard run, something he couldn’t do last season. That’s a good sign. New-look secondary The Ravens used various starting combinations in the secondary, which included cornerbacks Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander. The Ravens are hoping the injury-prone Alexander can stay healthy for an entire season and return to the form that made him one of the best in the NFL in 2020 and 2022. Alexander is cocky, and that’s desperately needed. He knocked down a pass intended for receiver Dayton Wade in the middle of practice and then did one of those signature celebrations. You didn’t see much of that last season when the Ravens had the No. 31-ranked pass defense in the NFL. I will wait to see if that happens consistently throughout training camp, but it was nice to see some swag back on defense from another player besides Humphrey. Ravens receivers didn’t get much separation Wednesday, but the defense is always ahead of the offense early in the season. Injury scare Fans were holding a collective breath when slot receiver Zay Flowers went down with either a knee or ankle injury after a catch along the left sideline during a 7-on-7 period. Flowers sat on a water cooler for about 10 minutes before returning to action. Within minutes of returning, he caught a short pass over the middle, made a jump cut and then juked past a defender, so apparently he was OK. Of course, we’ll see if he is on the field Thursday because a lot of swelling might occur overnight. Flowers, though, looked healthy. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews showed his speed on a long touchdown catch. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Missed opportunities The Ravens had two big misses in practice as second-year receiver Devontez Walker failed to hold onto a pass after diving over rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone and falling to the ground. Third-year running back Keaton Mitchell simply dropped a pass from backup quarterback Cooper Rush in what should have been a 40- to 50-yard touchdown reception. Mitchell is in a battle to be the third-down back with Justice Hill, but Hill’s ability to block gives him the edge in passing situations. Mitchell might have made the play if he didn’t stop running because he didn’t think that he was going to get the ball. Where’s the syrup? The pancake award goes to fullback Patrick Ricard, who easily knocked defensive end David Ojabo to the ground during a pass protection drill. I kept waiting for the late boxing announcer Howard Cosell to say “Down goes Frazier!” Ojabo won’t want to look at the film on that hit. Deal or no deal? With Lamar Jackson in training camp, the Ravens might finally be able to negotiate a new deal with the star quarterback. Everyone knows that Jackson has to be pinpointed, and there is no better time than with him practicing every day. This isn’t hard to figure out. Top-caliber quarterbacks rotate being the highest-paid player in the NFL, so Jackson will make more on his next deal than the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, who averages $60 million per year on his $240 million extension. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard, left, and fullback Lucas Scott clash during a drill. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kicker watch The rookie kickers performed well. Tyler Loop, drafted in the sixth round out of Arizona, was 6-for-6. John Hoyland, an undrafted free agent from Wyoming, was 4-for-5 with his lone miss from 40 yards. “With the kickers, it’s a process, and nobody’s more processed than the kickers,” Harbaugh said. “It’s probably more like golf than any other sport in terms of process, swing, replicating that time and time again [and] making a good kick. Arnold Palmer used to talk about making a good putt. Did I make a good putt? If I made a good putt, whether it goes in or not is not the point. The point is, if I make a good putt, I’m going to give myself the best chance to be successful. We want our guys to learn how to make a good kick over and over again in every circumstance. Related Articles What to expect in the Ravens’ kicker battle featuring rookie Tyler Loop Ravens QB Lamar Jackson not ‘trying to think about Super Bowl yet’ Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Trump White House visit: ‘I root for our president’ What NFL power rankings say about the Ravens entering training camp The Ravens’ defense goes as Roquan Smith goes — and he knows it “So that process goes into when they’re over there on the side, and nobody’s paying attention to them. When they bring it over to the team period, when they bring it over to a team situation period like we did the second period today in practice where they had to run on the field and make a kick — as game-like as we can make it now — and then when we take it into the game, replicate the kick every single time. That’s what we’re chasing with those guys.” Harbaugh on Henry Running back Derrick Henry has already made a fan out of Harbaugh after only one season with the Ravens. “The intangible thing is the work ethic and the attitude, the enthusiasm for the day,” Harbaugh said of the 31-year-old veteran, who rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. “My dad talks about ‘attacking the day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind,’ and I see that every day, and it’s not necessarily in what he says — although, he’ll have fun — [but] it’s what he does and the way he works at it and how hard he works to get better, how intentional he is about being the best player he can be. That’s his biggest trait, I think.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

At the Ravens’ first training camp practice, while most of the 90-man roster crowds one field, a small quartet of players stands alone on the other. Kickers Tyler Loop and John Hoyland, along with punter Jordan Stout and long snapper Nick Moore, work off to the side during most team drills, practicing different variations of kicks. They will then join the team for simulated attempts. Both kickers were solid during Wednesday’s first glimpse in Owings Mills. The two combined to go 9-for-10 on field goal attempts, with Hoyland’s final kick being the only miss of the day. Loop made kicks from 34, 36, 32, 27 and 30 yards. Hoyland converted his opportunities from 37, 27, 32 and 37 yards, while he missed a 40-yarder. Expect the competition to continue well into training camp, as the Ravens are hoping to see how the specialists perform in high-pressure, game-like situations. That includes simulated drills, end-of-practice kicks and potentially preseason games. Coach John Harbaugh compared kicking with golf and said that kickers should look at their attempts through a process-based lens. If they made a good kick, but it sailed wide, that’s fine. If they struck the ball poorly, but it went through the uprights, what adjustments can they make? The Ravens are aiming to replace longtime kicker Justin Tucker, who was released by the team and subsequently suspended by the NFL for the first 10 weeks of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior at several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers. Tucker, who went undrafted out of Texas, made 89.1% of his field goal attempts in 13 seasons with Baltimore, making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Loop was the first kicker drafted in the team’s history and was the second specialist to come off the board in April. “We felt like he was the best kicker. It made sense for us to take him,” general manager Eric DeCosta said after the draft. Loop had one of the strongest legs in the class and made several 60-yard field goals during voluntary offseason practices. He finished his Arizona career with a program-record 83.75% success rate on field goal attempts, including a 62-yarder that set a school record. However, drafted kickers tend to be hit-or-miss in their rookie seasons. The Bengals’ Evan McPherson became one of the NFL’s top specialists in his first season, drilling several game-winning field goals in Cincinnati’s run to the Super Bowl in 2022. He tied Adam Vinatieri for the most field goals made in a single postseason with 14. But others have struggled. New England Patriots draft pick Chad Ryland, a former Maryland standout, made just 64% of his kicks in his 2023 rookie campaign and was released the following year. Cleveland Browns kicker Cade York was also cut after converting only 75% of his field goal attempts in his 2022 rookie season. Since 2016, drafted kickers have made an average of 81.22% of their field goal attempts during their rookie season. But more than half of the kickers drafted in the past decade were on a new team in their second NFL season. Related Articles Ravens observations from opening practice of training camp Ravens QB Lamar Jackson not ‘trying to think about Super Bowl yet’ Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Trump White House visit: ‘I root for our president’ What NFL power rankings say about the Ravens entering training camp The Ravens’ defense goes as Roquan Smith goes — and he knows it The Ravens added Hoyland, an undrafted free agent, in the offseason to compete with Loop. Hoyland is Wyoming’s all-time leading scorer and converted 15 of 19 field goal attempts in his final season. While his leg is not as strong as Loop’s, he still made several 50-plus-yard field goals in college. The most likely outcome is that Loop wins the job. He has the college pedigree, the front office invested a draft pick in him and he’s outpaced Hoyland in practices so far. But the competition isn’t decided yet. Whichever kicker performs better in practice and preseason games will likely be the replacement to one of the franchise’s most reliable players. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Lamar Jackson dropped back for his first pass in 11-on-11, cocked and fired the ball toward an out-breaking DeAndre Hopkins on the sideline, the pass too far in front of the new wide receiver as it skidded to the grass. One throw later, he connected with a more familiar target, with third-year Pro Bowl receiver Zay Flowers hauling in a pass over the middle and breaking loose in the secondary. And so it begins. Jackson and the Ravens kicked off their first day of training camp under warm, sunny skies Wednesday in Owings Mills, where the goal of a trip to the organization’s first Super Bowl since 2012 began in earnest but remains a distant thought. “I’m really not trying not to think that far,” Jackson, 28 and entering his eighth season in Baltimore, said. “Because every time we have those discussions, man, we get to the playoffs, we don’t punch in, we don’t finish. So I’m pretty much trying to finish camp the correct way and get ready for the Bills. “I’m not really trying to think about the Super Bowl yet.” Buffalo, on the other hand, is a more immediate target. The Bills are the ones who ended the Ravens’ bid for a championship in excruciating fashion, 27-25, on a snowy evening at Highmark Stadium in January. The teams will meet again in Week 1 on Sept. 7, also in Orchard Park, New York, on “Sunday Night Football.” First, though, six weeks of training camp, including three preseason games and two joint practices. “We’re just trying to have a great day today,” coach John Harbaugh said when asked about Jackson entering his third year under offensive coordinator Todd Monken and second alongside three-time All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. “We have a lot of goals in terms of what we’re trying to do specifically with our offense. We’re trying to get better at 1,000 different things that apply to what we’re trying to do. “That’s kind of an advantage of Year 3. We have a really good handle on who we are, what our guys are good at, our identity if you want to call it that.” Jackson is of course at the nexus of that identity, and this is the time of year to refamiliarize himself with his pass catchers and introduce himself to new ones. Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection, is the most notable among them. There’s also new cornerback Jaire Alexander, a former college teammate of Jackson’s who signed with the Ravens earlier this offseason after his release from the Green Bay Packers. At one point, Jackson lofted a fade to Hopkins up the sideline, who made a nifty back shoulder grab with Alexander in tight coverage. Alexander got up and bowed in a sign of respect. “He’s still that guy,” Jackson said of Alexander, a 28-year-old two-time All-Pro. So is Jackson, particularly when it comes to experimenting with plays this time of year, even when it might not be the intended one. “Coach Monk probably get on me a little bit because he be wanting me to throw the ball certain places,” Jackson said. “But I’m like sometimes in the game it might not happen the way it is in practice. “I try everything. Sometimes coach let me get away with it, sometimes he gonna coach me.” Their partnership has worked incredibly and historically well so far. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson turns during the first day of training camp. Jackson isn't shy about experimenting with plays during preseason practices. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) In 2023, Jackson set career highs in passing yards (3,678) and completion percentage (.672) and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Ravens to the league’s best record (13-4) and the AFC championship game. Last season, he was even better, with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions while also rushing for 915 yards and four scores. Baltimore became the first team in history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000, with Henry’s 1,921 the second-most in the NFL behind only the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley. Yet, the Ravens believe they — and Jackson — can be even better. “He works really hard at being better,” Harbaugh said. “That position, there’s so much that goes into playing that position and Lamar’s young. “He’s already great. He’s not one of these guys who says I’m great, I’m there, I’ve arrived, I’m already there. He never looks at it that way. … He’s grown in every way.” Still, at this point Jackson will only be measured by postseason success, and that has been tougher to come by. Baltimore is just 3-5 in the playoffs with Jackson at the helm. In that span, he has thrown 10 touchdown passes but also seven interceptions. He has lost four fumbles as well. In last season’s divisional round loss to the Bills, Baltimore had three turnovers while Buffalo had none. Two of them were by Jackson, who had an interception and a fumble. How to fix that? “Just hold onto the football,” Jackson said. Related Articles Ravens observations from opening practice of training camp What to expect in the Ravens’ kicker battle featuring rookie Tyler Loop Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Trump White House visit: ‘I root for our president’ What NFL power rankings say about the Ravens entering training camp The Ravens’ defense goes as Roquan Smith goes — and he knows it For now, though, he has other things on his mind, like finding success in training camp. “Just score on our defense,” he said when asked to define what that looks like. “We got one of the best defenses in the league. If we could put points on our defense or move the ball on our defense I feel like we’re having success.” The offense, with all but one of its starters back from last season plus the addition of Hopkins, shouldn’t be a problem. “We’re looking great on paper,” Jackson said. “But we’re gonna see when the time comes.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

John Harbaugh roots for his president, he said, the same way he roots for his quarterback and his football team. The longtime Ravens coach and his younger brother Jim, coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, visited President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month. When asked about the trip, Jim recently quoted the family mantra: “I mean, who gets invited to the White House with eight other family members and doesn’t go? Nooobody.” And on Wednesday, on the first day of training camp in Owings Mills, John called it an “amazing experience” with his family. John, 62, also took issue with the framing of the question, which pointed out that Trump has previously made disparaging comments about Baltimore, calling it “disgusting, rat and rodent infested.” “Why would you frame that question,” Harbaugh started to say with a big smile across his face. “I would’ve framed the question like, ‘You got a chance to visit with the president, what was that like?’ It was awesome.” That visit, which included nine members of the Harbaugh family, was John’s fourth presidential meeting and Jim’s seventh. Both brothers individually visited the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency. John said that there’s a photo in his office from the family’s visit with former President Ronald Reagan in 1987 when Jim was a Heisman Trophy candidate at Michigan. John spent time with Joe Biden in 2009 as part of the NFL USO coaches tour. Jim has also met Gerald Ford, George Bush and Bill Clinton. It’s unclear what was discussed during the Harbaugh family’s meeting with Trump, but the White House invited the two coaches to visit, according to a USA Today report. John did not elaborate Wednesday. Neither brother publicly endorsed a presidential candidate in the 2024 election. In fact, John has largely avoided wading into politics during his coaching tenure, making only a few comments about Trump in recent years. In August 2015, John backed the idea that headlined Trump’s first campaign: to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. “You don’t have a border, you don’t have a country,” he said at the time. Then, in 2017, John stood by his players when several took a knee during the national anthem before a game in London. Ravens players decided to kneel after Trump said at a rally earlier that year that any player who knelt during “The Star-Spangled Banner” should be fired by team owners. Related Articles Ravens observations from opening practice of training camp What to expect in the Ravens’ kicker battle featuring rookie Tyler Loop Ravens QB Lamar Jackson not ‘trying to think about Super Bowl yet’ What NFL power rankings say about the Ravens entering training camp The Ravens’ defense goes as Roquan Smith goes — and he knows it Wednesday was the first time that Harbaugh returned to the topic of the divisive sitting president. He pledged his support for the office of the president, without specifically naming support for Trump. John did note that it was “really meaningful” watching how Trump treated his mom, Jackie Harbaugh. “And I promise you,” John said, “I root for our president. I want our president to be successful, just like I want my quarterback to be successful and I want my team to be successful.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ready or not, football is back. The Ravens will hold their first practice of training camp Wednesday, with the full team returning to the field for the first time since a divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills in January. Baltimore will have more than six weeks of preparation and three preseason games before kicking off the regular season Sept. 7 on “Sunday Night Football” for a rematch in Orchard Park, New York, against the team that ended its standout 2024 season. Expectations are high once again for the Ravens, who have been among the league’s most successful teams under coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson but have yet to reach the Super Bowl with the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player under center. If preseason rankings are any indication, though, this could be the year the Ravens finally break through. Here’s a look at how experts around the league rank the team’s roster heading into the new season: ESPN: No. 1 NFL analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder ranked every lineup in the league considering factors such as talent, age and production. In a bit of a surprise, considering the Philadelphia Eagles return most of last year’s Super Bowl championship team, the Ravens claimed the top spot. Less surprising was Jackson being identified as the team’s biggest strength coming off back-to-back All-Pro seasons. Guard, however, is once again considered a weakness “for a roster that is otherwise pretty stacked,” Clay writes, with Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland or a rookie vying to replace Patrick Mekari at left guard and Daniel Faalele returning on the right side “after underwhelming as a run blocker.” Also on the offensive line, left tackle Ronnie Stanley is considered the X factor for 2025. “This is all about his health,” Walder writes after Stanley signed a three-year, $60 million extension this offseason. “Stanley didn’t miss a game last season, which helped earn him a well-deserved contract, but that doesn’t mean the injury risks all went away. When Stanley and Jackson are on the field, the Ravens’ offense is awfully hard to beat.” Of course, the Ravens enter the season with uncertainty at kicker for the first time in more than a decade after Justin Tucker was released and later suspended 10 games by the NFL after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior at several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers. Sixth-round draft pick Tyler Loop, considered a “nonstarter to watch,” and undrafted rookie John Hoyland are competing for the job. The Sporting News: No. 1 Alec Sanner calls the Ravens “regular-season monsters” but, like many others, questions their playoff bonafides. Still, he says Baltimore “looks like the most complete team in football,” giving the Ravens the edge over the Eagles for the top spot. “The Ravens don’t need any more excuses; it’s time,” Sanner writes. The Athletic: No. 2 The Ravens come in second behind the Eagles in Josh Kendall’s rankings after an impressive second half of the 2024 season in which Baltimore ranked third in scoring (30 points per game) and second in scoring defense (18 points per game allowed). “Now, it’s just a matter of snapping a streak of three straight one-score losses in playoff matchups,” Kendall writes. “The only thing keeping the Ravens from the top of this list is that they lost 15 free agents in the offseason.” The Mina Kimes Show: No. 2 Given the choice between the Eagles and Ravens for the title of the league’s best on the ESPN analyst’s podcast, former NFL defensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long gave one of his former teams the nod – but not by much. “They have more proven playoff success, when all things are close,” Long said of the Eagles. “And they are [close]. Listen, Lamar is fantastic. I know [Jalen] Hurts has the Super Bowl [trophy] but I’m not going to do the thing where as a homer I say, ‘Hurts is better than Lamar.’ “Lamar was arguably MVP last year, and [the Ravens made] some additions in the secondary. I’m excited about [Malaki Starks] from Georgia. [Odafe] Oweh quietly had double digits [sacks] last year. I think they’re going to be tough to run the ball on.” In a league that Kimes said “is so top heavy” right now, Long said the difference might be how well the Ravens’ star running back holds up entering his age-31 season. “The Derrick Henry, ‘Hey, this guy is going to get the ball a million times a year, year over year over year and never slow down’ thing … I’m not betting on it slowing down, but I do feel like the Eagles, they deserve having the No. 1 spot over the Ravens.” Bleacher Report: No. 4 Kristopher Knox said that the “addition of cornerback Jaire Alexander didn’t really change my opinion of the Ravens, though I already had Baltimore as a top-five contender and the team to beat in the AFC North.” He liked what general manager Eric DeCosta and the Ravens did this offseason and expects the defense to hold up better under second-year coordinator Zach Orr. Related Articles The Ravens’ defense goes as Roquan Smith goes — and he knows it Ravens’ Zach Orr had a debut like no other. He and his defense are better now. Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike wants to be a ‘tenacious force’ in 2025 6 things to watch for as the Ravens open training camp READER POLL: Who has the best team in the NFL? Still, there isn’t as much confidence in the Ravens until they can show it on the field in the postseason. “I’d still like to see Lamar Jackson prove he can beat Buffalo, Cincinnati or Kansas City in a playoff game,” Knox writes, “but if Jackson stays healthy, I expect him to have that chance in January.” Pro Football Talk: No. 4 Consider Mike Florio also of the opinion that the Ravens need to prove themselves first before being considered better than the Eagles, Chiefs or Bills. Kansas City and Philadelphia have won or made the Super Bowl multiple times in the past six seasons, while Buffalo has eliminated the Ravens and Jackson twice during that span. “The window is still wide open, but the Bills and Chiefs are still blocking full daylight,” Florio writes. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

When an anonymous NFL assistant said in an ESPN ranking of off-ball linebackers last week that the Ravens’ Roquan Smith “needs to get in better shape” and that he “looks a little sluggish at times,” Kyle Van Noy rushed to his keyboard for a profane rebuttal with the same verve that he often displayed pursuing opposing quarterbacks for Baltimore last season. Van Noy’s NSFW defense on X — and quarterback Lamar Jackson’s tacit endorsement via re-post — of a teammate voted Associated Press first-team All-Pro was hardly surprising (never mind that Smith was second behind only San Francisco 49ers star Fred Warner on ESPN’s list). But every outsized reaction almost always carries at least a shred of stinging truth. Smith’s 2024 performance was no exception. He led the team in tackles (154) again in what was his eighth NFL season and third in Baltimore since the Ravens traded for him midway through 2022. He was disruptive in the passing game down the stretch as well, ranking as the fourth-best linebacker in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, with an 81.8 coverage grade from Week 11 onward. But that is a painting only partially complete. Overall, PFF ranked Smith as just the 86th best linebacker in the NFL last season with a mark of 65.2. Through his first nine games, he had only one tackle for loss, no sacks or quarterback hits, and three pass breakups. Against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, wide receiver Rashee Rice racked up seven catches for 103 yards, exposing some glaring weaknesses in the Ravens’ coverage that included Smith. In Week 9, Baltimore blew out the Denver Broncos, 41-10, but Smith had just three tackles in 54 snaps and, on one play, got juked badly by quarterback Bo Nix. In between, communication issues permeated the defense as a whole. There were personnel problems that most notably included fellow inside linebacker Trenton Simpson’s struggles and eventual benching. And there was frustration with some of the coaching, the latter eventually leading to the firing of inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone after the season. Smith, the bellower of fiery pregame speeches and wearer of the green dot as the defensive play-caller, also acknowledged that his play was at times not up to its usual snuff, with reasons ranging from his body to trying at times to do too much to cover up for others. “Coming into the year, I was banged up early in the year,” Smith told The Baltimore Sun recently, though he was not specific about lingering injuries that later led to hamstring issues during the season. “Some of that was just [needing to be] in better shape; then just focusing on doing my job and not [doing] anything more or anything less.” A lot has changed since then. Smith is one of four players who second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr spoke highly about after mandatory minicamp in June, noting that the 28-year-old is “running at some untimely speeds right now that he hasn’t ran at for us.” Simpson is also “a lot more confident,” Orr added, and now has an understanding of the defense that is “completely different from what it was last year,” according to Smith. DeLeone, meanwhile, was replaced by Tyler Santucci, who was viewed as a fast riser in the college ranks and drew praise for his work at Georgia Tech, Duke and Texas A&M. Related Articles Ravens’ Zach Orr had a debut like no other. He and his defense are better now. Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike wants to be a ‘tenacious force’ in 2025 6 things to watch for as the Ravens open training camp READER POLL: Who has the best team in the NFL? Ravens 53-man roster projection: Position battles to watch entering camp The Ravens have also made scheme and roster adjustments. There is a growing trend toward more nickel and dime defenses — which deploy more defensive backs to counter a pass-heavy attack — which should alleviate some of the pressure on Smith. Malcontent safeties Eddie Jackson and Marcus Williams are also gone, the former waived before the end of November last year, the latter released in March. The communication issues that plagued Baltimore during the first half of last season have also been cleaned up, and the communication has been “crystal clear” so far, Smith said. “A lot of times last year, it would be like people would know what to do, but then not being on the same page sometimes would make this person look crazy or that person look crazy,” Smith continued. “All of us would look crazy at the end of the day. “[At OTAs], this was the most installs that have been thrown at us, that I’ve been thrown at my entire career. It’s pretty sweet to see. Seeing how we respond, making minimal errors. It’s not nearly as many errors as before.” It bodes well for a defense that just two years ago was historically great. It’s also just the start of training camp, which kicks off with the first full practice Wednesday. “It’s about being in good shape and having a clear understanding of what's going on,” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith told The Baltimore Sun when asked what his biggest focus heading into the year is. (Kim Hairston/Staff file) The expectation from the organization and Smith himself is a much better performance this season. With three years remaining on a five-year, $100 million contract that makes him the highest-paid player at his position, it will have to be for the emotional and physical heartbeat of the defense. “It’s about being in good shape and having a clear understanding of what’s going on,” Smith told The Sun when asked what his biggest focus heading into the year is. “For myself, eating better and taking better care of myself and make sure I’m taking care of that and not letting it grow into something else. “In this league, it’s what have you done for me lately.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr was on a roller coaster at Disney World, the so-called happiest place on earth. His wife, Chanel, couldn’t keep her eyes open as the ride took flight, but Zach’s were wide-open, while his son Zachary Paul II laughed the whole way around. It was quite a different scene last September. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, rematch of the AFC championship game, prime-time. Helluva welcome-to-the NFL moment for Orr, 33, the second-youngest defensive coordinator in the league when John Harbaugh ordained him to replace Mike Macdonald after Macdonald departed last offseason to become the Seattle Seahawks coach. “It was crazy,” Orr told The Baltimore Sun of the Chiefs. “They pulled out ALL the tricks. “The game, it happened a lot faster than what I anticipated from a play-calling standpoint. They were pulling out all the stops to make me uncomfortable. I was thinking about how they would attack our defense and our scheme. I didn’t think how they would try to mess with me as a play caller.” Kansas City coach Andy Reid has been around — three Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs, 2002 Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s boss — and did just that. Among the tricks: Often waiting until the play clock got under 15 seconds to put the offensive personnel group on the field. That’s the mark that Orr’s radio to on-field play caller and linebacker Roquan Smith cut out by rule, thus rendering communication impossible and forcing the brain of Orr, in his first year of calling plays at any level, to scramble. “Week 1, I feel like I let the defense and the team down,” Orr continued. “I didn’t feel like we was ready to roll from my standpoint. I put that 100% on me. I felt bad. I felt sick to my stomach.” The pain would subside, but it would take a while. After losing a nail-biter to the Chiefs, 27-20, the lowly Las Vegas Raiders stunned Baltimore at home. Three victories followed, but the defense was a sieve. So after Week 5, Harbaugh hired his former defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, as a senior adviser. Meanwhile, the criticism mounted. Just a year earlier, the Ravens had become the first team in NFL history to capture the defensive triple crown, leading the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed. Now, they were the antithesis of that, the nadir coming in a pair of games against the Cincinnati Bengals in Weeks 5 and 10 in which quarterback Joe Burrow threw for a combined 820 yards and nine touchdowns and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had 21 total catches for 457 yards and five scores. “You could look at it and be like, ‘Do they not think I’m capable of the job?’ Or you can look at it like, ‘Maybe I need some more help and maybe this guy could help me out,’” Orr said of the Pees addition. “If we tell the players they gotta be team players, we gotta be team players. “It definitely motivated me, though. I’m a highly motivated guy.” Orr, a former linebacker with the Ravens whose career was cut short because of a congenital spine and neck condition in 2017, could also bury himself in his work, he said. That wasn’t the case for his family, though. It was tough on his wife and father and others in his family. “They know there’s going to be criticism, they know there’s going to be praise that comes with it, but I don’t think they anticipated how much it might’ve been,” Orr said. “They were calling me all the time saying, ‘Are you good?’” He was. “It’s hard when people don’t know what’s really going on and you have to go with what’s out there,” Zach’s father Terry Orr, a former tight end for Washington and the San Diego Chargers, told The Sun. “But I thought he handled it like a champ and said what needed to be said and kept on grinding. “He never got down. I know he was frustrated, but he never got down. I think that helped not just with his players, but with us as well.” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr is shown during training camp in 2024. Orr gained confidence throughout the 2024 season in his first experience as a coordinator. (Kim Hairston/Staff) What also helped was that Orr — who was likely headed to Seattle to become Macdonald’s defensive coordinator before Harbaugh quickly hired him the day after then-Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson bolted for the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator opening — finally felt comfortable enough to make significant changes in several areas. Malcontent safety Eddie Jackson was benched, then waived. Aggrieved and also struggling safety Marcus Williams was also benched in favor of Ar’Darius Washington. All-Pro, do-everything safety Kyle Hamilton was deployed more often on the back end to help stanch deep passes. Struggling second-year inside linebacker Trenton Simpson was benched in favor of a rotation of veterans Malik Harrison and Chris Board. The structure of defensive meetings was changed, with position groups sometimes lumped together and players empowered to ask questions and share their thoughts. The scheme was tweaked. “Earlier in the season I was trying so much to keep so much [of the] carryover [from the previous year],” Orr said. “The system is the system and it’s been the system since Harbaugh started here, but every year has it’s own little twist based off opponents and personnel.” Once it took hold, the improvements were dramatic, with Baltimore boasting one of the league’s best defenses down the stretch. “I felt that, sadly, there’s a lot of things that were being coached that were coached correctly, and when he put it out there for us we weren’t clicking, as far as on the field,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “It actually held us back as a defense from what we could call if we couldn’t execute what was called, so some of the things had to get a lot more simple until we could show that we could execute these things. “Every single player was somebody not doing what they were supposed to do in those first however many weeks, and I think the biggest change was just all 11 guys doing their job.” Those around Orr noticed the impact it had as well, for the team and for the rookie coordinator. “My opinion was it was hard for him because it was first year coming in, I’m the DC, this is what I’m doing,” Terry Orr said, adding that father and son would talk after every game and the former would just let the latter go on unimpeded to get things off his chest. “I think he was slow to pull the trigger. He knew what he needed to do, but you’re in that position, it’s just tough. “But then he was able to put his chest out and say yeah I got it, I’m in charge. … He didn’t really feel in his mind he was in charge.” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr celebrates with defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh during a playoff win over the Steelers. Orr's defense played its best football in 2024 at the end of the season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Many on the outside credited Pees and some inside did as well, including Harbaugh, who praised the veteran coach for helping the unit reconnect with its defensive roots that Pees had helped established during his tenure as defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017. But this spring, Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith gave an impassioned, 491-word defense of what Orr had done. “I watched this coordinator stand on 10 toes,” Smith said, in part. “Zach is the guy. Zach Orr, I’m telling you, is going to be an incredible coordinator, and let me tell you why. When we were struggling last year, I watched him stand in front of these mics every week and talk to you all, and he didn’t flinch. But I also watched him stand in front of the room [when we] played the Bengals, and it wasn’t like we were celebrating because, from a defensive standpoint, they did a lot. They had a great day on us. Zach Orr looked those players in the eye, and he never lets the highs get too high or the lows get too low; he stayed in the middle. “He always would be positive, but he was tough. He’s tough on the coaches and the players. He would tell everybody, and he would show everybody how close we were to actually having success. It might be an angle of a defensive back running to the ball, or it might be a pass rusher that ran past the quarterback, and the quarterback ran. Zach would stand and talk to everybody, and he led. He never flinched. … I know last year a lot of people in the media were saying, ‘Well, this guy came in and helped.’ No, Zach Orr did it. … He’s a special coach, and I’m really blessed to be around a guy like that.” If the games against the Bengals were rock-bottom, then Baltimore’s Week 17 contest against the Texans in Houston was its zenith. Christmas Day. Netflix. A Beyonce concert at halftime. The need for the Ravens to win against the AFC South-leading Texans to keep their AFC North title hopes alive. The game was a rout, 31-2, with the highlight a fourth-down stop by Washington at the Ravens’ goal line that was followed by the 5-foot-8, 180-pound defensive back sending his defensive coordinator to the NRG Stadium turf amid the celebration. “To go out there and put on a complete performance like that was great,” Orr says now. “It was one of the best days of my life. I’ll never forget that.” Yet as training camp kicks off with the first full practice, Orr knows that there is more work to be done. Baltimore ranked 31st against the pass last season, and while the Ravens were second in the league in sacks, they were middle of the pack in pressure rate. After forcing 31 turnovers in 2023, the Ravens also had just 17 takeaways last season, with only six teams forcing fewer. They also turned the ball over three times in a divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills, while the Bills did not turn the ball over. The belief in Orr, though, has never wavered. Related Articles The Ravens’ defense goes as Roquan Smith goes — and he knows it Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike wants to be a ‘tenacious force’ in 2025 6 things to watch for as the Ravens open training camp READER POLL: Who has the best team in the NFL? Ravens 53-man roster projection: Position battles to watch entering camp “We all grow, get better,” Harbaugh said. “You learn from successes and failures, and Zach’s great about that. He is very humble, good combination of humility and confidence. Very, very, very charismatic guy, really smart [and a] good teacher. All those things that I knew, and you see it every day.” Now fit with a roster that is perhaps the best in the league, though, and includes a pair of highly touted rookies in safety Malaki Starks and edge rusher Mike Green, along with free agent cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, Orr’s eyes are wide again. The excitement is palpable for him and his players. “Just the way he commands the room, you can tell there’s a difference in the confidence in him and everybody in the room, and he puts that confidence in us,” Hamilton said. “So, we follow his lead.” Added Smith: “He’s just so in tune with every little thing, even with the back end. It’s pretty sweet to see. I think it’s gonna be a very special year for him, as well as our defense.” And for Orr, that would be the happiest place on earth. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

He should put in his retirement papers. Brown will trade him.

According to Shefty, Bengals offered only a 1 year guarenteed, 3 year total contract. Hendrickson wants fully as he posts a picture of a highway as the sunsets in Fla