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Maryland’s long-running investment in the Orioles and Ravens raises questions about whether the statewide benefits of professional teams match their reputations — even as reports cite hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic activity tied to both franchises. Maryland Stadium Authority reports — obtained by The Baltimore Sun through a Public Information Act request — outline the franchises’ financial impacts in 2021, the only year for which the agency would provide data. Analyses by Crossroads Consulting found the Orioles and Ravens generated a combined $857 million in economic activity that year and supported more than 9,000 jobs. The Ravens accounted for the larger share: $603.1 million in economic output, about 6,500 jobs and $291.9 million in labor income. State tax and Baltimore admissions and amusement tax figures for the teams were redacted. The Orioles and Camden Yards generated $253.7 million in economic activity, supported roughly 2,900 jobs and produced $126.5 million in labor income — a smaller footprint attributed in part to the club’s reduced attendance of about 793,200 fans during the earlier stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Both reports relied on IMPLAN economic modeling software to estimate direct spending, including ticket sales, concessions, game-day employment and stadium operations, as well as indirect and induced spending tied to vendors, contractors and nearby businesses. Baltimore benefits, but does Maryland? Tom Rhoads, a professor in Towson University’s Department of Economics who specializes in sports business, said that although the Orioles and Ravens clearly boost spending around their stadiums, most of that activity comes from Maryland residents shifting their dollars within the state rather than generating new economic growth. “When you’re talking about statewide impact, most of the fans going to Orioles or Ravens games already live in Maryland,” Rhoads said. “The money they’re spending isn’t new to the state — it’s just being spent in Baltimore instead of somewhere else.” Rhoads said research consistently shows that stadium-related economic gains are concentrated in the blocks and neighborhoods around the facilities. Those local boosts — to bars, restaurants, hotels and vendors — might not translate into broad gains for Maryland taxpayers. “It’s really hard to justify using state dollars to fund stadiums if you’re just shifting money around,” he said. Mark Conrad, director of the sports business concentration at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, said public subsidies can deliver wider benefits when paired with broader community development, such as new housing or commercial growth around the venues. But he noted that many sports economists remain skeptical that such investments regularly produce returns that justify their public cost. “On the dollars and cents figures noted, it would seem that the area does not get the economic benefits to justify the costs,” Conrad said. “However, if you consider issues like the potential losses of the teams to other markets and the reactions of fans to the losses without these benefits, it could make these investments a better political bet. “Still, sports franchises get more subsidies than other businesses, and it raises legitimate questions of whether this is the right approach in cash-strapped cities.” Community benefits Since opening in the 1990s, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium have anchored Baltimore’s sports and entertainment district, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and supporting downtown hotels, restaurants, retail and parking operations. The MSA-funded studies reiterated the stadiums’ importance to the area’s tourism and hospitality sectors, particularly as both industries continue recovering from the pandemic. The reports also highlighted the teams’ community contributions. The Orioles’ outreach in 2021 included youth baseball and softball programs, hospital donations and volunteer work through the “Orange and Black Gives Back” initiative, as well as a vaccination campaign and the “Birdland Community Heroes” program. The Ravens Foundation supported education, housing, hunger relief and athletics through grants, mentoring programs and volunteer efforts. Last year, the foundation gave $20 million to College Track, a national college-completion program that supports students from underserved communities aiming to become the first in their families to earn bachelor’s degrees. The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation and the Ravens will contribute $10 million, and the M&T Charitable Foundation will match it, helping College Track establish a Baltimore center to guide city school students from high school through college and into their early careers. Construction of the North Plaza at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) What’s next? Maryland is preparing for major reinvestments in both venues. The state has authorized up to $1.2 billion — $600 million each — in borrowing authority for upgrades at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium as part of long-term lease agreements designed to keep both franchises in Baltimore. Rhoads said such investments inevitably raise questions about cost, value and the non-monetary benefits of keeping beloved teams in place. “There is a public good element — that sense of civic pride in your team,” he said. “But the question is, how much is that really worth? Is it worth $1.2 billion?” Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X at @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

Rashod Bateman won’t be available Sunday afternoon when the New York Jets come to town, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh said there’s a chance that he returns during the short-week turnaround in time for Thursday night’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Bengals. Bateman suffered an ankle injury in Baltimore’s Week 10 win over the Vikings. The fifth-year receiver with two touchdowns and 16 receptions this season was yanked back while extending for the goal line. A hefty fine was levied against Minnesota cornerback Isaiah Rodgers for what was later deemed a hip-drop tackle. Bateman hasn’t practiced since, but Harbaugh said that he’s “progressing well.” The Ravens are fairly healthy otherwise. Undrafted rookie cornerback Keyon Martin was the only other player ruled out this week. Martin suffered a rib injury last weekend and was held back at a Cleveland hospital to undergo further testing. Testing came back negative and Martin avoided any serious injury, Harbaugh said. Still, Martin was held out from practice all week and ruled out for Sunday. On Wednesday, Baltimore’s injury report filled up with troubling signs. Seven regular starters missed practice, including Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith. Six returned a day later and all of them practiced in full by Friday. Bateman was the only one held out. The Jets don’t anticipate any major absences Sunday. Defensive linemen Will McDonald IV (quad) and Harrison Phillips (foot) gradually worked up to speed this week and are questionable to play. Linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) practiced for the better part of the week and is questionable. Third-string running back Kene Nwangwu, who scored on a kick return two weeks ago, suffered a mid-week hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. Coach Aaron Glenn said that “everybody else is just fine.” Wide receiver Isaiah Williams, who was responsible for New York’s other special teams touchdown two weeks ago, figures to backfill Nwangwu kick return duties. New York isn’t exactly a juggernaut. The Jets have two wins, are the only NFL team that hasn’t intercepted a pass, are starting a 36-year-old backup quarterback in Tyrod Taylor and most betting sites peg them as two-score underdogs. Overlooking this game would be disastrous for the Ravens’ long-term goals, but their health becomes a more pressing issue in the weeks to come. The Ravens’ final six games include four divisional matchups, two versus Cincinnati and two against Pittsburgh. Those will likely decide the AFC North, Baltimore’s only feasible path to a spot in the playoffs. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Ravens vs. Jets staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Jets scouting report for Week 12: Who has the edge? How injuries have slowed down Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, impacted offense Ravens DE defends timing on game-winning rush vs. Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Soccer star Lionel Messi to play at M&T Bank Stadium in 2026 View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 12 game between the Ravens and Jets at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 27, Jets 13: Even if Lamar Jackson isn’t fully healthy after hamstring, knee and ankle injuries have cropped up this season, and despite a struggling red zone offense, the Ravens have more than enough firepower on offense to handle the hapless Jets, who traded away their two best defensive players earlier this month. New York is also limited what it can do offensively, with former Raven Tyrod Taylor taking over for the benched Justin Fields in what’s already an anemic passing attack. Running back Breece Hall is a threat, but Baltimore’s defense is pointed in the right direction and Kyle Hamilton, among others, will help lay waste to any hope of an upset. Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 40, Jets 13: The Ravens haven’t hung 40 points in a win since Week 2. Sunday could be their best and last chance, with a two-win Jets coming to town weeks after dealing away two of their best players and days after announcing a quarterback change. Playing back in Baltimore for the first time in a month with a healthy roster are both obvious pluses. New York ranks poorly in goal-to-go situations and worse than seven of nine teams the Ravens have already played at stopping teams in the red zone — a headlong hitch of Baltimore’s offense. Now a .500 team again, this would be the week to prove they can dominate. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 30, Jets 6: Go ahead, pick a score. Any score. The Jets must be desperate for a win, which is why they have announced Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback. Taylor is 36, and that’s a great achievement considering he has played for seven teams since the Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. But that tells you that Jets coach Aaron Glenn is in trouble because New York doesn’t have a quarterback for the future. I’m not sure if they have a coach for the future, either. The Ravens should win big, and if they don’t, it will be as big of a loss as the old Baltimore Colts losing to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 27, Jets 10: The Ravens should have more than enough to grind out their fifth straight win Sunday even with Jackson battling through several lower-body issues that have clearly limited his burst and willingness to run. His offensive line hasn’t helped much with the unit playing a detrimental role in the offense’s ongoing red zone woes. The Ravens haven’t asked Jackson to be superman lately, and they might not need any heroics against a Jets team that simply can’t score. New York arrives at this Week 12 matchup with one of the league’s least productive offenses and hasn’t shown any consistency (so much for a reborn Justin Fields, huh) to threaten a Ravens defense that has held five straight opponents under 20 points. Rookie Mike Green has gotten close to making impact plays … perhaps Sunday is the second-round draft pick’s breakout performance? It might be in ugly fashion again, but the Ravens should climb above .500 for the first time this season as they enter a critical stretch with two games in five days. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 26, Jets 13: For the Ravens’ sake, this win shouldn’t be as difficult as last week’s. Lamar Jackson needs a break, so look for Baltimore to make the offense as easy as possible and keep him out of harm’s way. Perhaps we finally see Derrick Henry eclipse 30 carries for the first time in a Ravens uniform. Rushing for 200-plus yards would be a nice way to silence all the criticism of the offensive line. This will be an interesting litmus test for the Ravens’ trenches, with Jets tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou going up against pass rushers Dre’Mont Jones and Mike Green and Ravens bookends Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten taking on Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson. We’ll learn plenty from how the Ravens control the line of scrimmage here. Related Articles Ravens vs. Jets scouting report for Week 12: Who has the edge? How injuries have slowed down Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, impacted offense Ravens DE defends timing on game-winning rush vs. Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Soccer star Lionel Messi to play at M&T Bank Stadium in 2026 Ravens injury report: Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith return to practice Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 31, Jets 14: The general public assumed that the Ravens would go on a run after their bye week. Well, congratulations to everyone, as Baltimore is a win over the Jets from moving over .500 for the first time this season. Baltimore should do what it can to limit Jackson’s rushing attempts and hits taken, as there are few scenarios in which the Ravens actually lose this game. The focus needs to be keeping Jackson out of harm’s way with a short week coming up. The running game, quick passes and defense should be plenty to pick up a win without needing Jackson’s heroics. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 28, Jets 10: Lamar Jackson is beat up and Baltimore barely got past the Browns last weekend, but this is the Jets we’re talking about. Jackson at half of his ability is enough for the Ravens to beat New York at home, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Tyrod Taylor looks better than Justin Fields has for the past few weeks. It’s a low bar, for sure, but Baltimore should be wary of the spark a new starter under center can bring. The Ravens’ defense needs to continue its roll since the Bengals and likely Joe Burrow await on Thanksgiving night. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 31, Jets 13: The Ravens have won four straight and finally got to .500. This is the week they go above .500. The Jets have only won two games. If Baltimore’s defense plays like it did last week, and the offense steps up its game, the Ravens should be able to pull out a win. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The formerly 1-5 Ravens swam furiously up from the ocean floor, reaching sea level at 5-5 to keep pace with the first-place Steelers. Their heads are “just above water,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We’re breathing.” Climbing back toward postseason relevance continues Sunday against the lowly Jets in the first of Baltimore’s three-game home stand. Who will have the advantage this weekend at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Jets pass defense Lamar Jackson did something last Sunday he’s never done. Usually, that sentence indicates some superhuman feat, something perhaps no quarterback has ever done. Not this time. In a win over the Browns, Jackson threw a pair of interceptions without a passing touchdown. Neither pick was entirely his fault, both skipping into the wrong hands. New York could be the perfect bounce-back opportunity. The Jets have not recorded an interception, the only NFL team with a goose egg on the leaderboard. They’re 27th in scoring and 20th in yards allowed per game (329.7). To make matters worse, the Jets traded away their top defensive lineman and top cornerback at the deadline, leaving an unimpressive defense on the verge of flatlining. EDGE: Ravens Jets passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Jets coach Aaron Glenn is willing to try anything to get his flailing club going offensively. Anything to inject life into the league’s least efficient passing attack (139.9 yards per game). This week, that means a change at quarterback. Glenn confirmed that he’s benching Justin Fields in favor of Tyrod Taylor, the 15-year veteran drafted by Baltimore in 2011. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said that he didn’t think it would be a “major difference.” In three games this season, Taylor has thrown three touchdown passes and three interceptions with a 62.3% completion rate. He’ll be tasked with facing a defense that is finally “playing to our potential,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. Since Week 8, the Ravens have one of the best defenses in football — which feels like déjà vu from a similar worst-to-first turnaround last year. Since Week 8, when they downed Chicago to kickstart this win streak, the Ravens have forced eight turnovers and sacked the quarterback seven times. They’ve allowed one passing touchdown in that stretch. Taylor has his hands full playing in Baltimore for the first time since 2016 with Buffalo. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Jets run defense The rushing play that captured the hearts of Ravens fans this week didn’t feature lead back Derrick Henry. It was “Hurricane” — the Mark Andrews fake tush push that helped decide a win in Cleveland. That accounted for 35 of a collective 184-yard day. Henry contributed 103, his fourth best showing of the year. All told, the Ravens have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, even though it’s lacking familiar dominance in short-yardage or red zone situations. New York’s defense held up OK against the run last week in a loss to New England. Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson scored three touchdowns (two on the ground) but ran for just 62 yards on 19 carries. The door is cracked open for Henry to have a big day. EDGE: Ravens Jets running game vs. Ravens run defense New York’s ground game ranks near the top of the NFL, even if it hasn’t produced wins. The Jets are third in yards per play (5.02) and fifth in yards per game (141.6). Much of that is a credit to the offensive line opening lanes for Breece Hall. But Hall has only rushed for two touchdowns this season, both against a porous Bengals defense in Week 8. The dual-threat Fields was also a key cog in opening up the ground game. He kept defenses honest with his 5.4 rushing yards per attempt. An age-36 Taylor won’t break out in space as effectively. Keying in on one rushing threat should be plenty to temper New York on the ground. Against the Browns last week, rookie Quinshon Judkins burned Baltimore in the first half but went nowhere on six carries after halftime. Baltimore is wreaking as much havoc up front as it has all season. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Jets special teams A pair of third-phase mistakes nearly cost the Ravens in Cleveland. Rookie LaJohntay Wester muffed a punt near the end zone. And special teams ace Jake Hummel jumped offsides to give the Browns a first down. Both blunders led to field goals, not touchdowns, thanks to an admirable effort from the Ravens’ defense. The Jets made Cleveland pay for special teams lapses, returning a pair of kicks back for touchdowns. Special teams is the one unit the Jets have been able to hang their hat on under first-year coordinator Chris Banjo. Punter Austin McNamara has the best average hang time in the league (4.76 seconds) and Nick Folk is the only full-time kicker who hasn’t missed a field goal or a extra point attempt. EDGE: Jets Ravens intangibles vs. Jets intangibles Related Articles Ravens vs. Jets staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? How injuries have slowed down Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, impacted offense Ravens DE defends timing on game-winning rush vs. Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Soccer star Lionel Messi to play at M&T Bank Stadium in 2026 Ravens injury report: Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith return to practice It’s Week 12. Lamar Jackson has played in seven games. And he’s already matched his sack total from 2024. Opposing defenses have brought him down 23 times, marking what has been a troubling year for the Ravens’ offensive line and the slightly hurt quarterback. Detroit sacked Jackson seven times, Cleveland did it five. Each of those are tied for most and second most in a single game over his eight-year career. The Jets aren’t exactly the team to take advantage. They’re 25th in sack percentage per pass attempt, averaging 1.8 per game, while 10 of their 18 sacks were recorded in two games. So yes, Jackson and company have struggled to keep him on his feet, but the Jets aren’t likely to exacerbate that issue. EDGE: Ravens Prediction The Ravens haven’t hung 40 points in a win since Week 2. Sunday could be their best and last chance, with the two-win Jets coming to town weeks after dealing away two of their best players and days after announcing a quarterback change. Playing back in Baltimore for the first time in a month with a healthy roster are both obvious pluses. New York ranks poorly in goal-to-go situations and worse than seven of nine teams the Ravens have already played at stopping teams in the red zone — a headlong hitch of Baltimore’s offense. Now a .500 team again, this would be the week for the Ravens to prove they can dominate. Ravens 40, Jets 13 Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Lamar Jackson winced and reached for his back Thursday afternoon in Owings Mills. He wasn’t hurt, just reliving the moment Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner crunched him to the Minnesota turf with the full weight of his hulking 6-foot-3, 247-pound frame two weeks ago. “God,” the Ravens quarterback said Thursday. “He got me. I wasn’t expecting that at all.” Even Superman has his weakness. In previous years, Jackson’s kryptonite has most often been opponents such as the Pittsburgh Steelers or Kansas City Chiefs. This season, it has been something far more capricious: injuries. Hamstring. Knee. Now his ankle. “I’m good,” Jackson said of his latest trauma after missing the previous day’s practice, later removing a heavy dose of tape from around his right ankle and foot. Asked if the spate of injuries has impeded his performance, he offered only, “If it just happened in the game probably. But if you was injured, took some time off and you’re able to come back, I doubt it.” Perhaps, though two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s metrics paint a different picture with Jackson not as explosive as he has been in the previous chapters of a career that will one day land him a gold jacket and a bust in Canton, Ohio. Jackson’s 32.3 rushing yards per game are the fewest of his career and his 5.8 yards per carry the third-lowest. Per Pro Football Focus, his tackle avoidance rate of 17.9% along with his averages of 1.9 yards before contact and 1.5 yards against eight-man boxes are also the lowest rates compared to any of his first seven seasons in the NFL. He is still averaging 3.9 yards after first contact — a career-high — so it’s not as if the gas tank is nearing empty, but since suffering a hamstring injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, Jackson has averaged just 20 yards rushing per game and a 3.3 per-carry average, both more than a 50% decline from the first few weeks of the season. It, of course, also caused him to miss the next three games. There have been other, more tangible examples of his mortality, too. In last week’s win in Cleveland over the Browns, Jackson was sacked five times and ran just four times for only 10 yards. Two of those runs were kneel downs at the end of the 23-16 victory, with the two actual carries tying for the second-fewest of his career as a starter. He was also chased down twice by rookie inside linebacker Carson Schwesinger on the Ravens’ opening series, first on a read-option to the right in which Jackson appeared to have the angle but was dropped for a 1-yard loss, then on a 13-yard scramble up the middle when he was dropped at Cleveland’s 4-yard line. Two weeks before that, in a Thursday night game against the Miami Dolphins and in his first game back from the hamstring injury, he again was surprisingly corralled. Faced with a third-and-6 from the left hash on his own 36 early in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium, Jackson dropped back to pass and with Miami blitzing five, no one open and nothing but green grass in front of him, tucked the ball and quickly took off. Only one defender — cornerback Rasul Douglas — was on the left side of the field, but he was locked in tight man-to-man pass coverage. As Jackson raced upfield, the vastness appeared to provide a pathway to go the distance or at least a long way. Instead, linebacker Tyrel Dodson slipped away from right guard Daniel Faalele and tripped Jackson from behind, limiting him to a 13-yard gain. Jackson’s longest carry of this season is just 19 yards, which came in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. He had eight carries longer than that just last season. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sacks Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in a 23-16 Baltimore win. Jackson was sacked five times in the victory. (David Richard/AP) Former NFL running back Damien Harris, who spent four years with the New England Patriots and one with the Bills and is now an analyst for CBS Sports, said earlier this week that he believes Jackson is playing “scared” and “hesitant” as well as being “frustrated.” “When I talk about him playing timid, he wasn’t climbing the pocket today,” Harris said. “He wasn’t extending plays with his legs and letting his receivers uncover. We were sitting there asking each other ‘Why?’ There were lanes. There were opportunities for him to tuck and run. Is he still worried about the hamstring? Are there other things going on? “I don’t want to use this opportunity to bash Lamar. I just genuinely want to know what’s going on.” The reasons are myriad. In addition to Jackson running less often and not being as explosive as he has been in the past, he has faced eight-man fronts on 25% of his runs, the highest mark of his career. Some teams have also used a spy along with a heavy dose of pressure to keep Jackson in check. The Detroit Lions were one of them and consequently generated a whopping 30 pressures and sacked him seven times, matching his career high. Baltimore’s porous offensive line has also been problematic. The Ravens rank 26th in pass blocking and 10th in run blocking, per PFF, and Jackson has been pressured on 43% of his drop-backs and sacked on 12% of them, both career highs. Against the Browns, Myles Garrett continually bullied his way through them and sacked Jackson four times. Through 10 games, Jackson has been sacked 23 times, tying his total from all of last season. “God[dang],” Jackson said when informed of the total. “I’m gonna have to talk to my guys about that.” All of it has taken a toll, on the Ravens’ offense, which ranks 21st in yards and 28th in red zone scoring, and on its quarterback’s body. Related Articles Ravens DE defends timing on game-winning rush vs. Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Soccer star Lionel Messi to play at M&T Bank Stadium in 2026 Ravens injury report: Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith return to practice Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is full practice participant day after absence Staff picks for Week 12 of 2025 NFL season: Colts vs. Chiefs, Eagles vs. Cowboys and more When offensive coordinator Todd Monken was asked Thursday if Jackson’s injuries have affected his play-calling, he offered a blunt retort: “Nope.” Perhaps not, but it’s hard to say it hasn’t impacted the man executing the offense. Already, Jackson has missed three games because of injuries and practice each of the past two Wednesdays, the latter he acknowledged a potential new routine to allow his body a weekly rest day, something that is rare for quarterbacks. And as for if he feels the weight of facing all that pressure and taking all those hits? “It’s part of football,” he said. “Sometimes guys will get you; sometimes they won’t.” The same thing could be said about injuries. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The debate hasn’t exactly died down. In the days following the Ravens’ fourth straight win, highlighted by a final defensive stand Sunday against Cleveland, Browns players and some national talking heads have argued that defensive end Dre’Mont Jones jumped early and into the neutral zone on the game-sealing play. On fourth-and-5, with rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders replacing injured starter Dillon Gabriel and making his NFL debut, Jones exploded out of his stance, whipped past Wyatt Teller’s outside shoulder and forced Sanders into an off-balance incompletion. Game over. Teller and Cleveland’s offensive line unsuccessfully pleaded to officials that Jones was in the neutral zone. The sequence sparked reactions across social media. ESPN’s Mike Greenberg posted on X: “Were the Ravens not blatantly offsides on that fourth down?? #Browns” NFL analyst Emmanuel Acho quoted Greenberg’s post: “Correct, Ravens jumped on the last play. Refs missed it.” Jones insists he executed perfect timing in a critical moment. “I was trying to get a feel for his cadence just based on how his demeanor was throughout the game and how he was saying it,” Jones told The Baltimore Sun on Thursday evening, settling in front of his locker while taking a sip from his post-practice mixed-berries smoothie. “So, I knew it was coming up and I got a great jump start. You know what I mean? Plain and simple.” Jones said he began tracking Sanders’ rhythm as soon as the rookie entered in the second half, paying close attention to his slight pause before the snap from center Ethan Pocic. By the Browns’ final offensive play, he felt almost certain of what was coming. “This is how I look at it … offensive tackles and guards move early all the time and that don’t get called,” Jones said. “So it’s the same type of bang-bang situation. It was really close. It looked good to me.” Teller’s postgame explanation added fuel to the debate. The veteran guard told reporters Cleveland’s offensive line heard Sanders’ cadence only “two or three times” before he entered, indicating a sense of unfamiliarity played a role in the breakdown. Jones, a seventh-year pass rusher whom general manager Eric DeCosta acquired at the trade deadline earlier in the month, wasn’t moved. “That’s their problem,” Jones said. “If they don’t want to put their people in to get meaningful reps in, that’s on them. It sucks for Sanders, but that’s the reality.” Like most of the second half, Sanders was unsettled by Zach Orr’s pressure calls and his hurried throw toward tight end David Njoku never stood a chance. Linebacker Roquan Smith blanketed Njoku and knocked the pass attempt away, sealing the 23-16 victory. “No extra momentum,” Jones said of Sanders replacing Gabriel. “The momentum was already there. ‘Ro’ did a good job of bringing us together and relaying the message that everything is the same. You want to go out there and just kill. I thought the defense played great.” Sanders finished 4-for-16 for 47 yards with one interception. He was sacked twice and hit three times over 28 snaps in his debut. Jones, 28, delivered three pressures and two quarterback hits across 23 pass-rush snaps against the Browns. Since joining the Ravens 2 1/2 weeks ago, he already leads the team with 26 total pressures this season. Defensive lineman Travis Jones ranks second with 23, followed by outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy (17) and rookie Mike Green (14). For Jones, the final play carried extra weight because it happened in his native Cleveland with his parents Schontina Jones and Sanderline Williams and many of his childhood friends in attendance at Huntington Bank Stadium. “I was lit,” he said. “Being back home and having basically a game-winning play, that felt good. I feel great [in Baltimore]. The guys in the locker room are good people. Only been here for two weeks, still getting to know more people. But five straight games [holding opponents] under 20 points — that’s an elite stat. [Stuff] like that, you appreciate.” Related Articles How injuries have slowed down Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, impacted offense Soccer star Lionel Messi to play at M&T Bank Stadium in 2026 Ravens injury report: Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith return to practice Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is full practice participant day after absence Staff picks for Week 12 of 2025 NFL season: Colts vs. Chiefs, Eagles vs. Cowboys and more The Ravens reportedly wanted to select Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, but Sanders communicated he didn’t want them to select him. The Ravens drafted offensive tackle Carson Vinson instead with pick No. 141, while Sanders was taken by the Browns three picks later at No. 144. The final play of Sanders’ NFL debut remains a sticking point as the popular rookie quarterback prepares for his first career start Sunday against the Raiders. Meanwhile, as the Ravens aspire to reach five straight wins Sunday versus the Jets at M&T Bank Stadium, Jones’ view hasn’t changed. “It looked good to me,” he said. “I was happy to make that game-winning play.” Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Soccer fans in Baltimore got excited Thursday. Major League Soccer announced D.C. United and Inter Miami CF will play at the Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium on March 7, 2026. 38-year-old Lionel Messi will headline the game for Miami in what will be his fourth season with the club. D.C. United said in a press release it hopes to expand soccer viewership across the DMV and in Baltimore. “M&T Bank Stadium gives us the opportunity to welcome even more supporters and share what makes D.C. United special with our neighbors to the north,” said Danita Johnson, D.C. United president of business operations. “Our fans drive everything we do, and we’re looking forward to creating another memorable experience for them during a landmark season.” Perhaps the greatest soccer player ever, Messi will be in his 23rd season and currently leads MLS in goals (29) and assists (19). Inter Miami currently awaits a conference semifinals matchup against Cincinnati and claimed the Leagues Cup in Messi’s 2023 debut season with the club. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles No. 9 Maryland women’s basketball routs Bethune-Cookman, 95-49 How injuries have slowed down Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, impacted offense Ravens DE defends timing on game-winning rush vs. Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Ravens injury report: Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith return to practice Trinity Rodman’s free agency puts focus on the NWSL’s salary cap View the full article

After eight players missed Ravens practice Wednesday, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith, only two were absent Thursday. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) and cornerback Keyon Martin (ribs) were sidelined for the second consecutive day, but Jackson (ankle), Hamilton (groin/shoulder), Smith (hamstring), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (illness), tight end Isaiah Likely (calf) and guard Andrew Vorhees (foot) all returned to the practice field Thursday. Hamilton, Smith, Likely and Vorhees were listed as limited participants on the penultimate injury report of the week, while Jackson and Stanley participated in full. Marlon Humphrey, who was a limited participant Wednesday with a finger injury, and Justice Hill, who practiced in full Wednesday with a toe injury, were both listed as full participants Thursday. The cornerback and running back were sidelined for last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns but appear to be trending in the right direction to play the New York Jets on Sunday. Bateman’s ankle sprain came on what looked like a hip-drop tackle, which the NFL in 2024 made illegal, in Baltimore’s win over the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago and hasn’t practiced since. Coach John Harbaugh said then that the wide receiver “is going to be OK” before he also missed the Browns game. Martin, a reserve defensive back but key special teamer, has yet to return to the field since a chest injury kept him overnight in a Cleveland hospital Sunday. Harbaugh said earlier this week “it didn’t turn out to be a serious thing.” Humphrey’s absence Sunday was the veteran cornerback’s second missed game this season and first with a finger injury that required surgery. Jackson and Hamilton are both seemingly dealing with lingering ailments. Jackson was sacked five times against the Browns, and this week was his second consecutive Wednesday he was held out of practice. He went on to participate fully the rest of last week. The quarterback said Thursday he feels “good” and added he’ll “probably” continue taking one or two practices off each week. Hamilton wasn’t on last week’s injury report but appeared to take a hard hit to his right arm in Cleveland and could be seen grabbing it over the following few plays. This isn’t Smith’s first time appearing on the injury report with a hamstring injury. He missed two games earlier this season with the same designation, although it’s unclear whether it’s the same hamstring this time six weeks later. The Ravens’ matchup with the Jets on Sunday is their first of a three-game home stand that also includes bouts with the Cincinnati Bengals and AFC North-leading Steelers, who lead Baltimore by just one game. Neither of the Ravens’ next two opponents have a winning record, while Pittsburgh will face the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, both 7-3, before coming to Baltimore. For the Jets, just one player didn’t participate in their practice Thursday: reserve running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring). Defensive end Will McDonald IV, who leads the team with seven sacks this season, was limited with a quadriceps injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday. Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (foot) was also limited. Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons. Related Articles How injuries have slowed down Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, impacted offense Ravens DE defends timing on game-winning rush vs. Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Soccer star Lionel Messi to play at M&T Bank Stadium in 2026 Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is full practice participant day after absence Staff picks for Week 12 of 2025 NFL season: Colts vs. Chiefs, Eagles vs. Cowboys and more View the full article

Like last week, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed a Wednesday practice and was back on the field a day later. The team listed Jackson with an ankle injury. Coach John Harbaugh called his absence the “same type of situation” as last week, which was knee soreness that lingered after a win in Minnesota. “It is Week 12, guys play. It’s the physical nature of the sport. Some guys don’t practice on Wednesday. We’ll try to get everybody available for Sunday that we can, and we’ll see as the week goes on, who becomes available.” Jackson’s return to practice is a positive sign for his availability Sunday afternoon against the New York Jets. Baltimore’s two-time Most Valuable Player missed three games for a hamstring injury earlier this season but has been relatively healthy since. The pair of practice absences has not kept him from suiting up by the weekend. Harbaugh said that “it wasn’t in his best interest to practice” on Wednesday. And by Thursday afternoon, Jackson appeared to take the field without issue. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Staff picks for Week 12 of 2025 NFL season: Colts vs. Chiefs, Eagles vs. Cowboys and more The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens midseason report card: Grades through 10 games The origin story of Ravens’ ‘hurricane’ play call that helped beat Browns Ravens injury report: Several starters missing at Wednesday’s practice Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses Wednesday’s practice with new injury View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 12: Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (11-4 last week, 112-50-1 overall): Bills Sam Cohn (10-5 last week, 112-50-1 overall): Bills Mike Preston (10-5 last week, 108-54-1 overall): Bills Josh Tolentino (11-4 last week, 111-451-1 overall): Bills C.J. Doon (10-5 last week, 102-60-1 overall): Bills Bennett Conlin (11-4 last week, 106-56-1 overall): Bills Tim Schwartz (9-6 last week, 98-64-1 overall): Bills Patrice Sanders (10-5 last week, 101-59-1 overall): Bills Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Cohn: Bears Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Bears Doon: Bears Conlin: Bears Schwartz: Bears Sanders: Bears New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Cohn: Lions Preston: Lions Tolentino: Lions Doon: Lions Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Lions Sanders: Lions Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Packers Tolentino: Packers Doon: Packers Conlin: Packers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Colts Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Colts Sanders: Chiefs Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Cohn: Seahawks Preston: Seahawks Tolentino: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Sanders: Seahawks Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Cohn: Jaguars Preston: Jaguars Tolentino: Jaguars Doon: Cardinals Conlin: Jaguars Schwartz: Jaguars Sanders: Jaguars Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Raiders Cohn: Raiders Preston: Browns Tolentino: Browns Doon: Raiders Conlin: Browns Schwartz: Raiders Sanders: Raiders Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Falcons Cohn: Saints Preston: Falcons Tolentino: Saints Doon: Falcons Conlin: Saints Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Falcons Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Rams Tolentino: Rams Doon: Rams Conlin: Rams Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: 49ers Preston: 49ers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: 49ers View the full article

Let’s preface this by saying the Ravens’ four-game winning streak has come against Chicago, Miami, Minnesota and Cleveland, which have a combined record of 15 wins and 24 losses. It hasn’t exactly been a grueling schedule since the Ravens started off 1-5, but imagine if they had lost. So, now they are 5-5 and one game behind the Steelers (6-4) for the AFC North lead. They still face Pittsburgh and Cincinnati (3-7) twice. But it’s hard to evaluate the Ravens in the past four games because they have faced two second-year quarterbacks in Chicago’s Caleb Williams and Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, another guy in Miami who is way past his prime in Tua Tagovailoa, and those two Towers of Power in Cleveland, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who probably won’t be remembered as the next Bernie Kosar. It won’t get any harder with the New York Jets (2-8) coming to town Sunday with quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and we probably won’t find out about the Ravens as legitimate contenders until they host the New England Patriots (9-2) on Dec. 21, followed by the Green Bay Packers (6-3) and Pittsburgh. We’re still learning about the Ravens, and today The Baltimore Sun unveils its midseason report card unpacking what we know so far. Quarterback It’s evident that Lamar Jackson has slowed down. It might be a result of him being injured and missing three games, or possibly not being willing to run as much now that he has played eight seasons. Regardless, his decision making is slower and he has caught from behind several times. Jackson has competed 68% of his passes for 206 yards per game with 15 touchdowns and has a passer rating of 115.5. But we’re used to seeing the old Jackson, and he set the standard pretty high in previous years. It remains to be seen if he can return to his old form, but he’ll need to step up his game in the postseason — if the Ravens make it there. Grade: C Running backs Top running back and future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry has had his moments, but he hasn’t been as successful as a year ago. Henry has rushed 156 times for 807 yards and seven touchdowns, but he has been hesitant at the line of scrimmage. The Ravens need to get him the ball more often going forward, with his foot planted in the ground. No. 2 running back Keaton Mitchell has been used sparingly, rushing 21 times for 124 yards, but the Ravens needs to use him more often, especially in the second halves of games. Justice Hill has 18 carries for 93 yards, and he has been an asset as far as pass blocking, but the Ravens have become predictable when he enters the game. Grade: C+ Offensive line A year ago, the Ravens were the best run blocking unit in the NFL, but this group hasn’t been nearly as dominant. The Ravens are currently ranked No. 4 in rushing offense, averaging 142 yards per game, but they have been ineffective inside the red zone, especially on first down. The pass blocking has been ineffective, and the Ravens have allowed 30 sacks this season for nearly 200 lost yards. The linemen haven’t been successful staying on blocks, and they get shed quickly. While guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees have struggled, so has right tackle Roger Rosengarten and even center Tyler Linderbaum. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has been solid, but it remains to be seen if he can play the entire season with lower leg injuries. It might be time for the Ravens to use Corey Bullock at guard or rookie Emery Jones Jr. at tackle or guard. Teams, though, don’t like to shuffle linemen during the season because a lot of the position is based on timing. Grade: C- Related Articles The origin story of Ravens’ ‘hurricane’ play call that helped beat Browns Ravens injury report: Several starters missing at Wednesday’s practice Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses Wednesday’s practice with new injury Ravens reset: Now back to .500, team readies for a playoff push Watch Episode 12 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Receivers It will be interesting to see how this group pans out in the second half of the season. Pass protection has been a problem, but it’s only part of the reason the Ravens haven’t been successful throwing the ball down the field. It could be the competition because the Ravens haven’t played a top team since they lost to the Rams, 17-3, on Oct. 12. The Ravens are ranked No. 29 in passing offense, averaging just 180 yards per game. The Ravens need to get slot receiver Zay Flowers more involved in the offense. He has 53 catches for 703 yards but only one touchdown. The Ravens could use him more on jet sweeps and quick screens. Tight end Mark Andrews is having a solid season with 32 catches for 276 yards and five touchdowns, but the Ravens still don’t have a solid blocker in the group consisting of Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. DeAndre Hopkins has 13 catches for 219 yards, but Jackson might want to use him more in isolated situations with the game on the line. Rashod Bateman has 16 catches for 194 yards, and the Ravens might need more out of him if they get to the postseason. He is still the best route runner on the team. Grade: C Defensive line In line with the competition they have faced, the Ravens have gotten better in the past four games and it’s not coincidental. Tackle Travis Jones has stepped up his game with a total of 22 tackles. Nose guard John Jenkins has been a big plus on the inside replacing the injured Nnamdi Madubuike. They aren’t in the same class, especially as far as pass rushing, but Jenkins has been tough in the middle and has 24 tackles, 11 of those solo. The Ravens have worked third-year player C.J. Okoye into the rotation as well, and last week against Cleveland all three tackles either knocked down passes or forced both of the Browns’ rookie quarterbacks to move in the pocket. It will be interesting to see what outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones brings to this mix because he can play on the outside or at tackle. He wasn’t a great addition for the Ravens, but he does upgrade their pass rush. Grade: C+ Linebackers Rookie weakside linebacker Teddye Buchanan is tied for the team lead in tackles with veteran middle linebacker Roquan Smith. Both have improved in pass coverage, an area they were lacking in when training camp ended. Smith has 45 solo tackles while Buchanan has 36. Buchanan has been somewhat of a surprise because he was expected to back up weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson at the beginning of the season, but now has emerged as a starter. Simpson, though, is more of a “fetch” player on the outside as a pass rusher. He’s best when asked to chase down quarterbacks. Veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has been steady, but the Ravens need more from veteran outside linebacker David Ojabo (nine tackles). Rookie Mike Green has played reasonably well on the outside, especially for a player in his first season. Green has 23 tackles, including 1 1/2 sacks, and he’ll get better next season. He still has to learn to come up with a a second or third move, but he has a very strong motor as far as pursuing ball carriers. Grade: B- Ravens defensive backs Marlon Humphrey and Alohi Gilman have helped solidify the secondary with their performances this season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Secondary It’s hard to rate this group because of the quarterbacks the Ravens have faced. Now, they get to face Taylor on Sunday. Go ahead, laugh. It’s easy to understand why the Ravens had so many injured players absent from practice Wednesday. The Ravens, though, have improved on the back end. Second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins (43 tackles) is tackling better, as is fellow cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who also came up with several big pass breakups last week against Cleveland. Safety Kyle Hamilton is the best tackler on defense and is second on the team with 59 tackles. He also has five tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. The addition of fellow safety Alohi Gilman has been a major turning point for this team because it allows Hamilton to play more near the line of scrimmage while rookie Malaki Starks can play center field. Starks has 54 tackles and two interceptions while Gilman has 24 tackles. It will be interesting to see how this group plays against a top offense in the league, especially when nickel cornerback Marlon Humphrey returns from a finger injury. Grade: C+ Special teams Rookie kicker Tylor Loop has converted on 19 field goal attempts with his two misses coming on attempts of 55 and 56 yards. That’s a great rookie season, especially when following in the footsteps of Justin Tucker. The final verdict on Loop, though, will probably come in the postseason when he has to convert in crunch time, possibly in snowy and wintry conditions in places such as Denver or Buffalo. Jordan Stout is averaging 50.2 yards per punt with a net of 45.1 and has put 17 inside the 20-yard line. The Ravens are decent as far as kickoff returns, but rookie LaJohntay Wester is shaky as a punt returner. Overall, this group hasn’t been a major concern lately. Grade: B Coaching To borrow a phrase from former NFL coach Bill Parcells, the Ravens are exactly what their record says they are: a 5-5 team, which is average. The Ravens still have a lot to improve on. The offense is inconsistent, and the defense still has to prove it can play against the better teams in the NFL. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has to get more out of his unit by using the speed of Flowers and Mitchell, and the defense has improved, but it remains to be seen how much. Coach John Harbaugh has done a good job of holding this team together despite the 1-5 start, but that’s what Harbaugh does best. He is great at building teams and providing chemistry. Regardless, the Ravens won’t be judged until they get into the playoffs. Grade: C Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

So much for not saying too much, as running back Derrick Henry offered last week. It turns out that it was Ravens coach John Harbaugh who came up with the “hurricane” play — the fake “tush push” in which tight end Mark Andrews lined up under center against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, spun around and turned a critical fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter into a 35-yard backbreaking touchdown. That was according to Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who let the cat out of the bag earlier this week on his eponymous podcast. “I go up to an offensive coach, I’m like, ‘Dude, who came up with that play? I’ve never seen that. We ran that in practice?” Humphrey said. “They’re like, ‘Man, Harbs came up with it.’ I go up to Harbs after the game and I’m like, ‘Hey, you a bad man. You’re a bad freaking man.’ He said he came up with it. He said obviously, it was a team effort on how it was going to work, but he came up with it.” Indeed, multiple players, including fullback Patrick Ricard, said after the 23-16 victory in Cleveland that the play was just put into practice last week and run only a few times. Harbaugh also said Wednesday that “everybody” was involved in the play and there was “a lot of conversation” about it. He acknowledged, too, that it was born out of Baltimore’s Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In that game, the Ravens were trailing 10-3 late in the second quarter and had a second-and-goal from the Rams’ 1-yard line when they twice in a row ran a tush push with Andrews to no avail. Then, on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Henry was stuffed for a 2-yard loss. Los Angeles eventually went on to win, 17-3. Short-yardage situations have been a problem for the Ravens all season. They rank near the bottom of the NFL in both goal-to-go situations and red zone scoring. So that has forced coaches to get creative. Clinging to a 2-point lead and faced with a third-and-1 from the Vikings’ 14-yard line in the third quarter in Minnesota two weeks ago, Andrews lined up under center for what appeared to be another tush push. Only this time when he took the snap he moved to his right and tossed the ball to quarterback Lamar Jackson, who picked up 3 yards on a sweep to the right. Then came Sunday’s touchdown against the Browns, on which Andrews reached 20.09 mph on his way untouched into the end zone with fullback Ricard and tight end Charlie Kolar helping clear the way. “When people over-exaggerate defending the quarterback sneak, and you’d hope that plays like that, or the Lamar play [in Minnesota] — the toss play — would be plays that would loosen people up a little bit in the quarterback sneaks,” Harbaugh said. “So, we’ll see how that affects that part of it, too, moving forward.” Andrews, meanwhile, said Wednesday that he has seen the play ad nauseam since it happened. He’s also ready to move on from it. Related Articles Ravens injury report: Several starters missing at Wednesday’s practice Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses Wednesday’s practice with new injury Ravens reset: Now back to .500, team readies for a playoff push Watch Episode 12 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law AFC North standings favor Steelers. Betting odds say Ravens are in control. “I was telling Harbs, I was like, ‘I think I’m kind of tired of seeing it, man,’” Andrews said. “I’m ready to move on and make the next play. But it was obviously an awesome play, and everybody did their job, and it was incredible. So, it was really, really cool.” It also might not be the last weather-related play Baltimore uses this season. When Harbaugh was asked why it’s called “hurricane” he said they have other plays with weather-related names as well. Said Harbaugh: “Tornado and monsoon are both in the hopper. They are, oh yes.” The Ravens’ next chance to use one will come Sunday at home against the New York Jets. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Seven regular starters were missing from Ravens practice Wednesday. That list is headlined by quarterback Lamar Jackson and includes several other key contributors such as safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith. In the win over Cleveland, Hamilton appeared to take a hard fall and grabbed at his right arm. He stayed in the game. Hamilton’s body language wreaked of discomfort on the final drive but he refused to come off the field. It’s not yet clear if that’s the reason that he didn’t practice. The official injury report will be released Wednesday afternoon. The Ravens host the New York Jets at 1 p.m. Sunday for their first of a three-game home stand. Smith did not take the field Wednesday, ending a healthy stretch run since the bye week for the centerpiece of Baltimore’s defense. The All-Pro middle linebacker suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 that put him on the shelf for two games. He returned to practice on Oct. 20 and has played at a high level since, totaling 34 tackles and three pass deflections over the past four weeks. Smith was seen in the locker room after practice, which is generally a positive indicator for his health. “When it comes to their defense, everything revolves around Kyle and Roquan,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn told local reporters Wednesday. “Two really good players.” Baltimore also practiced without two starting offensive linemen: left tackle Ronnie Stanley and left guard Andrew Vorhees. Tight end Isaiah Likely didn’t practice, nor did wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who suffered an ankle sprain on a hip-drop tackle in Minnesota. Harbaugh said last week that he thinks the third-year receiver “is going to be OK.” Cornerback and special teamer Keyon Martin was the only non-starter absent Wednesday. The undrafted rookie, who registered his first career sack against the Browns, spent Sunday night at a Cleveland hospital undergoing tests for a chest injury. Reports came back negative, Harbaugh said, and “it didn’t turn out to be a serious thing.” Martin was back in Baltimore a day later but not ready for practice by Wednesday. Amid the chaos arrived some good news. Marlon Humphrey returned to practice after doctors put a pin in his finger to address a minor hand injury. The All-Pro cornerback opted for the surgery that kept him out against Cleveland, but Harbaugh expected his return within a week. Running back Justice Hill practiced after a toe injury sidelined him versus the Browns. Hill missed two practices last week, took the field Friday in a limited capacity, missed Sunday’s game and was back out there Wednesday. Two more could be back in the mix shortly. Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson broke his foot and went on injured reserve four weeks ago. Safety Ar’Darius Washington tore his Achilles tendon in May. Harbaugh said both are “getting close” to returning. Same with rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr., who underwent shoulder surgery after the NFL scouting combine and is now “getting pretty close to being ready to play,” according to Harbaugh. By all accounts, the Jets are healthy. The biggest news out of New York, which is 2-8 and traded its two best players at the deadline, is the change at quarterback. Glenn confirmed reports from earlier in the week that former Ravens backup Tyrod Taylor would be the starter on Sunday over Justin Fields. Harbaugh called Taylor “a heck of a quarterback” who poses a “big challenge.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses Wednesday’s practice before game vs. Jets Ravens reset: Now back to .500, team readies for a playoff push Watch Episode 12 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law AFC North standings favor Steelers. Betting odds say Ravens are in control. Ravens’ LaJohntay Wester learns from muffed punt: ‘Protect it with my life’ View the full article

Another week, another absence for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. For the second straight Wednesday, Jackson was missing from practice in Owings Mills. He also took some significant hits in each of the past two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. In Sunday’s win in Cleveland, he was sacked five times, four of them coming courtesy of Myles Garrett. After the game, as Jackson sat and waited to speak to reporters, a blood stain soaked through the white tights under his uniform pants at his knee. He also stood up slowly, though did not appear to have any obvious or serious injuries. Whether Jackson’s absence puts his status for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets in jeopardy remains to be seen. Last week, he returned to practice on Thursday and Friday, clearing the way for him to start against the Browns. Jackson then had his worst game of the season against Cleveland’s second-ranked defense, completing just 14 of 25 passes for 193 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 47.6, one of the lowest marks of his career. Baltimore won, 23-16, but the contest clearly took its toll on the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. Already, Jackson has missed three games this season because of a hamstring injury he suffered in the third quarter of a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens lost two straight with Cooper Rush starting in his place before Tyler Huntley got the start against the Chicago Bears in Week 7 and helped guide the Ravens to victory. Jackson returned the following week for a Thursday night game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium and threw four touchdowns and had a near-perfect passer rating in a comfortable 28-6 win. But the following week against the Vikings in Minnesota, he again struggled, completing 17 of 29 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. He has also not been the same dynamic runner this season that he has been in past seasons, with just 39 attempts for 226 yards and one touchdown. That’s a dramatic drop-off from last season, when he had 139 carried for 915 yards and four scores, and Jackson’s 32.3 rushing yards per game this year are the fewest of his eight-year career. On Monday, coach John Harbaugh scoffed at questions over Jackson running less frequently, though. “I was happy with some of the runs [Sunday],” he said. “He got out of the pocket a few times when we really needed him to and got us some yards and saved us a couple of times. I thought he also — I give him a lot of credit — he was under duress a few times where, in that kind of a game, he made some decisions, too, to protect the football, which was big. So, I thought he played a really smart game that way.” Asked in a follow-up question about Jackson running less on the year, Harbaugh said he didn’t “have an answer for that.” Related Articles Ravens injury report: Several starters missing at Wednesday’s practice Ravens reset: Now back to .500, team readies for a playoff push Watch Episode 12 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law AFC North standings favor Steelers. Betting odds say Ravens are in control. Ravens’ LaJohntay Wester learns from muffed punt: ‘Protect it with my life’ “Next thing you know, Lamar will break out and run for 100 yards,” he continued. The Ravens have won four straight games to get back to .500 and are a game back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Harbaugh is scheduled to speak with reporters after practice. This article will be updated. 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 gone from the precipice of the abyss and staring into the void to suddenly being within reach. If the playoffs began today, Baltimore would still be on the outside looking in. So would the three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs. Alas, seven games remain, and a playoff spot as well as a third straight AFC North title now seem possible, the latter being something that would net at least a home wild-card game in January. The goal coming into the year, of course, was a Super Bowl title. But the NFL is about adjustments, and that goes for expectations, too. Starting a season 1-5 doesn’t afford many other options. Baltimore has rattled off four straight wins to get back to .500 and is just a game back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, providing more than a glint of optimism, though no one’s making reservations for Santa Clara, California, in February yet. “Our heads are just above water,” coach John Harbaugh said Sunday evening in Cleveland following a 23-16 victory. “We’re just above water; we’re breathing. We’re not even out of the water.” So, now what? Here’s a look at what’s been good, what hasn’t, what’s ahead and more with just under two months remaining in the regular season: Defense continues to turn pages Over its first five games, Baltimore allowed a staggering 35.4 points and 408.8 yards per game. Over its most recent five, those numbers have been slashed dramatically to 14.8 and 299.4, respectively. The biggest reasons: Safety Kyle Hamilton being deployed in myriad positions near the line of scrimmage, players returning from injuries and the quality of quarterbacks they have faced. Hamilton’s influence as a position-less do-it-all defender has been well-documented, and his stat line Sunday — six tackles, including three for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit — was just the latest example of his abilities. “He made it really hard on the running backs, just to block him, and then his length, too. [He’s] batting balls down and those kinds of things,” Harbaugh said. “He was just impactful — he always is — but he was super impactful the whole game, pretty much in every way you can be impactful.” It’s worth remembering, too, that the Ravens at one point had to start five rookies on defense — including three undrafted free agents — amid the slide and were also without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for part of one game and all of the next three because of a hamstring injury. Then there are the quarterbacks they’ve faced. The first six games featured a murderers’ row of reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, former Raven Joe Flacco, Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes, C.J. Stroud and Matthew Stafford. Over the past four, the drop-off has been considerable, with Caleb Williams, Tua Tagovailoa, J.J. McCarthy and Dillon Gabriel/Shedeur Sanders. Now comes another former Raven, Tyrod Taylor, who will start for the lowly 2-8 New York Jets on Sunday in Baltimore over the benched Justin Fields. Still, you can only beat who you play, and the defense has handled its opponents. Only two teams — the Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers — have fewer sacks, and the Ravens’ pressure rate is also near the bottom of the league, but Baltimore has been more aggressive and forced more turnovers of late with 10 over the past five games. If nothing else, that has provided a jolt of confidence to a unit that was playing scared to make a mistake earlier in the season. Red zone struggles One area the Ravens still haven’t figured out is how to be better in the red zone. After scoring touchdowns 74.2% of the time from the opponent’s 20-yard line and in to rank first in 2024, they have been inexplicably abysmal this season, finding pay dirt just 47.2% of the time to rank 28th. Related Articles Watch Episode 12 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law AFC North standings favor Steelers. Betting odds say Ravens are in control. Ravens’ LaJohntay Wester learns from muffed punt: ‘Protect it with my life’ Ravens coach John Harbaugh defends O-line amid struggles: ‘Darn good’ READER POLL: Should Maryland invest more resources into its football program? Some of that could understandably be attributed to being without Jackson for a few games, but they haven’t been much better since his return, scoring a touchdown on six of 12 red zone trips in three games. Over the past two, they’ve been even worse, converting just three of nine opportunities, which included having to settle for field goals on two first-and-goal opportunities from inside the Browns’ 10-yard line on Sunday. What gives? It could be several things, from predictability to an offensive line that is struggling to move people to perhaps Jackson not being quite as dangerous with his legs as he once was to defenses being able to hone in on Derrick Henry more effectively because of all of the above. Whatever the reasons, it has become a point of emphasis. “Some plays could have been executed better. Some plays, they did a great job of defending,” Harbaugh said of Cleveland. “But bigger picture, that’s an important part of the field for us. We want to score touchdowns down there, and you at least want to protect the three as well.” Injury updates Ravens rookie cornerback Keyon Martin isn’t sure what play he suffered the injury on, but he knew after the adrenaline of Sunday’s victory had faded that there was a problem. Martin, 24, felt a “sharp pain” in his chest, so out of an abundance of caution, he spent the night in a Cleveland hospital for a series of tests and scans while the team flew back to Baltimore. The results came back negative and it turned out to be a deep chest bruise, according to his agent Marcell Owens, who added that the undrafted free agent out of Louisiana is recovering and doing much better. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, shown intercepting a pass against the Vikings, is expected to return soon from his finger injury. (Abbie Parr/AP) Martin, who has been a regular on special teams, played 18 defensive snaps (32.7%) against the Browns while helping fill the void for injured cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and finished with a pass breakup and his first career sack. How much time Martin misses, if any, remains to be seen, but Humphrey, who had a pin inserted in a dislocated finger on his left hand, should be back this week, Harbaugh said. Other players who could soon be back include outside linebackers Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac, as well as safety Ar’Darius Washington. Robinson, who broke his foot in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, and Isaac, who dislocated his elbow in the preseason, have been slated for a mid-to-late November return, though neither has returned to practice yet. Washington, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May, worked out on a side field for the first time last week and is on a similar timeline. Having all of them back for the last few games of the regular season would provide a boost of much-needed depth, particularly if they make the playoffs. Taking advantage of the schedule — for now At least part of Baltimore’s turnaround can no doubt be attributed to what has been a softer schedule. The Ravens’ first six opponents — the Buffalo Bills, Browns, Detroit Lions, Chiefs, Houston Texans and Rams — have combined for 33 wins and 27 losses this season. Their past four opponents — the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Browns — have just 15 wins and 24 losses between them. Taking advantage of the next four games will also be critical. Ravens coach John Harbaugh speaks during Monday's news conference. Harbaugh's team has benefited from a soft schedule in recent weeks after a challenging stretch to open the season. (Surya Vaidy/Staff) After the Jets, the Ravens play the 3-7 Bengals at home on Thanksgiving, followed by a trip to Pittsburgh 10 days later to face the Steelers. Then they’ll play at Cincinnati, where they could be facing Joe Burrow, who returned to practice last week and opened his 21-day window to return from a turf toe injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 2. It’s possible that Burrow could return for the Thanksgiving night tilt in Baltimore, but it’s more likely he’ll do so the following week against the Bills. Whenever he comes back, things only get tougher for the Ravens after their trip to Cincinnati, with a home game against the 9-2 New England Patriots followed by road games against the Green Bay Packers and the Steelers. Put another way, as hot as they’ve been over the past month, there is little margin for error over the next seven weeks. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article