ExtremeRavens

The sports events we love and watch often reflect the cities we live in — their energy, their struggles, their pride. And here in Baltimore, those stories run deep. I’m honored and thrilled to join The Baltimore Sun as a sports columnist. My path here has taken me through locker rooms and press boxes across the globe. Each stop has taught me something different about the subjects we cover as journalists and also the die-hard fans who live and breathe their teams. Josh Tolentino joins The Baltimore Sun as a sports columnist. Now, I get to tell those stories here … in Charm City, a special place that boasts a rich sports culture and a fan base that’s as passionate as any in the country. Whether it’s the Ravens attempting to solidify themselves as a legitimate contender or the Orioles navigating a disappointing, lost season, I’m here to dive in … to watch, listen, ask, understand and ultimately share in this space. I’m especially excited about the flexibility this role will bring. The Sun’s editors and executives have presented me with the opportunity to dig deep beyond the responsibilities attached to a traditional newspaper columnist. In addition to offering critiques of Baltimore’s storied franchises and surrounding local sports, I also plan to continue chasing my passion of enterprise and profile writing. Over the past several years, I’ve had a front-row seat to some incredible chapters — from the Eagles’ Super Bowl run to a Rays World Series appearance — and what I’ve learned is that the best stories often unfold away from the field. Whether it’s traveling cross-country with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to reveal his process and introduce his circle to the outside world or catching a ride to the ballpark with recently departed Orioles pitcher Charlie Morton or witnessing DeVonta Smith endure a rigorous 5 a.m. workout, I’m enamored with chasing the untold stories and taking the reader behind the scenes. I’m especially excited to join The Sun’s newsroom, full of talented teammates. I hope to supplement our beat writers’ coverage with deep dives and thoughtful commentary. My job is to reflect the city back to itself, and I want this space to feel that spirit and effort. In addition to learning more about the athletes and coaches in the region, I also want to hear from you. Whether it’s in disagreement with a story that questions a roster decision or offering a tip on any local happenings, feel free to engage with me and start a conversation via social media or email. As I embark on a new journey in Maryland, which my mother’s family relocated to nearly seven decades ago, I aspire to connect with you, the readers and viewers, who care immensely about your teams and community. In an era when storytelling continues to face different challenges, I promise to keep chasing unique angles and asking questions. I’m hopeful that level of curiosity and intuitiveness leads to the type of stories that Baltimore deserves. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCTSports. Related Articles READER POLL: Was the trade deadline a success for the Orioles? Orioles reset: Trade deadline deals have created open bullpen competition Ravens CB Nate Wiggins in Year 2 is ‘a totally different ballgame’ Q&A: Adam Eldridge, Howard County’s new director of athletics and activities, on his role Orioles roundtable: 7 lingering questions from trade deadline fire sale View the full article

The Orioles had a busy week, and most of the attention was focused on what happened off the field. The front office initiated a fire sale, trading eight players in nine separate deals that left some players wondering aloud who’s still in the clubhouse. For some fans, the Orioles’ busy trade deadline can be deemed a success. For others, waiving the white flag on a season can never be deemed worthwhile. How do you view Baltimore’s fire sale? After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr told Nate Wiggins to try and think back. Try to picture himself on his initial visit to Clemson, walking down those bright orange halls in South Carolina. He probably saw more than a few photos of DeAndre Hopkins leaping over defenders like him in the end zone for noteworthy touchdown catches. Now, the rising sophomore cornerback is guarding Hopkins in practice. “He just started laughing and smirked at me,” Orr said. The Year 2 version of Wiggins is more ready for that kind of challenge — and all the other top-flight receivers he’ll see this season — than he’s ever been. “Nate, he’s one of those guys that’s not afraid to line up against whoever,” safety Kyle Hamilton said, “a nameless, faceless opponent. ‘Line it up, and let’s run it,’ [in] man [coverage], zone [coverage], whatever it may be.” Wiggins admitted that he relied a bit too heavily on natural talent as a rookie. It produced 13 pass deflections, one interception (a pick six) and 33 tackles. This year, “it’s going to be a totally different ballgame.” He’s seeing route concepts better. He has a feel for where his teammates are and where the help is coming from on the back end. Everything is slowing down for Wiggins. “Now he’s figured out, ‘It’s third-and-8. It’s one of these two plays based on the personnel, based on the formation, motion, all those kinds of things,’” senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano said. “So, just consistency.” Training camp has provided a taste of what’s to be expected. It might become one of the lasting images of a month otherwise devoid of much drama — so far, at least. Wiggins had just deflected a Lamar Jackson pass for the second time that practice. He ran over to find new teammate Jaire Alexander, and in harmonious synchrony, they pulled an imaginary seatbelt from their shoulders across their chests, down to their hips — Alexander’s patented seatbelt celebration. Related Articles READER POLL: Was the trade deadline a success for the Orioles? Ravens kicker Tyler Loop receives ‘A+++’ grade for first stadium practice Inside Ravens’ first stadium practice with preseason opener looming Ravens observations: For a day, Cooper Rush outplays Lamar Jackson Ravens release rookie kicker John Hoyland, sign players amid roster shuffle One is an unproven cornerback with a voice so soft a microphone in front of his face still might not catch it. The other, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is boisterous and the most confident defensive back Zay Flowers has ever seen. “He and I,” Wiggins said of Alexander, “we’re buddies.” Wiggins is at his best when feeding off that type of energy, be it the opportunity to go mano a mano with Hopkins or an ensuing Alexander taunt. “Since Jaire [Alexander] came in, that’s the guy I’ve leaned on because he’s a playful dude, [and] I’m a playful dude,” Wiggins said. “He took me under his wing when he first came in, and we never looked back.” It’s starting to manifest on the field. Wiggins knows what’s expected of him, and he’s got the support system to match. “He is just more locked in on his technique and fundamentals,” Orr said. “I can’t be even begin [to describe] how happy I am with Nate and his maturity and his growth.” "This year, I know the defense, so now it's just about playing fast and just going to get the ball and taking the ball," Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) All signs point to a breakout year for Wiggins, whom Orr called “one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks” he’s seen. Those in the building have gushed about how he showed up to camp sharper in meeting rooms with a much better grasp on the details. What Wiggins has put on tape during training camp practices thus far helps round out the early returns. There were the two pass breakups early on. He picked off Jackson on Saturday on a wayward ball intended for Rashod Bateman. His closing speed has been on display in one-on-one drills the past two weeks. Hopkins has gotten the better of Wiggins a handful of times, despite sticky coverage, because that’s what All-Pros do. Others have burned him before, too. “I’m not perfect. I mess up from time to time,” Wiggins admitted. “Last year, I really didn’t know the defense [well]. I was just out there, like I said. So this year, I know the defense, so now it’s just about playing fast and just going to get the ball and taking the ball.” That comfort allows him to be more aggressive. His teammates are eager to see how that translates to the season. “I think he’s probably going to have one of the bigger jumps from last year to this year of anybody on the team,” Hamilton said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Tyler Loop stood near the 25-yard line, a wall of teammates behind him and the special teams unit separating the rookie from the bright yellow uprights. It was his first time kicking in front of a crowd at M&T Bank Stadium. He lifted his head and flapped his arms, urging a bit of commotion from the fans. Ravens coaches were behind them, telling punter-holder Jordan Stout, “Stop it!” Stout loved Loop’s confidence. The crowd of 26,053 fans responded. And Loop did his part, connecting on all 12 kicks. Five of them were extra-point tries. Two were chip shots, inside 25 yards. Three were between 35 and 45 yards. One was a 56-yarder. And the highlight of the day — a 60-yard bomb that sailed between the uprights — earned the largest ovation of training camp. “I was just having fun,” Loop said, adding later, “It’s been seven or eight months since I’ve played in a game. It just feels good to be back.” Coach John Harbaugh said Loop passed with flying colors, grading him an A+++. “For him to get through that and now know, ‘Hey, you know you can do it. You know how to do it.’ That’s the kind of guy he is. Not surprised but certainly very happy.” Loop has been near perfect in training camp. The rookie had one poor day last week, missing 3 of 8. He missed one 50-plus yarder on Thursday, but kept everything between the uprights during his first practice kicking in a pressure cooker, bringing his total count to 52 of 56. Stout was hooting and hollering after every make. “You can’t stop him! He’s unstoppable!” Stout shouted. “It’s not like he hasn’t been doing that already, but to see him do that in front of all those fans with the confidence and the poise he showed, it gave me a lot of confidence in him.” Barring an injury or a total collapse, the Ravens’ kicking job is now Loop’s. Baltimore cut his competition, undrafted rookie John Hoyland, before Saturday’s practice. Loop said that having a partner out there made him better, “No doubt.” “I’m focused on me now,” Loop said. “And what I’m competing with is myself.” Related Articles Inside Ravens’ first stadium practice with preseason opener looming Ravens observations: For a day, Cooper Rush outplays Lamar Jackson Ravens release rookie kicker John Hoyland, sign players amid roster shuffle Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens are making moves at training camp? Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson shows off; defense ‘not always fun’ He’s trying to avoid thinking about having won the first kicking competition in Baltimore since 2012. The Ravens cut Justin Tucker two weeks after drafting a kicker for the first time in the organization’s history. All eyes have been on the positional battle since. These fans aren’t used to seeing daily, detailed make-and-miss tracking. Loop has done his best to keep blinders on to avoid that pressure. “Tuck is incredible. I would say he is the greatest of all time at this position,” Loop said. “And he got there by being process-oriented. Picking his targets, hitting his targets. That’s something [special teams coordinator] Randy [Brown] and I have talked a lot about is, ‘Hey, we’re gonna build your process. We’re gonna stick to it. We’re gonna go out and do the best we can do with that.’” So far in camp, reporters and fans have watched Loop connect from 60 and 63 yards. There was one made kick that the team’s social media account posted of him, without a defense, from 68 yards. But what’s the longest that Stout has seen? Baltimore’s kicking operation uses a Trackman to get that kind of insight. After every kick, the device normally used in golf, spits out the apex of the ball, rotations per second and the distance. The furthest distance Stout has seen the Trackman record for a Loop kick is 78 yards. He didn’t attempt or make a 78-yard field goal, but Loop’s leg strength carried that attempt 78 total yards. Sunday’s 60-yarder into the breeze would have been good from 68. “I’ve been around a lot of people,” Stout told The Baltimore Sun. “I think he has the biggest leg I’ve ever seen.” “I’ve been around a lot of people,” Ravens punter/holder Jordan Stout, left, said of kicker Tyler Loop. “I think he has the biggest leg I’ve ever seen.” (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) That’s lofty praise from the guy who held kicks for Tucker the past three seasons (Tucker’s NFL-record 66-yarder was in 2021, before Stout was drafted). But Stout isn’t making that comparison directly. “Right now,” Loop said, “our goal is just to match good foot to ball contact and pick our targets and hit it there and just trust our line, trust our targets. I’m super fortunate I got [long snapper] Nick [Moore] and Jordan, who are incredible. Make my job really fun and really easy. Getting out here, it was a blast.” Loop didn’t show up in Baltimore with the confidence of a guy who can hype up the M&T Bank Stadium crowd and nail a 60-yarder minutes later. Calling him “scared” was too strong of a word, Stout said, but he’s noticed the rookie’s demeanor before each kick steadily improve with every make. “But as we know,” Harbaugh said, “it’s going to be the games that’s going to mean the most.” Don’t expect preseason stars The Ravens return to M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night for their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Don’t expect to see the likes of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry or other prominent names. “You’re not going to see the top guys [in the preseason game],” Harbaugh said. “The guys you probably wouldn’t expect to see, you won’t be seeing in this game. So, we’re going to try to get that work done with those guys on Tuesday.” Baltimore has a pair of joint practices coming up. First with the Colts in town on Tuesday, then against the Washington Commanders later this month. From left, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, guard Daniel Faalele, offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees and running back Derrick Henry stand during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley watches during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller fights to separate from cornerback Marquise Robinson during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Steve Bisciotti, majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens smiles with Eric DeCosta, executive vice president and general manager during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker jogs during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell runs the ball in front of defensive lineman Adedayo Odeleye and cornerback Reuben Lowery during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander throws during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell stands by during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill holds the football during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester looks up for a pass during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley tosses a water bottle during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Jahmal Banks watch a play during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester runs a route during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey defends during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins waits for the snap during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens’ Brent Urban during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester watches for the snap during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson waits for a snap during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester smiles during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh watches during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey defends during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman runs during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Xavier Guillory runs a route as cornerback Reuben Lowery defends during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins runs during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews smiles during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden stands during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fakes a handoff to running back Justice Hill during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens watches camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens special teams consultant Sam Koch during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans cheer during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Bentley Boisbert of Boothbay Harbor, Maine looks at eight-year-old daughter Raeghan Boisbert after making their 11-1/2 hour trip to watch the Baltimore Ravens during training camp at the stadium in Baltimore. Boisbert says that he makes it to every preseason and home game.(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Bentley Boisbert of Boothbay Harbor, Maine and eight-year-old daughter Raeghan Boisbert watch the Baltimore Ravens after making their 11-1/2 hour trip to during training camp at the stadium in Baltimore. Boisbert says that he makes it to every preseason and home game.(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Sara Hantgan of Pikesville stands to cheer the Baltimore Ravens during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 34From left, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, guard Daniel Faalele, offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees and running back Derrick Henry stand during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand Injuries and attendance Wide receiver Devontez Walker returned to practice after missing Saturday’s session with what Harbaugh called a “soft tissue deal.” Walker was dressed on Sunday but did not participate in any live 11-on-11 reps. As expected, neither tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) nor running back Marcus Major Jr. (concussion) participated in Sunday’s stadium practice. Rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam missed his second consecutive practice. Offensive lineman Ozzie Hutchinson, an undrafted rookie, did not practice either. He was presumably the roster move that helped open a spot for running back D’Ernest Johnson. Harbaugh also gave an update on rookie tackle Emery Jones Jr., who has not practiced yet with a shoulder injury. They were hoping to see him out there by the middle of training camp but, “until the doctor says he’s cleared, he’s not cleared.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

For the first time in more than 200 days, there was football on Sunday at a revamped M&T Bank Stadium. “All the different amenities, the sight lines and just the way it looks. It’s gritty; it’s got the metal; it’s got the brick,” coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s like Camden Yards, it’s old school. And yet, it’s like a new iPhone, the way it plays.” There were new faces for fans to see and cheer, too, including wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie kicker Tyler Loop. On a gorgeous, sun-splashed afternoon, there was plenty for the 26,052 in attendance to cheer for. The loudest ones were directed at Loop. As the sixth-round draft pick out of Arizona settled in to attempt a 60-yard field goal, anticipation rose through the crowd. He obliged, easily knocking the ball through the uprights. Loop knew it was good the moment it left his foot, he said, and seemed to soak in the crowd, even playing to it at times. “It’s fun to see the fruits of your labor,” Loop, the Ravens’ lone kicker in camp and favorite to replace Justin Tucker, who was released earlier this offseason and subsequently suspended 10 games by the NFL over allegations of sexual misconduct from more than 15 massage therapists. “It’s a good feeling. It’s a cool thing to hit that field goal.” In all, Loop made all 12 of his attempts, including another from 56 yards. “That was really cool,” Harbaugh said of the longest try. “Put a little pressure on him.” Being in the stadium upped the ante for everyone. Related Articles Ravens kicker Tyler Loop receives ‘A+++’ grade for first stadium practice Ravens observations: For a day, Cooper Rush outplays Lamar Jackson Ravens release rookie kicker John Hoyland, sign players amid roster shuffle Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens are making moves at training camp? Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson shows off; defense ‘not always fun’ “That was a good step for us,” Harbaugh said. “For the young guys, just to feel what it’s like to come in the locker room, park, walk in, get on that field, get in that environment, that’s a big deal.” Harbaugh added that Loop passed his first test with “flying colors” and that his performance was “A+++.” The rest of the team had their moments, too, though not without some hiccups. Most notably, right tackle Roger Rosengarten got flagged for a false start on the first play of the first 11-on-11 period. False starts have been a persistently annoying problem through the first two weeks of training camp. “Me false starting, that’s just being mentally weak,” the second-year tackle said. “You hear it in the huddle. You gotta process a lot of things. But that’s all about being a pro.” Ravens fans cheer during practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Rosengarten added that the false starts have been a combination of things. “At the end of the day, you gotta make sure you get off [on time],” he said. “Cadence is the offense’s weapon, especially for offensive tackles when you’re dealing with elite edge rushers who’ve got speed to beat you off the edge.” Plenty of those in the AFC North. There were plenty of highlights, too. A couple of throws from quarterback Lamar Jackson in particular stood out. In 11-on-11 play, he lofted a pretty pass to running back Derrick Henry for a long gain on a wheel route, with linebacker Trenton Simpson trailing in coverage. Later, he hit receiver Keith Kirkwood up the sideline for a 30-yard gain on Alexander on what was a well-thrown pass and equally good catch. In one-on-one play, Jackson connected with Hopkins on a back shoulder throw to the sideline that the veteran snatched from cornerback Nate Wiggins in a contested catch situation. Jackson also dropped a beautiful deep ball into the lap of receiver Xavier Guillory, who had a step on undrafted rookie cornerback Reuben Lowery, for a long touchdown. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester looks up for a pass during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)From left, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, guard Daniel Faalele, offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees and running back Derrick Henry stand during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley watches during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller fights to separate from cornerback Marquise Robinson during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Steve Bisciotti, majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens smiles with Eric DeCosta, executive vice president and general manager during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker jogs during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell runs the ball in front of defensive lineman Adedayo Odeleye and cornerback Reuben Lowery during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill holds the football during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander throws during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell stands by during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley tosses a water bottle during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester runs a route during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey defends during a play at the stadium practice. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Jahmal Banks watch a play during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester watches for the snap during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens’ Brent Urban during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens practiced at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday ahead of their preseason opener on Thursday night against the Colts. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester smiles during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins waits for the snap during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman runs during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Xavier Guillory runs a route as cornerback Reuben Lowery defends during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)“That was a good step for us,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the stadium practice on Sunday. “For the young guys, just to feel what it’s like to come in the locker room, park, walk in, get on that field, get in that environment, that’s a big deal.” (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey defends during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins runs during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews smiles during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden stands during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fakes a handoff to running back Justice Hill during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens watches camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens special teams consultant Sam Koch during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop stands during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop stands during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Bentley Boisbert of Boothbay Harbor, Maine looks at eight-year-old daughter Raeghan Boisbert after making their 11-1/2 hour trip to watch the Baltimore Ravens during training camp at the stadium in Baltimore. Boisbert says that he makes it to every preseason and home game.(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Bentley Boisbert of Boothbay Harbor, Maine and eight-year-old daughter Raeghan Boisbert watch the Baltimore Ravens after making their 11-1/2 hour trip to during training camp at the stadium in Baltimore. Boisbert says that he makes it to every preseason and home game.(Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Sara Hantgan of Pikesville stands to cheer the Baltimore Ravens during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 35Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester looks up for a pass during camp at the stadium in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand Lowery, who has become a training camp darling, had some nice plays of his own, though, including a nice breakup on a pass intended for receiver Anthony Miller from Jackson. Third-year running back Keaton Mitchell also looked like his old self — fast and elusive — just over 18 months removed from a torn ACL that ended his 2023 season. On one play early in full-team play in the red zone, he caught a short pass from backup quarterback Cooper Rush and easily raced toward the end zone, no one getting a hand on him until the 1-yard line. Later, he juked a couple of defenders in the backfield and dashed into the second level of the defense before being corralled. Some lineup decisions also perhaps revealed themselves. Notably and unsurprisingly, the starting offensive line from left to right featured Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele and Rosengarten. Vorhees, Harbaugh said earlier in the week, is in the lead over Ben Cleveland for the left guard job. On defense, Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie lined up as the outside cornerbacks with the first team, with Marlon Humphrey in the slot. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey defends during a play at the stadium practice. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Alexander also got plenty of reps, mostly with the second team and delivered some nice plays, including on coverage of Dayton Wade on a comeback and Miller on a fade. But the former Packer was just excited to be on the field at the stadium in a new environment after an ugly exit from Green Bay. “When I came out, they was screaming my name and happy for me to be here,” he said. “That’s a good feeling. To get that type of love, it feels good.” Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who had a few catches on passes from Jackson, fed off that energy, too. “It bring a different intensity,” he said. “It make you more alive. It make you wanna go harder.” Which is what the Ravens will do later this week. Baltimore will return to the practice field in Owings Mills on Monday afternoon before welcoming the Indianapolis Colts for a joint practice on Tuesday, followed by their first preseason game against the Colts on Thursday night. None of the main starters are expected to play in the game, Harbaugh said. “We’ve got quite a week,” Harbaugh said. “Boom, boom, boom.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. “That was a good step for us,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the stadium practice on Sunday. “For the young guys, just to feel what it’s like to come in the locker room, park, walk in, get on that field, get in that environment, that’s a big deal.” (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush might have had his best day of practice Saturday, while starter Lamar Jackson had an “off” performance. Rush, signed in the offseason from the Dallas Cowboys, hit on several long passes while showing good touch on most of them. In previous practices, he was consistent throwing short to intermediate passes, but was exceptional in the 2 1/2-hour practice Saturday. The 31-year-old veteran threw a perfectly timed 33-yard pass down the left side line to receiver Dayton Wade early in practice and then had a 35-yard completion to rookie LaJohntay Wester a few minutes later. During the one-on-one sessions, Rush dropped in quality long balls to rookie receiver Xavier Guillory, who beat cornerback Marquise Robinson, and then lofted another perfect toss down the right sideline to Wester for another long touchdown. Meanwhile, Jackson had at least three interceptions and all of those were either thrown late or behind the receiver. Cornerback Nate Wiggins intercepted a pass that was thrown about 5 yards behind a streaking Rashod Bateman. Two of Jackson’s other passes were intercepted by cornerback Jaire Alexander, Jackson’s former teammate at Louisville. In both cases, Jackson was slow delivering the ball when receivers came out of their breaks. Jackson also committed the cardinal sin of throwing to the sideline late. Alexander picked off both passes, one of which caused a big celebration among his teammates, and the second in which he appeared to sprint from the far field into the main building. Alexander, the former Green Bay Packers star, brings some much-needed excitement to this defense. Kicker move The Ravens cut undrafted rookie kicker John Hoyland on Saturday, but it was expected. Few teams select a kicker in the sixth round like the Ravens did with Arizona’s Tyler Loop, and the competition only had to be close for Loop to gain a roster spot and replace Justin Tucker. Throughout training camp, Loop converted 40 of 44 field goal attempts and Hoyland made 28 of 32. The ball exploded off Loop’s foot faster than Hoyland’s, but few general managers ever want to acknowledge that they might have made a mistake by signing an undrafted free agent over a draft pick. In addition, all the pressure now shifts to senior special teams coach Randy Brown, because he wanted Loop more than Hoyland. Injury updates Ravens wide receivers Zay Flowers and Bateman, who missed practice earlier this week, returned Saturday. Second-year wideout Devontez Walker was absent with what coach John Harbaugh described as a “soft tissue deal.” “We just wanted to make sure he’s OK. He’s put a lot of mileage in,” Harbaugh said of Walker, who has had a strong camp thus far. Running back Marcus Major Jr. is out with a concussion, which prompted the Ravens to sign veteran D’Ernest Johnson. Tavius Robinson on the rise Twice during Saturday’s practice, outside linebacker Tavius Robinson worked with the first unit instead of Odafe Oweh. It might not mean much, but it speaks about the Ravens’ plan to use Robinson, a third-year player out of Mississippi. Pass rush coach Chuck Smith has talked glowingly about the 6-foot-6, 262-pound Robinson entering the season after he played sparingly last year in finishing with 32 tackles. Robinson did have 3 1/2 sacks, though, and the Ravens hope to build on his natural pass-rushing ability, especially his long arms. Lamar Jackson highlights Jackson did have his moments Saturday. He rolled to his right and lofted what should have been a 33-yard touchdown pass to Justice Hill that the running back dropped going into the end zone. Related Articles Ravens release rookie kicker John Hoyland, sign players amid roster shuffle Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens are making moves at training camp? Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson shows off; defense ‘not always fun’ After viral Ravens video, Michael Phelps says he’ll teach players to swim Odafe Oweh’s breakout Ravens season earned him his renaissance summer The best play of the day was Jackson drifting to his left and then throwing a 15-to-20-yard dart to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who dove for the reception. It might be a vision of what might develop between Jackson and Hopkins. Ex-Raven makes appearance Former Ravens cornerback and kick returner Chris Carr attended practice Saturday with his two sons. Carr played eight seasons in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints. He will be one of many former Ravens to attend practices this season because this is the 25th anniversary of the Ravens winning their first Super Bowl title in 2000. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens kicking battle took a turn Saturday. Baltimore released undrafted rookie free agent John Hoyland, leaving sixth-round rookie Tyler Loop as the lone kicker currently on its roster just two weeks into training camp. Coach John Harbaugh said after practice that the move was made for roster reasons. “We definitely weren’t planning on making a move,” he said. “We were planning on John being there for at least one [preseason] game, maybe two games, maybe all the games depending how it went. “We just had roster needs right now.” Among those needs were adding a pair of tight ends to account for the loss of Isaiah Likely, who is expected to miss at least the next six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot that he suffered earlier in the week. To fill the void, the Ravens signed Scotty Washington, 28, and former Kansas City Chiefs reserve Baylor Cupp, 25. In corresponding moves, the Ravens also brought back veteran defensive end Brent Urban, 34, and signed former Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson, 29, with undrafted rookie free agent Marcus Major Jr. dealing with a concussion. To make room for them, they also released tight end Sam Pitz and outside linebacker Diwun Black. As for Loop, Harbaugh said he has kicked well enough so far to win the job, though he stopped short of declaring him Baltimore’s starting kicker. Though Loop did not take any kicks during Saturday’s practice, Harbaugh said that he practiced at M&T Bank Stadium earlier in the day and made all of his attempts. Baltimore will have its annual stadium practice Sunday. “But as we know, it’s gonna be the games that mean the most,” Harbaugh said of Loop, the first kicker the organization used a draft pick on in its 30-year existence. The Ravens’ first preseason game is Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts in Baltimore. Up until Saturday, both kickers had performed similarly, with Loop converting 40 of 44 field goal attempts and Hoyland making 28 of 32, though Loop has looked more the part with a powerful leg. Related Articles Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens are making moves at training camp? Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson shows off; defense ‘not always fun’ After viral Ravens video, Michael Phelps says he’ll teach players to swim Odafe Oweh’s breakout Ravens season earned him his renaissance summer How Ravens backup QB Cooper Rush factors into Super Bowl chase | COMMENTARY “Tyler’s kicking the ball great,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said Thursday. “The ball sounds awesome coming off his foot. “We just have to find that consistency from the field that we’re practicing on early in practice, when we go over as a team, and we’re together, we are continuing to see the same swings and the same ‘foot the ball.’ Other than that, I think he’s doing a heck of a job.” Each had been competing to replace the embattled Justin Tucker, who was released by the Ravens earlier this offseason shortly before he was suspended 10 weeks by the NFL after facing sexual misconduct allegations from more than 15 massage therapists at Baltimore-area spas. Harbaugh had hoped to identify a replacement for Tucker by the third week of training camp or so. But with Hoyland’s release, that decision has likely been made, though Harbaugh didn’t rule out bringing back Hoyland if Loop struggles and if he’s still available. 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 completed their first eight practices of training camp, and the first preseason game on Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts is inching closer. For some players — such as quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson — performance at this point shouldn’t be read too deeply into. Jackson is a known entity and, some inconsistencies aside, he has looked every bit one of the best players in the league. Many others, however, have stood out or struggled, thus heightening expectations or raising questions about impact or role. While there are not a lot of opportunities to start on either side of the ball for a roster that is rich with front-end talent, an injury or two could change things significantly. Already, there has been the usual spate. Here’s a look at whose stock has risen and fallen so far during training camp: Brian Wacker, reporter Stock up: WR Devontez Walker. Perhaps no Ravens player has made a bigger leap from Year 1 to Year 2 than Walker, who at times last summer was nonexistent or didn’t know what to do. This summer, he’s been the antithesis of that. On Tuesday alone, Walker hauled in a touchdown pass from Cooper Rush over cornerback Nate Wiggins, snagged another score over the middle from Jackson and had an outstretched catch in front of safety Malaki Starks. Three days earlier, he hauled in a deep ball from Jackson after separating from Wiggins, and in one-on-one drills against Jaire Alexander, he snatched a pass from Jackson on a nice comeback route. There has also been more polish and explosiveness to his routes and his hands have looked great, even in contested situations. He remains one of the fastest players on the roster and he’s been a special teams contributor. “He’s doing a tremendous job of just being in the playbook, understanding what he’s supposed to do and then going out and trying to make plays each and every opportunity that he gets,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. While Baltimore’s top three receivers will be Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins, Walker could push Tylan Wallace for the No. 4 spot. Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker, left, is congratulated by quarterback Lamar Jackson after catching a touchdown pass against the Giants in 2024. The second-year wide receiver is off to a great start to his 2025 training camp. (Adam Hunger/AP) Stock down: LB Adisa Isaac. On the plus side, Isaac has at least been healthy, which he wasn’t during his rookie season last year when a hamstring injury that dated to his draft preparation resulted in him missing too much time. Now that the 2024 third-round pick out of Penn State is on the field, he has to make a bigger impact if he hopes to find a regular role amid an outside linebacker group that already includes Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson and rookie second-round pick Mike Green. It has been a process. Simply put, Isaac has lacked explosiveness, hasn’t shown much in the way of pass-rush moves and has struggled to shed blockers, thus not coming close to getting to the quarterback. His run defense has been OK, but David Ojabo, who figures to be battling Isaac for the fifth outside linebacker spot, has outperformed him significantly. “When you think of all the guys that can rush, you think of Maxx Crosby; he can spin. You think of the guy at Pittsburgh; he can ghost. I’m not going to say his name, because that’s how we roll, but when you think about different guys, though, they’ve got skilled rushes,” pass rush coach Chuck Smith said. “So, that’s what Adisa is working on. That’s one thing we want to implement. Guys are at different levels right now, and they’ll continue to work to get better. Adisa is on the right path. I hope that he continues to work hard, and he’ll get better.” Mike Preston, columnist Stock up: LB Trenton Simpson. So far, weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson has been impressive. A season ago, he was benched after Week 13 for Chris Board and Malik Harrison. Simply put, he couldn’t cover. In this camp, Simpson has gone stride for stride downfield with tight end Mark Andrews and been very solid covering running backs out of the backfield and into the flats. There have also been times when Simpson has put pressure on Jackson, forcing him to either slide to one side or step up in the pocket. The six to eight pounds of muscle he added in the offseason appear to have helped because Simpson hasn’t lost any quickness. In fact, he seems more comfortable this season compared with a year ago playing next to middle linebacker Roquan Smith. Ravens guard Andrew Vorhees, shown in 2024, is off to a slow start to training camp. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Stock down: LG Andrew Vorhees. The belief here was that Andrew Vorhees would step up and become the starting left guard, but that hasn’t happened yet. Vorhees worked hard in the offseason and he runs and pulls extremely well. The problem is his pass blocking. For whatever reason, he stands too high coming out of his pass set and smaller, quicker guys — tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and even tackle Aeneas Peebles — can work under him and gain leverage. It appeared that Vorhees would easily win the starting job over top competitor Ben Cleveland, but neither has established much of an advantage. Both are good when it comes to run blocking, but struggle in pass protection. Sam Cohn, reporter Stock up: CB Nate Wiggins. He’s played sticky coverage upfield, gotten a hand in the way over the middle and surged into the backfield to disrupt the screen game. Wiggins’ freshman year was an hors d’oeuvre. Based on his first two weeks of training camp — one of which included pads and only one day included live tackling — he’s showing signs of being the lockdown corner the Ravens hoped when they used a first-round pick on the skinny kid from Clemson. Wiggins seems to be one of the beneficiaries of adding Alexander, whom wide receiver Zay Flowers called the most confident defensive back he’d ever been around. Late last week, Wiggins’ second pass breakup of the day called for celebration alongside Alexander, teaming up for the patented seatbelt move. Orr has been most excited to see him step up to the challenge of facing the three-time All-Pro (and beat him a couple of times). “Nate has had a couple really good practices,” Harbaugh said Monday. “Two [or] three really good practices in a row, both playing press and off and coverage. He’s also reacted nicely to underneath throws in zone and made some nice tackles, too. … So, so far so good.” Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins runs during training camp. The second-year cornerback has impressed during the early stages of camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Stock down: QB Cooper Rush. If all goes well, this will prove to be the most inconsequential question mark of training camp. If Jackson were to suffer any sort of setback, the onus might fall on Rush to keep the Ravens’ season afloat. Otherwise, the only time the journeyman backup might see the field is during the preseason and late in out-of-hand games during the regular season. Still, the Ravens went out and signed Rush, an established backup, to be serviceable insurance. He’s been shakier than that during camp thus far. A few of Rush’s deep balls forced receivers to pull back or reroute. He’s been solid in the short game, but his timing downfield is head-scratching. Rush knows his role as well as anyone. “You don’t have to be Superman,” he told The Baltimore Sun, “you’ve just got to go play football.” Related Articles Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson shows off; defense ‘not always fun’ After viral Ravens video, Michael Phelps says he’ll teach players to swim Odafe Oweh’s breakout Ravens season earned him his renaissance summer How Ravens backup QB Cooper Rush factors into Super Bowl chase | COMMENTARY ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit Sam Jane, reporter Stock up: CB Chidobe Awuzie. All the fanfare in the secondary is centered around the additions of Alexander and Starks. But through the first week of training camp, it’s been a different offseason pickup who has impressed. Awuzie made multiple nice plays against the starting offense this week, including two pass breakups Wednesday and an interception Tuesday. The veteran cornerback had the worst season of his career last year in Tennessee, leading to his release by the Titans. But he’s been a solid CB2 for the most part since entering the league in 2017. Awuzie‘s impressed and is making a push up the depth chart. Stock down: CB Robert Longerbeam. A different backup cornerback has had a tougher week. The Ravens drafted Longerbeam in the sixth round out of Rutgers, but he has struggled to cover in the opening practices. The rookie is lean and undersized, which has led to him getting overpowered by bigger wideouts. He also missed a tackle along the sideline during Wednesday’s practice, which surely won’t help him get on the field, then he appeared to get dinged up in a collision with rookie receiver LaJohntay Wester in Thursday’s practice. With a deep defensive back room, Longerbeam will have to make up ground to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Lamar Jackson dropped back, took a couple of hops and lofted the ball deep down the left sideline, over outstretched cornerback Chidobe Awuzuie and into the awaiting arms of streaking receiver Dayton Wade. It was perhaps the prettiest and best throw the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has made through the first two weeks of training camp in Owings Mills. A few plays later in the 11-on-11 period, he connected with Wade again, this time on a deep out route with Nate Wiggins in coverage. Still, the expectation for Jackson is higher. “I think there’s a lot left there for him, in terms of growth,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “I think he sees the field better now than he did even two years ago. “I think he’s just getting started with his ability. He’s always had the ability as a playmaker [and] to run with the ball, but his ability, yes, he’s improved greatly in — which is a huge credit to him — his ability to throw the football to win at all times of the game, really, and in all phases of the game.” It was a marked improvement from the sloppiness of a day earlier — even without top pass catchers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman practicing — and the offense put together a spirited outing despite not being in pads. Jackson also dazzled at times, most notably on a no-look pass to receiver Malik Cunningham in the flat, with linebacker Roquan Smith bearing down on him. He simply threw the ball to a spot without looking and hit his former college teammate in stride. Defensive highlights As inconsistent as the offense has looked at times, there are two irrefutable facts: Defenses are always ahead of offenses at this point, and Baltimore’s defense could be poised to return to greatness. “The good news is, we get to go against an elite defense from personnel and staff,” Monken said. “The tough thing is we get to go against an elite defense and staff, and that really stresses you. It really forces you to practice every day at a high level or you’ll get exposed. “It’s not always fun to go against our defense. It’s a great challenge, but it’s not always fun.” After racking up 13 sacks in 2023, Nnamdi Madubuike took a step back with half as many last season. On Thursday, he was plenty disruptive, though. That included twice pushing through the middle of the line and swatting a pair of passes from Jackson (though one of them was hauled in by Cunningham before a defender could snag an interception). Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie blocks a volleyball that gets kicked during a drill. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Jackson was picked off, however, when his pass to Cunningham during a 7-on-7 period sailed too high, deflected off the hands of the leaping receiver and was caught by safety Sanoussi Kane. Outside linebacker Mike Green also had a gorgeous spin move on right tackle Roger Rosengarten at one point and should have gotten to Jackson for a sack. But Rosengarten recovered well and kept him from reaching the quarterback. Fellow rookie Malaki Starks also continued to make plays, at one point swooping in for a nice pass breakup on a ball intended for Cunningham. Kicker wars The battle between rookie kickers Tyler Loop and John Hoyland continued Thursday, and both had identical performances. Both players went 3-for-4 during team periods, and both missed their longest field goal attempts of the day, with Loop missing a 51-yarder wide right and Hoyland going wide left from 50 yards. They each made kicks from 29, 33 and 39 yards. Is there any concern? Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop is 40-for-44 on field goal attempts so far during training camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “I think the one thing we need to do with both guys, in particular, is that we just need to find that consistency,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “Tyler’s kicking the ball great. The ball sounds awesome coming off his foot. But then, I think over the last eight days, there might be four misses. We just have to find that consistency from the field that we’re practicing on early in practice, when we go over as a team, and we’re together, we are continuing to see the same swings and the same ‘foot the ball.’ Other than that, I think he’s doing a heck of a job.” Overall, Loop is 40-for-44 and Hoyland 28-for-32. Related Articles Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens are making moves at training camp? After viral Ravens video, Michael Phelps says he’ll teach players to swim Odafe Oweh’s breakout Ravens season earned him his renaissance summer How Ravens backup QB Cooper Rush factors into Super Bowl chase | COMMENTARY ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit Spotlight on Kolar Monken estimated that third-string tight end Charlie Kolar might have “put in 6,000 yards” on Wednesday, between special teams, live reps and all his other duties. “I got a lot of respect for Charlie,” Monken said, with some extra conviction in his voice. Kolar didn’t arrive in Baltimore as a traditional blocking tight end, as far as Monken knew. He was a someone who could pose an advantageous matchup on the merit of good ball skills, making tough catches in the red zone. Monken shouted out Kolar, who will fill a bigger role while Isaiah Likely remains out with a foot injury, for embracing his role as a special teamer and a snowplow for running back Derrick Henry. “Man, has he come a long way,” Monken said. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Baltimore Ravens tackle Carson Vinson hits a padded sleigh during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie blocks a volleyball that gets kicked during a drill. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens special teams players gather to shout during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown reaches for cornerback Nate Wiggins during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout receives a snap during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush is flanked by Lamar Jackson and Devin Leary while taking snaps during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receivers coach Greg Lewis instructs the unit during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gazes at practice from beneath his raised helmet during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush is welcomed by center Tyler Linderbaum during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush backs up behind starter Lamar Jackson during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh watches practice during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush practices between Lamar Jackson and Devin Leary during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano watches practice during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown watches practice during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens offensive line players from left, Nick Samac, Garrett Dellinger, Gerad Lichtenhan and Ozzie Hutchinson follow each other during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester turns between obstacle poles during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Malik Cunningham smiles during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Xavier Guillory catches the ball during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson still has room to grow, according to his offensive coordinator. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland leads tackle Joseph Noteboom, tackle Corey Bullock and center Tyler Linderbaum during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins runs during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop is 40-for-44 on field goal attempts so far during training camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Chandler Martin avoids linebacker Jake Hummel during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh gestures while speaking with coaching fellow Prentice Gill during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Bilhal Kone waits for his turn to practice during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 31Baltimore Ravens tackle Carson Vinson hits a padded sleigh during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand View the full article

Marlon Humphrey wants to learn how to swim. Luckily for him, the longtime Ravens cornerback has landed perhaps the best teacher available. Michael Phelps, a 23-time Olympic champion from Baltimore and perhaps the most decorated swimmer of all time, responded enthusiastically to Humphrey’s social media video in which the Raven asks Phelps for swimming lessons. “I got yall!!! Let’s do it!!,” Phelps responded on Instagram. Humphrey posted the video on Tuesday afternoon, writing on X and Instagram, “Hey @MichaelPhelps we need your help!! From the #RavensAquaticsTeam.” The skit included offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley, safety Kyle Hamilton and tight end Charlie Kolar standing in the Ravens’ practice facility pool. One by one, the four pleaded with Phelps to help them with their aquatic technique while falling underwater. “Hey, Mr. Phelps, we have a problem,” Stanley says to start the video. “Did you know that one in three Ravens cannot swim,” Hamilton said. “We have a solution for you, sir,” Kolar said. “Come to Ravens training camp in this beautiful aquatics center and teach us how to swim,” Humphrey adds. The video went viral, garnering more than 4,200 likes and 350,000 impressions on X. Phelps, who grew up in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood in Towson and is a longtime Ravens fan, responded to the video within a day. Phelps has attended many games in the past. He was an honorary captain for a 2012 game, and in 2024, Phelps and his son delivered the ball for the AFC championship game between the Ravens and Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium. It seems like the Olympian might get to have an even closer relationship with the organization after Humphrey’s video. Even though some of the actors didn’t know they’d be starring in a public campaign. “I should have known [Humphrey would post the video]. It’s so on brand,” Kolar said Wednesday. “I thought it was going to be like a story or maybe sent to him, but I should have known better. I should have known better.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Odafe Oweh’s breakout Ravens season earned him his renaissance summer How Ravens backup QB Cooper Rush factors into Super Bowl chase | COMMENTARY ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit Ravens observations: WR Zay Flowers absent from training camp practice Ravens TE Isaiah Likely will have surgery to repair broken bone in foot View the full article

There’s a popular internet meme that might help explain Odafe Oweh’s offseason. It’s LeBron James shirtless in a pool. His hand sits comfortably atop his forehead. He’s blinded by the summer sun, flashing the most infectious, toothy smile. The NBA superstar’s caption reads: “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life.” Oweh had more than a few moments away from football this offseason that made him feel that way. Like rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities all garnished in designer wear, stepping up to a microphone at a professional recording studio or mentoring kids in Lagos, Nigeria, where his parents immigrated from. The Ravens’ pass rusher holds two truths, tangoing through the explanation of an arduous yet gratifying past six months. Oweh trudged off the field of Baltimore’s discouraging playoff loss in snowy Orchard Park, New York, feeling unfulfilled. Like he hadn’t done enough. It fueled an insatiable hunger that Oweh translated into 20 pounds of bulking to prepare for this fall. Simultaneously, the 26-year-old completed the most productive season of his four-year career: his first double-digit sack season, an achievement considered the barometer of excellence at the position. So for perhaps the first time in his career, Oweh, a true renaissance man, enjoyed himself. “I pride myself on, if I don’t have the season that’s at least good enough in my eyes — obviously, I wanted to do better — but I hit a mark that I never hit before,” Oweh told The Baltimore Sun. “I felt like it gave me the room to still work but also enjoy the fruits of my labor and tap into things that I like to do.” In May, Oweh, who considers himself well dressed with high-end grungy style, was thrust into the deep end of the fashion world: The Met Gala. “I got tapped into that whole world for the first time,” Oweh said. He prides himself on picking pregame outfits every Sunday. It “helps your spirit,” he said. New York City Fashion Week was totally different. On that same trip, Oweh’s friend invited him into a recording studio. It was just for fun — at first. He got an inside look at how the pros do it before being handed a headset and microphone to mess around with freestyling and singing. Oweh said that he tried to tap into his favorite artists, Drake and Future, while a sound engineer walked him through the process. Freestyling was tough. Rapping while managing his breathing patterns was tougher, and gave Oweh a newfound appreciation for the pros. His big gig came later in Arizona alongside the artist, Lu, otherwise known as Oweh’s former Penn State teammate and NFL linebacker Jesse Luketa. The two of them were in a studio together, flanked by a handful of other established artists. “The guy made the beat and wanted to see what we could do,” Oweh said. His debut feature on the song, “DND,” was born out of a prompt about weighing your time between a girl you like and professional aspirations. This summer might have scaled new frontiers. But Oweh — or his pen name, DAFÉ — has long prioritized creative outlets. This offseason, Odafe Oweh was able to reconnect with interests that he’s held at bay most of his career, such as fashion. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) If he’s wearing an all-black outfit to the stadium, it’s an expression meant to be convey, “I’m trying to kill somebody.” When Oweh underwent thumb surgery after the 2023 season, he used his good hand to draw that famous picture of Kobe Bryant shooting free throws in pajamas with his wrist heavily wrapped. “At that point, I was a little hurt,” Oweh said. “I was still locked in on my goals, so that’s how I expressed that.” This offseason — catching The Miami Open tennis tournament (while he was there training), enjoying life as a fan during his brother’s March Madness run, an invitation to The Met Gala and putting his vocal chords to the test — was a testament to the season he had. All of Oweh’s off-the-field interests took center stage. It was his renaissance summer. “That’s the crazy part, I’ve been telling people,” Oweh said with a laugh. “People are like, ‘You not no renaissance man.’ I’m like, ‘I do everything that is the definition of a renaissance man.’” By definition, it’s someone with many talents and interests. Football consumes a majority of Oweh’s life. It’s the center of his world. This offseason, he was able to stretch beyond. He was able to reconnect with interests that he’s held at bay most of his career. To pour into his creative side. On a side project with The Players’ Tribune, Oweh gave himself all four spots on the tunnel fit Mt. Rushmore. And when asked for two people he could have dinner with, dead or alive, Oweh picked James and famed designer Virgil Abloh — a nod to the intersection of his life in sports and creativity. Related Articles How Ravens backup QB Cooper Rush factors into Super Bowl chase | COMMENTARY ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit Ravens observations: WR Zay Flowers absent from training camp practice Ravens TE Isaiah Likely will have surgery to repair broken bone in foot Ravens hire former NFL referee to help with persistent penalty problems The other “can’t believe this is my life” moment of Oweh’s summer was his football camp in Nigeria. Until two years ago, he had never visited his West African roots. Oweh’s parents, Henry and Tania, instilled an importance in giving back to the community. So he spent this trip sharing quality time with his family and Lagos luminaries. Then pouring back into the game of football hosting a camp alongside Nigerian teammates, Nnamdi Madubuike and David Ojabo. “When I was in Nigeria helping kids, they were asking me questions and looking up to me,” Oweh said. “This was something I dreamed about. I would find myself in the middle of that, just step back and be like, ‘Wow, you did it.’” Oweh wasn’t satisfied with how 2024 ended. But his breakout year gave way to a lively summer. He still can’t believe this is his life. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The life of an NFL backup quarterback has to be one of the greatest jobs in America. They get on TV consistently, usually wearing a baseball cap backward. They eat great meals and stay in luxurious hotels. They get to work out daily and their bodies don’t get mangled every Sunday like starters. It certainly beats digging a ditch or moving furniture for a living. “You don’t have to be Superman, you’ve just got to go play football, get the ball to the fast guys, and that’s kind of the mentality,” Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush said. “You have to trust the guys around you, and believe me, there are a lot of fast guys here.” The Ravens signed Rush, 31, to a two-year deal in March worth $6.2 million, which could climb as high as $12.2 million. Without question, he is one of the best backups in team history, certainly one of the most established with no apologies to former predecessors such as Tyler Huntley, Tyrod Taylor, Anthony Wright, Chris Redman and Eric Zeier. He’s the quarterback the Ravens need if two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and starter Lamar Jackson goes down with an injury. The Ravens now have a proven investment, and Rush saw the same advantage of playing in Baltimore. “This came out of nowhere, but we’re really happy with it,” Rush said. “Obviously, this is a loaded roster, a team that is competing every year. They wanted someone who can go in and help out when needed. With them being such a good team, it was a pretty easy decision.” It’s another sign of the urgency for Baltimore to get to the Super Bowl this year. Few teams invest in a backup with such a high profile, but since the 2021 season, Rush played in 38 games with the Dallas Cowboys, starting 14. He has a 9-5 record in those contests, replacing Cowboys starter Dak Prescott. In an eight-year NFL career, Rush has completed 60.7% of his passes for 3,463 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His career passer rating is 83.8. That’s pretty impressive. “This has been a good change of scenery for us and the family. I’m enjoying it,” said Rush, who has two daughters. “Having good teams help. We had a couple of good teams in Dallas and you have to be ready for the opportunity to just go do your job. You kind of remind yourself, you know how to play football, you’ve done it your whole life.” The move to sign Rush was interesting because he doesn’t possess Jackson’s improvisation and scrambling abilities that take the Ravens’ offense to another level. Actually, few do, as Jackson threw for 4,172 yards last season and ran for 915. Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush works out during OTAs earlier this offseason. Rush appeared in 12 games for the Cowboys this past season, throwing 12 touchdown passes and five interceptions. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Rush is more of a traditional passer, born to throw first and run only if necessary. The mix and match with the Ravens’ offense is intriguing because they can go big with running back Derrick Henry, fullback Patrick Ricard and tight ends Mark Andrews or Charlie Kolar, or spread a team out with three- or four-receiver sets featuring DeAndre Hopkins, Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers and Tylan Wallace. “This offense is so multiple,” Rush said. “Obviously with Lamar, you can do a lot more in the run game than someone like me. But you have a really deep tight end room as well as running back room with different bodies and speeds. Watch the tape. You can do pretty much anything. “You see that, and as a quarterback, you find where you fit it. You’re not going to be Lamar Jackson, he is special, but a lot of quarterbacks can come in here and do well.” Rush won’t compare Jackson and Prescott. On the field, they are similar in a lot of ways. In nine years in Dallas, Prescott, 32, has thrown for 31,437 yards with 213 touchdowns and 82 interceptions. Entering his eighth season in Baltimore at age 28, Jackson has thrown for 20,059 yards with 166 touchdowns and 49 interceptions. Jackson has a career passer rating of 102.0. There are other similarities that neither wants to talk about. Prescott is 2-5 in the postseason, while Jackson is 3-5. Regardless, both are extreme competitors. “Yeah, I was with Dak for a long time so obviously we were both comfortable there,” Rush said. “I studied Lamar from afar but now we’re in the same room. It’s pretty special to see what he does from day to day. They both have this competitiveness about them, the effort they put in practice, how much they care. “Getting to know Lamar, obviously, it’s been a short time. I look forward to getting to know Lamar throughout the season.” Related Articles ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit Ravens observations: WR Zay Flowers absent from training camp practice Ravens TE Isaiah Likely will have surgery to repair broken bone in foot Ravens hire former NFL referee to help with persistent penalty problems Ravens rookie Mike Green starts to find his footing: ‘Going to be a baller’ Rush will go back to face the Cowboys on Aug. 16 in preseason game No. 2, but the expectations are different in each city. Dallas has a first-year coach in Brian Schottenheimer, and the Cowboys are coming off a 7-10 season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Ravens are a preseason favorite to win a Super Bowl title. If Jackson goes down with a serious injury, it would be hard for Rush to duplicate Jackson’s past success. But if Jackson is injured and out only out for a few games, the Ravens think they have the answer in Rush, the perfect “stop gap” quarterback. Rush struggled in the spring but has looked better early in training camp. It’s all about learning a new coordinator, his system and receivers. “I think I adjusted pretty quickly in spring. I got a bunch of reps with the starters, which was huge for me to dive into and get a better understanding,” Rush said. “It takes a minute for sure, but the more you watch, even with Lamar working with them, you’re watching how those guys run, how they like to get open out of their breaks and you try to get as much information as you can when you’re out there with them. Overall, I’m in a good situation.” Apparently, the Ravens felt the same way. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Hall of Fame tight end-turned-broadcaster Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The decision comes less than two weeks after Sharpe resolved a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced. Sharpe’s last appearance on ESPN was in late April, when the lawsuit was filed in Nevada. No details of the settlement were released. The lawsuit had sought $50 million. The 57-year-old Sharpe called the accusations “false and disruptive” at the time they were levied and hoped to return in time for the NFL season. Instead, ESPN opted to move on from the brash four-time All-Pro tight end who won three Super Bowls during his 14-year career, including in 2000 with the Ravens. Sharpe retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), yards receiving (10,060) and touchdowns (62). Those records have been broken. Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring. He left FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 and joined ESPN soon afterward. He served as a panelist on the network’s morning show “First Take.” View the full article

A pair of Ravens pass catchers have been sidelined in three days of padded training camp practices, a suboptimal start for what was the healthiest team in football last season. Wide receiver Zay Flowers did not practice Wednesday with a undisclosed injury. Coach John Harbaugh did not provide specifics. “He and a couple other guys that you didn’t see are all camp-type things that you really just need to not go out for a few days on,” Harbaugh said. “So he’ll be back in a few days.” With tight end Isaiah Likely expected to have surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot, which Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday, the Ravens were short several key pass catchers at practice. Flowers, a 2024 Pro Bowl receiver and 2023 first-round draft pick, appeared to tweak his leg near the end of Tuesday’s practice during an 11-on-11 drill. He was seen off to the sideline walking gingerly, seemingly testing out his pain tolerance. This was the second time the hard-cutting receiver had to exit practice with a leg tweak. He pulled himself out during one of the first days of training camp in Owings Mills, had a trainer look at his ankle, then retied his shoe and returned to the field, uninhibited. Health and availability have been key points of the early part of Flowers’ career. It wasn’t until Week 18 last season that a knee injury forced him to miss a game for the first time in his career, Baltimore’s playoff loss in Buffalo. Even then, Flowers said he was positive he would have been ready to play had they made the AFC conference championship. Sluggish day, defense dominates Whether it was the 102 degree heat index, a third straight day in pads or the absence of Likely and Flowers, Wednesday’s practice was disjointed. The defense dominated the offense, winning the practice 63-36, according to the Ravens’ scoring system. Several key offensive contributors were limited in practice: running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver Rashod Bateman and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley spent most of practice on the sideline. Their absences had an obvious effect. There were four false start penalties, multiple drops and a handful of errant passes from quarterback Lamar Jackson. Safety Kyle Hamilton even dropped a potential interception from Jackson during an end-of-practice drill. Cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and TJ Tampa both had multiple pass breakups during team drills. Awuzie, who’s played well over the first week of training camp, looked good against the first-team offense. He nearly picked off a pass intended for wide receiver Devontez Walker and then broke up another end zone pass later in the period. Tampa secured an end zone interception off backup quarterback Cooper Rush. “The defense had a heck of a day today, as you saw,” Harbaugh said. “[Awuzie’s] really stepping up the last day or two.” With Jalyn Armour-Davis and Bilhal Kone both not practicing with injures, there’s a window for Tampa and Awuzie to establish themselves in the cornerback room. Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Jahmal Banks, left, and Rashod Bateman run routes during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry high-fives young fans as he enters the field for practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Young fans react with excitement after high-fiving Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry as he entered the field for practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. One child exclaimed, “Holy moly, Derrick Henry just touched my hand!” (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs drills during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman runs drills during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman runs drills during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Show Caption1 of 8Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Jahmal Banks, left, and Rashod Bateman run routes during practice at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Expand One-on-ones With Flowers out and Bateman not participating, the one-on-one receiver vs. cornerback drills lacked their usual star power, though each side had a few strong moments. “Today was tough. We didn’t have all the receivers out there,” Harbaugh said. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins made an excellent catch on a fade route against cornerback Jaire Alexander, drawing a penalty flag while securing the catch. Alexander was also beat by receiver Anthony Miller on a deep ball later in the drill. Tampa had two pass breakups during the drill, knocking the ball away from Miller and then punching a would-be catch out of Walker’s hands. He even emulated Alexander’s seatbelt celebration after the play. First live period The Ravens have worn pads for three straight days, but had avoided tackling up until today. But at the end of practice, Harbaugh signaled to the team that the next period would be live. “We had it as an option in camp … We just decided to go ahead and do it,” Harbaugh said. Younger players and third-stringers were the only players involved in the drill, as the starters watched from the sideline. The defense stonewalled the offense for a majority of the period, but the day ended with a 45-yard touchdown pass up the seam from quarterback Devin Leary to rookie tight end Sam Pitz. Related Articles ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe after settlement of sexual assault lawsuit Ravens TE Isaiah Likely will have surgery to repair broken bone in foot Ravens hire former NFL referee to help with persistent penalty problems Ravens rookie Mike Green starts to find his footing: ‘Going to be a baller’ Ravens observations on juicy veteran matchup, rookie learning curve, improved LB Rising rookie A former quarterback, Teddye Buchanan’s football intelligence was praised during his one season at California. But he didn’t start playing linebacker full time until his freshman year at UC-Davis and played only one season of Power Four football after transferring to California for his senior season. But the fourth-round rookie is a good athlete who’s clearly becoming more comfortable as training camp wears on. Buchanan knocked away a low pass to running back Justice Hill during one-on-one drills and then made an excellent tackle in space against running back Keaton Mitchell during the live period. It was his best practice of the offseason and with a strong camp, he could become a solid depth option for the Ravens. Bounce-back day for Loop Kicker Tyler Loop missed three kicks during Monday’s practice after making every attempt throughout the rest of training camp. The sixth-round rookie rebounded Wednesday, making all nine of his attempts. Loop drilled kicks from 23, 32, 33, 35, 35, 38, 43, 45 and 53 yards, although one appeared to barely cross over the left goal post. The referees looked at each other in confusion, before signaling that the attempt was good. Injury updates Harbaugh said that the reported timeline for Likely — an absence of about six weeks — is accurate, as the tight end is expected to have surgery on his fractured foot soon. Armour-Davis underwent an MRI that revealed nothing serious, according to Harbaugh. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely suffered a small fracture in his foot Tuesday, an NFL source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. He will have surgery this week. Likely is expected to be out about six weeks, though it’s possible he could return in time for Baltimore’s season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 7, depending on the outcome of the procedure and his recovery. He suffered the injury on the final play of a one-on-one red zone period against safety Sanoussi Kane near the end of Tuesday’s practice and was carted off the field. Coach John Harbaugh said that Likely “rolled” his ankle on the play before going down. Likely punched the ground in frustration before being helped onto the cart. The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Ravens have expressed interest in signing him to an extension, but it’s unclear what impact the injury will have on those negotiations. A fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina in 2022, Likely posted career highs last season in catches (42), receiving yards (477) and touchdowns (six). Baltimore also has a deep tight end room, with Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar to help fill the void. Last season, Andrews, who was an All-Pro in 2021 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2019, 2021 and 2022, had 55 catches for 673 yards and a team-high 11 receiving touchdowns. Kolar, who has primarily been used as a blocking tight end, had nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown last season. Andrews and Kolar are also in the final year of their respective contracts. The Ravens return to practice Wednesday and Thursday before a day off on Friday. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens hire former NFL referee to help with persistent penalty problems Ravens rookie Mike Green starts to find his footing: ‘Going to be a baller’ Ravens observations on juicy veteran matchup, rookie learning curve, improved LB Ravens TE Isaiah Likely carted off field, will be out ‘a few weeks’ How the Ravens can unlock Zay Flowers as a No. 1 wide receiver | ANALYSIS View the full article

Another day, more laundry. Last season, the Ravens had the undesirable distinction of racking up the second-most penalties and penalty yards in the NFL, behind only the lowly New York Jets. In all, Baltimore was flagged 132 times for 1,120 yards, per nflpenalties.com. Through the first half-dozen practices of training camp, the trend has continued. But even before all those yellow flags started flying in Owings Mills this summer, Baltimore took a step toward what it hopes will be a remedy, hiring former longtime NFL referee and umpire Tony Michalek, a source with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday. Michalek has been with the team since the start of camp and his role will be to help with penalty explanations, rules interpretations and, of course, preventing penalties. He certainly brings plenty of experience. Michalek spent 23 years as an umpire before retiring in April and served on crews that were led by Gerry Austin, Gene Steratore and Jerome Boger, among many others. Michalek also worked a dozen playoff games, including two conference championship games and Super Bowl 42, per Football Zebras. The move, which The Athletic was first to report, is similar to one the Buffalo Bills made last year when they hired John Parry, who was an official from 2000 to 2018 and worked a pair of Super Bowls. The Bills, of course, beat the Ravens, 27-25, in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. In that game, Buffalo had one penalty and Baltimore committed five. Through the first handful of Ravens practices in training camp, the biggest problem has been false starts and other presnap penalties. That was also the case last season, when Baltimore drew 40 flags for various presnap offenses. That ranked middle of the pack compared with the rest of the league, but was no less frustrating. That annoyance has continued through the early days of preparation for this season, particularly when it comes to cadence. “You’ve got to keep pushing that,” coach John Harbaugh said of continuing to use a variety of cadences. “I’ve had coordinators like that here that didn’t really want to do cadence or didn’t really want to take a chance at having the issues — [they] will say, ‘Well, we’ll get into that later,’ but we want to get these plays off early. And what happens is, you never have cadence the whole season. “You can’t just bring it out two weeks from now, or three weeks from now or four weeks from now. It looks the same, it looks bad, and it always looks bad early.” Harbaugh then cited a Kansas City Chiefs practice earlier this week in which it was also a point of emphasis. “You have to do it from the get-go, you have to push through it, you have to practice it, and you’ve got to practice it under the toughest conditions — heat, pads, whatever it is, and try to get really good at it,” he said. Some penalties, the Ravens are more willing to live with. On Monday, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins made a one-handed grab of a pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the back corner of the end zone for an apparent touchdown. However, he was flagged for offensive pass interference for using his other hand to grab cornerback Nate Wiggins’ helmet and face mask. But Hopkins is a future Hall of Famer and a contested catch artist, so coaches weren’t going to fret over the play. Some penalties are viewed as the cost of doing business. A false start at the beginning of practice earlier in the day, however, led to Harbaugh barking at the sideline. It was a microcosm of last season, when Baltimore was penalized for false starts 21 times, illegal formations on 10 occasions and delay of game a half-dozen times. Related Articles Ravens rookie Mike Green starts to find his footing: ‘Going to be a baller’ Ravens observations on juicy veteran matchup, rookie learning curve, improved LB Ravens TE Isaiah Likely carted off field, will be out ‘a few weeks’ How the Ravens can unlock Zay Flowers as a No. 1 wide receiver | ANALYSIS Do the Ravens have too many pass catchers? 2025 will test team’s balance. It’s also early in the process, and better now than later is the philosophy. “There really isn’t anything different other than we’re starting back up again, and it’s hot, and we have a number of guys going in the game,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “Sometimes, it’s the quarterback that takes a little bit of time at the line of scrimmage, more than he should, and then all of a sudden you’re making calls at the line, and you may forget you’re on a different cadence. “All of those things are a part of it, but I’m not going to give in. We’re going to fight like heck to be good at it. Why can’t we be elite at cadence? Other teams can; we sure as heck can be and should be.” In hiring Michalek, that’s exactly what the Ravens are hoping for. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Mike Green hasn’t had a “welcome to training camp” moment, per se. But his “welcome to the NFL” moment — a jarring first look at life at the highest level of football — came during rookie minicamp. The 6-foot-3 edge rusher from Marshall who led the FBS in sacks last year stepped into his new defensive huddle. At every level of football, Green has been considered one of the heavyweights. Now, towering over him was C.J. Okoye, a 6-6, 370-pound defensive lineman. “Big C.J.,” as they call him. “Dude is huge,” Green said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’m really here.’” Since then, Green sounds comfortable in his first preseason camp, even if the flashy dominance has been few and far between during live repetitions. Pass rush coach Chuck Smith said that he hasn’t noticed much of a learning curve beyond what’s normal for a rookie. But he noted that Green, who relishes the game’s physicality and was eager to finally put on pads Monday, looks comfortable. While players were still in helmets and shorts last week, defensive coordinator Zach Orr promised, “It’s going to crank up next week.” The first highly anticipated day came and one reporter caught him on film pancaking tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden on Monday. “He’s taking his lumps,” Smith said. “But he’s also giving out his lumps.” Green was part of an offseason oddity. By mid-July, he was one of 30 second-round draft picks who hadn’t inked their rookie deals, all hung up on guaranteed money thanks to an unprecedented deal by the Houston Texans with wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Green signed his four-year, $7.4 million deal on July 17, when the dominoes started to fall. With that hurdle cleared, he’s lined up to be an important part of Baltimore’s long-term pass rush plans. There’s an expectation that 2025 will be the encore to Odafe Oweh’s double-digit sack season of 2024. Kyle Van Noy, at 34, is coming off the best season of his career. Anything close to his 12 1/2 sacks would be a win. Those two led the way for Baltimore’s 54-sack season, good for second most in the NFL. Tavius Robinson and Green are the two younger guys who could complement and eventually backfill those roles. Green said that he spent the whole predraft process trying to prove to teams that he’s a power rusher. That he can overpower a tight end or an offensive linemen, not just beat him with speed. Two days into pads, “I’ve been able to at least show what I’m capable of doing,” he said. Green wants to put on film that he’s not just a pass rusher either; he wants to use this time to let everyone know that he can set the edge and takes pride in his run defense. “When people think you have deficiencies,” Green said, “you’re gonna go out there and show them what you can do.” Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy watch tight end Sam Pitz and outside linebacker Mike Green, right, during camp at the team’s training facility. Green, a rookie from Marshall, led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 17 sacks in 2024. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) If there’s one guy he’s trying to model himself after, it’s Robinson. Green didn’t know much of anything about the outside linebacker going on Year 3. Smith repeatedly sings Robinson’s praises, calling him a glass eater last summer and pointing out this offseason that Robinson has never missed a practice or a rep. “The way I see him work, he’s out here flying around. He’s being very disruptive,” Green said. “My time being here, that’s definitely [someone] that I can look up to and I can follow behind.” Pass rusher can be a tough position to determine success in training camp, particularly when the pads are off. For one, they can’t bring down the quarterback. Green might get by his man, but it’s not always obvious, on a given play, if he’s bringing the quarterback to the turf for the money stat. That, and certain individual drills have less-than-obvious objectives about engaging a blocker or trying out pass rush moves. Related Articles Ravens hire former NFL referee to help with persistent penalty problems Ravens observations on juicy veteran matchup, rookie learning curve, improved LB Ravens TE Isaiah Likely carted off field, will be out ‘a few weeks’ How the Ravens can unlock Zay Flowers as a No. 1 wide receiver | ANALYSIS Do the Ravens have too many pass catchers? 2025 will test team’s balance. What Green is capable of won’t be clear until at least the preseason. And, more definitively, when he’s thrown into the fire with games against three 2024 playoff teams in the first four weeks. Still, there’s been no shortage of praise for how Green has adjusted to NFL meetings, schemes and physicality. Orr said that he’s been sharp knowing his assignments. Smith called Green the best example “of this new generation that have learned from the pros, and he comes in already really highly skilled up.” Robinson said he’s “going to be a baller, for sure” and Oweh called him “twitchy,” finding success within the defense “doing what he’s told to do.” It’s Green’s first training camp, which means there’s a lot to learn and a lot thrown at him — more than just seeing how big his teammates are. But to every question about adjusting to new levels of coaching, physicality and responsibilities, Green’s answer circled home to the same spot: He’ll only get better with time. “Mike has earned his stripes,” Smith said. “Mike’s a rookie. And Mike has to play his position and get in line like any other rookie. … But when we talk about pass rush, Mike is all in. Mike is everything he was advertised to be.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

It’s worth the price of admission to watch Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy go against left tackle Ronnie Stanley. It was like the old days when former Ravens defensive end Michael McCrary was matched up against left tackle Jonathan Ogden. Ogden always won, but it made both better as Ogden eventually went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and both were inducted to the Ravens Ring of Honor. But this Van Noy and Stanley matchup is so, so good. Both are veterans, and both have that combination of speed and power. The key, though, is that neither of them stops working. If Van Noy hits a move and Stanley counters, then Van Noy quickly goes to a second or third move. Stanley has really strong hands and can knock down some of Van Noy’s best moves. It’s great for a film study, but after Day 2 in full pads, Stanley won the overall battle. It’s the feature attraction of pass protection when those two go head-to-head. Now, onto the events of Day 2 in pads: Rookie watch Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green might one day develop into a good pass rusher, but he still has a ways to go. The second-round draft pick out of Marshall has the motor and plays with good leverage, but he is pretty one-dimensional because he is only a speed rusher. Right now, he needs to develop more moves, much like fifth-year outside linebacker Odafe Oweh in his rookie season. Here is a suggestion: Go watch the Stanley versus Van Noy matchups. Tight end depth Tight end Isaiah Likely was carted off the field near the end of practice and coach John Harbaugh said that he will know more about the severity of the apparent leg injury after an MRI on Wednesday. Fortunately for the Ravens, they have two other strong tight ends in starter Mark Andrews and third-stringer Charlie Kolar, but Kolar is considered more of a blocker. When both Likely and Andrews are on the field at the same time, both can be moved to the outside as passing weapons. Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, right, battles tight end Charlie Kolar. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kicking update Rookie free agent John Hoyland converted on field goal attempts of 27, 32, 37, 43 and 48 yards while missing a lone attempt of 51. Tyler Loop didn’t kick Tuesday, a scheduled off day for the sixth-round pick. Simpson looks strong Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson had a strong day. The 2023 third-round pick got pressure on quarterback Lamar Jackson several times, something he couldn’t do last season. Then later in the practice, he ran stride-for-stride down the field with Andrews to knock down a pass, another major weakness in 2024. So far, the 24-year-old Simpson has been out there with middle linebacker Roquan Smith with the starting defensive unit. Raw talent If 6-foot-3, 360-pound nose tackle John Jenkins were three inches shorter, he’d have a body very similar to former Ravens tackle Michael Pierce, who retired at the end of last season. Their girth is amazing. Speaking of defensive tackles, C.J. Okoye (6-6, 370 pounds), who was born in Agbogugu, Nigeria, and didn’t play college football, has amazing strength. Once he becomes more of a technician, he might become quite a player. He gives new meaning to the term “raw talent.” Better blocking The tight ends were better in pass protection in the individual period compared with Monday’s practice. Zaire Mitchell-Paden was better as far as getting his body in position and not getting overextended, and fullback Lucas Scott, the rookie fullback from Army, performed well. In fact, Scott has held his own in most drills. Injury report The Ravens got most of their players back Tuesday, including receiver Rashod Bateman (illness) and cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (sprained knee) and Chidobe Awuzie (undisclosed). Harbaugh was pleased until Likely went down near the end of practice, but every team has these types of injuries during training camp. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gestures to young fans during practice. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Happy feet Jackson makes a lot of plays with his scrambling ability, but sometimes it would serve him well not to have “nervous feet” and start panicking in the pocket. There are times when he just needs to settle and make a strong throw, unlike the underhand flips he has made in the past two days. Those plays lead to turnovers, and they can be costly. Catch of the day The best catch of the day belonged to wide receiver Tylan Wallace on a 20-yard reception over the middle. The pass itself was excellent because it showed both touch and accuracy from backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Maybe he is starting to learn this offense. Also, still waiting for a receiver to run a deep comeback route in practice. The Ravens haven’t had anyone run it like quarterback Joe Flacco throwing to Derrick Mason, who earned the nickname “King of The Comeback.” Related Articles Ravens hire former NFL referee to help with persistent penalty problems Ravens rookie Mike Green starts to find his footing: ‘Going to be a baller’ Ravens TE Isaiah Likely carted off field, will be out ‘a few weeks’ How the Ravens can unlock Zay Flowers as a No. 1 wide receiver | ANALYSIS Do the Ravens have too many pass catchers? 2025 will test team’s balance. Offensive line intrigue I’ve been impressed with starting right guard Daniel Faalele. The 6-8, 370-pound Faalele usually comes to training camp out of shape, but has played well so far. Also, center Tyler Linderbaum, in his fourth year out of Iowa, is handling power rushers at the nose tackle position better than he has in recent years, but I’d still put a big body over him. I’m not sure he could handle that intensity for a full game. One more thing about the offensive line: It wasn’t a good day for starting right tackle Roger Rosengarten. The second-year player whiffed trying to pass block Oweh and then got outmuscled by Van Noy in his next matchup. Big-time play Jackson had a long touchdown run during practice and celebrated with a flip into the end zone. It was well-earned and deserved. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks catches the ball over Beau Brade during training camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks at a press conference after training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Rashod Bateman (7), left, and Jahmal Banks (86) run drills during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens guard Darrian Dalcourt signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jahmal Banks (86) runs drills during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide reciever Zay Flowers (4) runs drills during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Young fans enjoy the bouncy house during Baltimore Ravens training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens new cornerback Jaire Alexander signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Fans watch as the Baltimore Ravens conduct drills during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)A young fan holds a sign and tries to get Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s attention on his 12th birthday during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens full back Patrick Ricard signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace signs autographs for young fans after practice during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) tosses a football with young fans before practice at the team’s training camp in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) thanks fans during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Fans watch as the Baltimore Ravens conduct drills during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) practices throwing during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Fans shout “Best QB in the NFL!” and “MVP!” as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson takes the field during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller (6) runs drills during training camp at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) tosses a football with young fans before practice at the team’s training camp in Owings Mills, Md. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy watch tight end Sam Pitz and outside linebacker Mike Green block during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh adjusts his helmet during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebackers Odafe Oweh #99 and Mike Green stand together during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, right, battles tight end Charlie Kolar. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith watches tackle Joseph Noteboom, left and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson collide during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens rookie outside linebacker Mike Green locks arms with tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden during Tuesday's practice. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green and tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden practice blocking during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Kaimon Rucker and tight end Mark Andrews practice blocking during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh drinks water during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green practices blocking during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh walks during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden tosses a towel during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green jogs during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens safety Sanoussi Kane looks upfield during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh jogs during camp at the team’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Reuben Lowery sprints during training camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 39Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks catches the ball over Beau Brade during training camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand View the full article

Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely suffered an apparent leg injury toward the end of training camp practice Tuesday and was carted off the field. Coach John Harbaugh said that Likely rolled his ankle and will be out “a few weeks.” Harbaugh said the fourth-year player will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury, which happened during one-on-one drills against safety Sanoussi Kane. Likely punched the ground in frustration after going down. The 25-year-old Likely is in the final year of his rookie contract and is a candidate for an extension. He recorded a career-high 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns last season. 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

Zay Flowers’ second season was everything the Ravens could have hoped. The former first-round pick became Baltimore’s first Pro Bowl wide receiver, had over 1,000 yards and emerged as a quality No. 1 wideout. But if Flowers is going to evolve into an elite NFL receiver, it’ll require continued development and a more intentional effort from the Ravens to feature him like a top-tier wideout. The team seems to be using him as such early in training camp. By increasing Flowers’ usage in the slot, the Ravens could unlock another element in their offense and the wideout’s game. He’s been more effective from that position in his brief NFL career and would allow for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to move Flowers around the field and use his top wideout as a matchup playmaker. “I just know how to create separation going across the field … I’m explosive out of breaks,” Flowers said Monday. “I feel like I can run every route in the route tree.” Baltimore moved on from wide receiver Nelson Agholor in the offseason, who was the team’s primary inside option the past two seasons. But Flowers played over 40% of his snaps from the slot last season, a 7% increase from his rookie year, according to Pro Football Focus. He had 26 catches for 374 yards from that position. Flowers’ 14.4 yards per catch from the slot were the seventh-highest in the NFL last season (among players with a minimum of 75 total targets). That mark was ahead of star wideouts Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Puka Nacua. The wide receiver’s 2.10 yards per route run out of the slot was better than his 1.85 yards per route run when he was lined up out wide, according to PFF. His game fits well inside, as his shiftiness and run-after-the-catch ability are among the best in the league. At Monday’s practice, Flowers repped more inside than outside during team drills. He’s been the beneficiary of several explosive plays in practice. Flowers said he’s gotten even faster after running on hills during the offseason. “Zay is a matchup problem anywhere on the field. If you can get him the ball, something special is going to happen,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. NFL offenses are increasingly moving their top wide receivers around formations to find stronger matchups. Seven of the NFL’s top 10 receivers last season spent over 30% of their snaps in the slot. In the nine games in which Flowers lined up in the slot on more than 40% of his snaps, he totaled 689 yards on 66 targets and 44 catches. In the other games — when his slot usage dipped below 40% — he managed just 370 yards on 46 targets and 30 receptions. “We just gotta get him the ball more,” Monken said in June. “He’s not only an outside receiver that has elite route running skills, but he’s unbelievable with the ball in his hands, so you have a guy who fits two positions, plays two positions. “You can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. … I expect him to take another leap in terms of his consistency.” Part of the numbers disparity stems from the Ravens’ personnel packages. When they throw more, Flowers naturally sees more snaps in the slot. But in heavier formations, he often shifts outside or comes off the field entirely. The Ravens also have a dearth of options to play inside. Tight end Mark Andrews has been one of the NFL’s best slot options over his career, as he played nearly half of his snaps from that spot last season. Tight end Isaiah Likely is a mismatch problem across the field. Tylan Wallace and sixth-round draft pick LaJohntay Wester also have experience inside. But DeAndre Hopkins, who’s spent a majority of his career on the outside, joined the team this offseason, and Rashod Bateman has rarely shifted from his role as the X receiver. “I believe our offense has no limits because we got guys that can play any position,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “Like [Flowers] going inside, got [Hopkins] on the outside, [Bateman] outside, it’s no roof.” Related Articles Do the Ravens have too many pass catchers? 2025 will test team’s balance. Meet the mechanical engineering major turned Ravens training camp darling Ravens observations on 1st padded practice, a skirmish, rookies and kicker battle Ravens QB Lamar Jackson lands in Madden 99 club with 6 other NFL stars Ravens secondary among best in NFL but already dealing with injuries If coach John Harbaugh wants Flowers to take the next step toward becoming “the best,” using the third-year player in several ways is the next step for him to become a premier No. 1 wide receiver. The fans are certainly treating him that way. The calls for “Zay” at training camp are more than almost any other Raven. He rewarded a young boy with a high-five during Monday’s practice, and the kid walked away with a proud smile on his face. If Flowers can take another leap, he’ll become even more of a household name. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Zay Flowers is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and an accompanying Pro Bowl nod. Rashod Bateman scored nine touchdowns last season, this after managing four his first three years in the NFL. DeAndre Hopkins is one of the league’s most revered veteran receivers. Mark Andrews is Lamar Jackson’s longest-tenured option, still considered his safety blanket. And Isaiah Likely has improved each of his first three seasons. That’s a lot of pass catching mouths to feed in Baltimore. “You’d rather have too many players that want the ball than not enough or that [don’t] deserve it,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. Three receivers and two tight ends, all proven commodities, can make for an egotistical nightmare or yield an historically productive offense. The challenge for Monken will be how he can spread the ball around with the luxury of keeping his guys fresh by way of variance in personnel groupings. “To me, that’s balance,” Monken said. “Balance is having enough players that it’s not just run and pass, it’s touches. That they’re not just defending one player, that you’re defending modes, you’re defending formations, you’re defending players, you’re defending concepts, all the above. And we’re very fortunate to have that, and we’ll see because we have to do it this year.” Of the 1,055 plays the Ravens offense ran in 2024, 31% were in 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends), 27.8% were 11 personnel (three receivers with one running back and one tight end), 18.8% were 21 personnel (two running backs, two receivers and a tight end) and 12.6% were 22 personnel (two running backs, two tight ends and one receiver). That’s all according to sports data platform SumerSports. For comparison, 47.7% of the Ravens plays in 2023 were 11 personnel. Monken let loose last year, his second at the helm, with more two tight end sets while mixing and matching receiver and running back combos on the heels of adding running back Derrick Henry. It produced the league’s best offense by DVOA, each play a concert of skill position play makers. Then the Ravens went out and signed Hopkins. They also should get a healthy Keaton Mitchell returning to the backfield, joining Henry and Justice Hill. Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson are working with a full house that will need to set egos aside to reach their potential. “It’s an unselfish group,” Andrews said. “And that’s not to say that guys aren’t going to want the rock and to have their yards, have their carries or have their catches, and I think that’s a great thing. I think Coach ‘Monk’ talks about that a lot. And for us, it’s being unselfish, trusting the process and trusting No. 8 [Lamar Jackson].” As far as pass catchers go, there’s a diverse skillset in the room. Wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said they try to hone in on each’s niche and put them in those situations. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during Monday's practice. The Ravens have no shortage of weapons heading into the 2025 season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Flowers is the shifty one of the group, a whirling dervish digging into sharp cuts to find separation over the middle. He said he’s even faster than he was last year. Bateman, who signed a three-year, $36.75 million extension in the offseason, is more of a long ball threat. He’s 6-1, lanky and has become more reliable on go routes. And Hopkins figures to be an outlet for Jackson to throw the ball to past the first down line knowing he’ll go up and get it. A few of those instances have already manifested in training camp. Andrews is a similar 50-50 ball threat. And Likely thrives in scramble situations when Jackson uses his feet to extend a play. Flowers said Monday that he anticipates the offense taking more deep shots. It’s something they’ve been working on and “it’ll show throughout the season.” Are there conversations about sharing the wealth in the offense? Is that something that gets ironed out in August? “It’s been that way since I’ve been here, so we’ll figure it out,” Flowers said, matter of factly. Related Articles Meet the mechanical engineering major turned Ravens training camp darling Ravens observations on 1st padded practice, a skirmish, rookies and kicker battle Ravens QB Lamar Jackson lands in Madden 99 club with 6 other NFL stars Ravens secondary among best in NFL but already dealing with injuries READER POLL: Should the Orioles trade Cedric Mullins? On paper, it’s true because Hopkins is the only addition to the quintet since Flowers’ rookie season. But Andrews was the only established threat in 2023. All of them have made significant strides since. Whether there’s a harmonious union will determine their success. Coach John Harbaugh made the odd analogy to warfare, “like maybe the Civil War,” he said. “You’ve got all these lines of battle. Maybe we can attack them where their defense isn’t displayed quite as strongly, personnel being one of those things,” Harbaugh continued. “If you’ve got guys all across the front that can attack effectively, that’s a good thing.” Is this the best offense of Jackson’s eight-year career? “Yes, absolutely,” he said with conviction, before admitting he says that around this time every year. “We never know until we’re out there,” Jackson said. “I believe we’ll be a lot better this year as well.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The first thing to know about Ravens rookie defensive back Reuben Lowery — other than his ascendance to training camp darling for three interceptions during the spring and another one last week — is that coach John Harbaugh knows his name. Most times, a number will suffice. “Reuben is all ball,” Harbaugh said of the undrafted free agent out of Tennessee-Chattanooga. “He’s all ball every day. All he thinks about, all he talks about, eats it, sleeps it. He comes out here and flies around. He’s a very smart player. He is doing a nice job.” Perhaps the most revealing thing to know about the Powder Springs, Georgia, native, however, is that he majored in mechanical engineering, graduated with Latin honors and a 4.0 GPA, and was a member of the “Rocket Mocs,” a student group that earned NASA recognition as one of the best in the country for five years running. For good measure, Lowery, the youngest of three with two older sisters, was also a prominent member of the school’s Fellowship for Christian Athletes Group and nominated as a junior in 2023 for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, an annual award given to players who “demonstrate exceptional community service and volunteerism.” “He’s like the perfect human,” Tennessee-Chattanooga defensive coordinator Mike Yeager told The Baltimore Sun. “He’s the nicest person alive. He’s the hardest worker. He’s the smartest kid.” It has apparently been that way for a while. “He’s the kid you want to date your daughter, marry your daughter,” Lowery’s former high school coach, Phillip Ironside, told The Sun. “He checks all the boxes. “He’s not gonna be in trouble, you’re not gonna read about him doing something stupid, he’s gonna know his playbook. He’s prepared.” For five years, he also prepared to be an engineer — his father Reuben II, a former pastor, is an engineer and IT professional, his mother Tisha a math teacher. Given his small size (5-foot-9, 204 pounds) it was, like an aerospace or energy project, a plan rooted in logic. But it will have to wait — Lowery has a history of playing bigger than he is. In 46 career games at Tennessee-Chattanooga, he had 166 tackles, including 19 for loss and two sacks, 15 passes defended with three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. As a senior, he was second on the team in both tackles (62) and tackles for loss (7.5), had six pass breakups and two interceptions and was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection. At Hillgrove High School — where he was teammates with Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy, Los Angeles Rams safety Jaylen “Tank” McCollough and Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo — he was at or near the top of the team’s weight room rankings for squats and power clean. He also played all over the field at cornerback and safety for Phillips’ 4-2-5 scheme. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr speaks with media after a training camp practice. Orr is one of the Ravens coaches impressed by rookie defensive back Reuben Lowery. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “He was a coach’s dream in the secondary,” said Phillips, adding that Lowery is cerebral, intelligent, quick to process information and always got the defense in the right call. Still, playing in the NFL always seemed more like fantasy than possibility for much of Lowery’s childhood given a diminutive stature. “It was, ‘What’s your reality?’” his father said. “He always said his goals were to make sure to go to school, no student loans and a good career.” But when Lowery was able to hold his own against varsity players at a strong high school as a freshman, that reality began to shift. Then at Tennessee-Chattanooga’s camp for high school players, he caught head coach Rusty Wright’s attention, was offered a scholarship and quickly proved a worthy investment off the field and on it. After appearing in all five games as a freshman during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the next season he helped spearhead a defense that gave up its fewest passing yards (153.5) per game in seven years. And as a third-year sophomore, he returned his first career interception 45 yards for a touchdown. By his junior season, he was named team captain and started at slot safety and outside corner. “He was the best blitzer we had, one of the best man coverage guys we had, one of the best zone coverage guys we had, one of the smartest guys in terms of fits, had great hands getting off blocks,” Yeager said. “He’s a technician. Whatever the coaches told him to do technically, he worked at it every single day so it’s a natural reflex.” All the while, he maintained a spot on the dean’s list and honor roll. “We’d have a team meeting and Reuben would be sitting in there with a laptop doing homework,” Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Rusty Wright told The Sun. “As soon as we started meeting, it went off and it was time to go play football. “He’s very compartmentalized. He knows how to handle his business.” Making the Ravens’ roster, however, could be Lowery’s most challenging math problem yet. Related Articles Ravens observations on 1st padded practice, a skirmish, rookies and kicker battle Ravens QB Lamar Jackson lands in Madden 99 club with 6 other NFL stars Ravens secondary among best in NFL but already dealing with injuries READER POLL: Should the Orioles trade Cedric Mullins? The best Ravens defenses were feared. Will this year’s unit be? Baltimore already has a deep and talented secondary, led by safeties Kyle Hamilton, first-round rookie Malaki Starks, and second-year safeties Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade, along with cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis and T.J. Tampa, among others. But the Ravens also like versatility and keeping a lot defensive backs, for their prevalence of nickel and dime looks and to account for injuries. Already, they lost safety Ar’Darius Washington for what is expected to be at least most of the season with a torn Achilles suffered during offseason workouts. On Monday, Armour-Davis also suffered an undisclosed injury that required an MRI, while Alexander was out because of swelling in his knee. Barring any significant long-term injuries, there don’t figure to be a lot of open jobs, but that could of course change. And at the least Lowery has an excellent shot at the practice squad. “This is one of the most competitive rosters that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “But, Reuben has made plays since he’s been here. We’re upfront with our guys in the meeting rooms. We tell them, ‘Hey, block out distractions. Don’t count numbers, don’t worry about who’s in the room. All you do is show up, work hard, make plays and be consistent. That will lead to productivity. Now you put yourself in a great situation to do great things,’ and so far, Reuben has done that, so he’s playing all over the secondary for us.” That bodes well. “He’s been really impressive,” Orr said. That much, at least, has never been in doubt. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens had their full padded practice of the season Monday, but there wasn’t a lot of thumping during the two-hour session. It was basically an upscale OTA, with a few more bruises. There was limited hitting. The entire team went through one session without helmets. Afterward, coach John Harbaugh said he wanted to avoid any unnecessary injuries and stressed players staying off the ground and on their feet. Mission accomplished. This wasn’t a full hit practice from the 1970s or 1980s, or even when the late Ted Marchibroda was coaching the Ravens in their first season in Baltimore in 1996. Back then, they hit every day for two straight weeks. But there were some moments: Another first The first fight of training camp was between fifth-year outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and rookie offensive tackle Carson Vinson, the fifth-round pick out of Alabama. It was basically a lovefest between the two before the scuffle was broken up almost immediately by teammates. It was a rough day for Vinson. Not only did he get in a fight with Oweh, but he was beaten several times during one-on-one sessions and got in a brief altercation with outside linebacker Tavius Robinson. But there is some good news for Vinson. He isn’t expected to play much in 2025 and is considered a developmental player. Based on his playing too high and not using the proper leverage, the Ravens made the proper evaluation. Vorhees needs work Another player who had trouble being too upright in pass protection was left guard Andrew Vorhees, who might be their starter. Nnamdi Madubuike worked under Vorhees’ pads several times and once pushed him back into what would have been the quarterback’s lap. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson lands in Madden 99 club with 6 other NFL stars Ravens secondary among best in NFL but already dealing with injuries READER POLL: Should the Orioles trade Cedric Mullins? The best Ravens defenses were feared. Will this year’s unit be? Mike Preston: Best Ravens team ever? Let’s compare them. | COMMENTARY Vorhees runs well when pulling around the corner and blocks well on running plays, but he stands too high. That’s a big mistake because of Madubuike’s power and speed. Some good and bad for a tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden had a nice catch in the middle of the field and then strode down the middle for what would have been a touchdown. He took a high-five from Harbaugh going back to the huddle, but the coach won’t be so impressed when he watches Mitchell-Paden’s pass blocking on video. First, he got driven into the ground by rookie outside linebacker and second-round pick Mike Green, then he got blown up by outside linebacker Diwun Black on his next repetition. It was downright ugly. Green, Ojabo stand out While talking about Green, he got some pressure on the quarterbacks Monday, which might have been his best day of training camp. He worked the spin move inside a couple of times and got pressure on both Lamar Jackson and Cooper Rush, forcing them to either step up in the pocket or throw check-downs to the running backs. In the first four practices, Green showed athleticism, but he wasn’t much of a factor. He had a presence Monday. Another outside linebacker who played well was fourth-year player David Ojabo. A year ago, he looked stiff but is now showing more bend and flexibility. Ojabo and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis were both on the hot seat entering training camp. Armour-Davis didn’t practice Monday and Harbaugh said he had to get an MRI, but would not specify on what part of the body. Starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman also didn’t practice; Harbaugh said he was sent home early because of an illness. Cornerback Jaire Alexander had his knee drained Monday but is expected back Tuesday, and cornerback Bilhal Kone was out after hitting his shoulder Saturday. Ravens running back Derrick Henry showed off his burst on Monday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Check mate Few fans in attendance would agree, but the best play of the day was a short swing pass to running back Derrick Henry, who ran down the left sideline untouched for a 65-yard touchdown. It’s still unbelievable that a running back at 6 feet, 3 inches and 252 pounds can run that fast. Nobody wanted to touch him or get in his way. Making magic Regardless of how much this offense changes, the Ravens’ best play is still Jackson either scrambling around or throwing to tight end Mark Andrews. It was on display several times Monday. As for Andrews, he still struggles to block, but so did fourth-year tight end Charlie Kolar. It’s good that they probably won’t be called on to do much pass blocking. To be honest, backup tight end Isaiah Likely doesn’t like to block either. Meanwhile, fullback Patrick Ricard, all 6-3 and 300 pounds of him, was extremely successful going one-on-one with the outside linebackers. Ravens rookie Tyler Loop missed a field goal on Monday for the first time this training camp. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kicking update In case you are keeping count, undrafted rookie free agent kicker John Hoyland was 4 of 4 on field goals Monday, converting on kicks from 33, 38, 45 and 47 yards. His counterpart, Tyler Loop, drafted in the sixth round out of Arizona, was 5 of 8 after he made every kick during his first week of camp. He made field goals of 33, 33, 47, 41 and 44 yards but missed on kicks of 43, 38 and 35 yards. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

It’s not even August, but Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is already being honored for his play. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is one of seven NFL players to earn a 99 rating in Madden 26. “This is crazy,” an excited Jackson said in a social media video. Wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman broke the news to the quarterback, even giving him a necklace with 99 on it. “I might practice with this thing,” Jackson joked. Joining Jackson in the 99 club are Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson, Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. Three of the seven players to earn a 99 rating play in the AFC North. Notably, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow didn’t make the 99 club. Several offseason quarterback rankings, including one from The Associated Press, have Burrow and Mahomes above Jackson. Jackson threw 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in 2024, eclipsing 5,000 total yards in the process. While he had the best statistical season of his career, Jackson and the Ravens fell short in the postseason with a 27-25 loss to the Bills in the AFC divisional round, while Allen was named NFL MVP. Madden’s ratings don’t seem to care about Jackson’s postseason shortcomings, instead focusing on his all-world skills. Jackson’s passing ability, coupled with elite rushing skills, makes him one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and it’s part of why fans and experts alike have such lofty expectations for the franchise in 2025. “Shoutout Madden for putting me in the 99 club,” Jackson said. “Let’s get ready for this season.” Madden will release its full 2026 player rankings by the end of the week. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

On paper, the Ravens might have the best secondary in the NFL. It’s a defensive backfield loaded with Swiss Army knives, chess pieces and all the other clichés about versatile pass disruptors that help explain five first-round picks in the same secondary: Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton, Jaire Alexander, Nate Wiggins and Malaki Starks. After a tumultuous start to last season, defensive coordinator Zach Orr said, “We’re light-years ahead of where we were at.” As fortified as Baltimore’s secondary appears, it’s also one injury away from having to trot out an unproven backup. The injuries — although minor — are already piling up one week into training camp and a day into padded practices. Alexander missed Monday’s practice, needing to get some swelling drained from his knee, according to coach John Harbaugh. The two-time Pro Bowl selection should be back to practice on Tuesday. Jalyn Armour-Davis, who would have been one of the first cornerbacks off the bench, missed Monday’s practice with a lower-body injury. He’s scheduled to get an MRI, Harbaugh said, but the hope is it’s “nothing too serious.” Rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone left practice early on Saturday with a shoulder injury. Harbaugh believes it’s a minor setback, but his return will be based on pain tolerance. And veteran Chidobe Awuzie appeared to not take live reps on Friday or Saturday before returning to practice Monday. “I think it might’ve been Ozzie [Newsome], I think he said, ‘You can never have too many DBs.’ I feel like for every team at some point in the year, it seems like everybody’s thin at DB,” Hamilton said this offseason. The Ravens are starting to feel it in July. But at full strength, they should boast among the best groups in the league. Hamilton returns as one of the top safeties in the league, and Humphrey is coming off arguably the best season of his eight-year career at cornerback. Those two have four combined All-Pro selections. They’re complemented by Wiggins, the rising sophomore cornerback poised for a breakout year, and Starks, a 2025 first-round draft pick with the maturity and tools to be an immediate starter at safety. Baltimore will be without safety Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles) until at least November. Training camp will shed some clarity on — if there are setbacks during the season — who might get the call. Related Articles Ravens observations on 1st padded practice, a skirmish, rookies and kicker battle Ravens QB Lamar Jackson lands in Madden 99 club with 6 other NFL stars READER POLL: Should the Orioles trade Cedric Mullins? The best Ravens defenses were feared. Will this year’s unit be? Mike Preston: Best Ravens team ever? Let’s compare them. | COMMENTARY The safety battle should draw more eyes because of how quickly either Beau Brade or Sanoussi Kane might have to fill in, each vying for the No. 3 spot behind Hamilton and Starks with Washington still on the shelf. Last season, the Ravens cycled through Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson before landing on Washington. So nothing is guaranteed in center field. The cornerback depth chart is a bit more crowded — all floating on the same life raft, trying to make the 53-man roster. Armour-Davis is the senior-most option. He had a nice pass breakup and an interception during the first week of camp before the pads came on. Armour-Davis is going into Year 4, coming off a season in which he appeared in seven games with two starts. Injuries have hindered his development, but there have been flashes if he can get healthy. August is a big month for TJ Tampa Jr., too. The 2024 fourth-round pick missed the majority of his rookie season with an ankle injury. Like the failed Williams and Jackson experiments, the Ravens never got consistent play from Tre’Davious White or Brandon Stephens last year. Tampa made financial investments in his own health this offseason. He told The Baltimore Sun that, in addition to extra post-practice yoga and tub recovery, he bought a sauna and Normatec boots to have at home. “This year is definitely gonna be different with my preparation,” he said. Ravens secondary coach Chuck Pagano, right, has a deep but relatively inexperienced unit to work with. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) When the Ravens hired secondary coach Chuck Pagano, Tampa and Brade were two of the first young guys to blow up his phone seeking advice. Orr said Pagano gave those guys “a deep, detailed summary.” Reuben Lowery could prove to be the training camp surprise. He’s on the fringe to make the final 53-man roster, likely closer to the outside than the inside. But the undrafted rookie profiles as another versatile back, having played corner, nickel and safety at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Harbaugh noticed Lowery flying around, too. “He’s ‘all ball’ every day,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a very smart player. He is doing a nice job.” Thus, this secondary becomes a quasi-positional battle to follow through the preseason. Not for who might start, but for who might be forced to fill in to a defense with lofty expectations. “We didn’t like what we did last year, especially the first half of the season,” Orr said. “And we made a vow that we wouldn’t do that again. So, we know that’s just words. We have to put action behind it. But so far, throughout the spring and this first week of training camp, the action’s been real good, so I’m happy with the group.” Hamilton thinks Starks is further along now than he was as a rookie. The group is feeding off Alexander’s confident vibes and “weird” energy. Wiggins has had a productive start to camp. And Humphrey, the spokesman of the defensive turnaround, said teammates are “really running to the ball like it means something.” Much of Orr’s plans for this season hinge on the flexibility of a dynamic secondary — guys who can play all over the field to mess with a quarterback’s reads. That approach might shift should there be an injury. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta took two more cornerbacks in the draft. It was the one position the reticent DeCosta admitted he’d be prioritizing. “Corner is a critical, important position,” he said back in March. “They break down. They’re like Bugattis.” Enter, sixth-round picks Kone and Robert Longerbeam. Both entered training camp as bubble guys who will spend every day fighting to stick around. Neither will be guaranteed a roster spot but could stay in Baltimore with a practice squad invitation. In a matter of a year, the discourse flipped from a secondary in the basement of the league to Alexander saying after a few practices, “Defenses win championships, so I’m in the right place to do that.” It will just be a matter of staying healthy. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article