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Derrick Henry practices like a rookie at age 31, while Justice Hill is considered to be the Ravens running backs’ junkyard dog. Those two teamed up to form the NFL’s most productive backfield by total rushing yards and yards per carry last season. Add Keaton Mitchell to the mix — nearly two years removed from ACL surgery, lauded as being “back to himself” this training camp — and Baltimore enters this fall with what could be a dangerous three-headed monster in a backfield that also features dual threat quarterback Lamar Jackson. The question then becomes, how do you maximize all that talent? Henry is Baltimore’s primary running back, coming off an 18-touchdown season (16 rushing, two receiving) 79 rushing yards shy of what would have been his second career 2,000-yard campaign. He’s the old school bell cow back — one of the few left in today’s NFL. Hill is historically the go-to third-down back. A downtick in practice touches and the fact that he didn’t suit up for the first preseason game last week is an example on how far he’s come, stamping his place as RB2 after clocking 611 total yards last season. He specializes as a receiving back and undersized pass blocker. It earned him a two-year, $6 million extension last September. “When it comes to Derrick and Justice, we have a good rotation going,” running backs coach Willie Taggart said. “… We can try to find different ways to get [Mitchell] the football so he can do his thing.” The thinking, as of mid-August and assuming everyone is healthy, is that Hill will be the one to temper Henry’s snap count in hopes of saving his best football for January. Adding Mitchell will require some creative shuffling to get him the football. He’s certainly proved his worth this month. Mitchell shined in the early days of training camp practice. He showed out in the first joint practice then again with a nine-carry, 68-yard performance against Indianapolis in the preseason opener. While he hasn’t practiced since for undisclosed reasons, what Mitchell has put on tape is emblematic of the one who could be the shiftiest option out of Baltimore’s backfield. Couple that with what Taggart noticed has been a renewed confidence — an affable energy — walking around the building could prove to make Mitchell difficult to keep off the field. Taggart pointed out Mitchell has been “much better” in pass protection and his whole body looks stronger, not just the knee. “It’s our job to get the best players on the field,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “Our ability to be versatile, not only by run-pass modes, it’s also by who’s out there, what grouping [and] what do we do out of each group. But, we certainly have to look at that a lot more as we continue to move forward.” Special teams is the most obvious path to be sure Mitchell gets consistent touches. Ravens running back Derrick Henry practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens assistant head coach and running back coach Willie Taggart speaks with the media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Derrick Henry, right, runs during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Justice Hill works out during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Rasheen Ali practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Show Caption1 of 5Ravens running back Derrick Henry practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Expand Last year, Hill noticeably stopped taking reps on kick return. “I’m not gonna lie, I do kinda miss it,” he said. Special teams gave him the foundation that he turned into a full-time role out of Baltimore’s backfield. Mitchell’s path may look similar. He fielded three kick returns for 64 yards last week against the Colts. With a logjam in the backfield, Mitchell’s touches may be most prudent via special teams. As Monken says often, the surplus of talent is a good problem to have. Hill razzes Henry about his stature in the game, seeing that he’s bound for the Hall of Fame. Henry attacks every day with a straight face and insatiable hunger. So much so that Hill sometimes reminds him to smile more. Related Articles Taylor Swift took first steps on NFL football field in Baltimore: ‘It was so magical’ Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson to Rashod Bateman connection in rhythm Ravens star Lamar Jackson is finally ranked a Tier 1 QB. Here’s why. Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ends trademark battle with Troy Aikman over No. 8 Josh Tolentino: Michael Phelps shares Olympic mindset with Ravens | COMMENTARY They learn a lot from one another in that group. Taggart said Hill was paramount in helping Henry acclimate to Baltimore last season. Hill said it’s “cool to see the difference between a normal guy in the league” and someone who will one day have his own bust in Canton, Ohio. And Mitchell is backfilling Hill’s promotion, “doing all the dirty work,” he said recently. “[Monken] is good at putting all the guys in the right spot to maximize their abilities,” Hill said. “It’s just gonna be exciting to see because we continue to add to the offense. You can tell everybody’s getting a lot more comfortable.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Pop superstar Taylor Swift touched grass for the first time on the field at M&T Bank Stadium last year and she hasn’t forgotten the “magical” moment. Swift, appearing Wednesday on New Heights, the podcast hosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, said that she made “cherished memories” in Baltimore when she visited last January to watch Travis and the Chiefs take on the Ravens in the AFC championship game. “What is your welcome to the NFL moment?” Jason Kelce asked Swift, who thought about it for mere seconds. “I’d say it was the first time I stepped on the field, when he won the AFC Championship” she said, just as Travis chimed in: “Baltimore.” Describing her excitement about the game, which her boyfriend’s Chiefs won, Swift said she was surprised when Travis’ mom, Donna Kelce, said they were leaving their suite to go down to the field for the celebration. “Did he say that’s OK? … Is he gonna be like ‘what are you doing down here dude?’”Swift asked his mom, who assured her that Travis would want her there on the field. Travis said he didn’t want to jinx a win, so the couple never discussed what would happen if his team won. Swift, who also announced her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl” on the podcast, said that moment was “euphoric.” “So I’m walking out on this field and it’s like ‘oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” Swift explained. “There’s so many lights. I’ve never seen this many cameras. I’ve never seen this much media in my life and I’ve seen a lot of media.” “It’s one of my most cherished memories because I was so proud of you,” Swift told Travis. “It was so magical,” she said, later adding “I had such a good rookie year. It was crazy.” Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs (L) celebrates with Taylor Swift after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Have a news tip? Send it to nzimmerman@baltsun.com. View the full article

For quarterback Cooper Rush, the prospect was tantalizing. After spending his first seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, he considered returning to owner Jerry Jones’ team as the backup once again. Then the Ravens called “out of nowhere” early in free agency, and that was that. Two very different organizations headed in largely different directions. “A chance to go on really good team, that if you gotta to go in there you can go win games and win important games,” Rush said Wednesday in his first meeting with reporters when asked about his decision to sign with Baltimore this offseason. “A team that’s in it, a team that’s got tons of weapons at every position. All those go into it. It was an exciting process.” Rush, 31, isn’t nearly as exciting as Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, but he’s “a professional,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Operates the offense well, makes great decisions, handles the protections, gets the ball out on time, accurate passer,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’s a winning quarterback.” On Wednesday, he showed off some of those skills. During one 11-on-11 period, Rush zipped a pass over the middle to an in-cutting Keith Kirkwood for a nice chunk gain. In one-on-one play, he was accurate and showed some touch, even if Malik Cunningham and Devontez Walker didn’t help him out with the former dropping a pass and the latter slipping and falling on the route. Still, Rush had some moments, including a nice back-shoulder completion to wide receiver Anthony Miller with rookie safety Malaki Starks in coverage. He also had some down moments. Rush was intercepted by cornerback T.J. Tampa on one pass intended for receiver Xavier Guillory during another 11-on-11 period. Still, he’s starting to find his rhythm in the offense. Harbaugh also indicated that he’ll get more opportunities than the four passes he attempted last week in the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts when the Ravens play the Cowboys on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium. Rush said that he doesn’t view the reunion as a revenge game, rather a chance to try to impress his new team. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs onto field during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs onto field during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens safety Beau Brade, left, and cornerback Nate Wiggins during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens safety Beau Brade works out during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Justice Hill speaks with the media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush speaks with the media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens assistant head coach and running back coach Willie Taggart speaks with the media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks with the media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens quarterback Copper Rush throws during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Rasheen Ali practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Derrick Henry practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, hands off the ball to running back Derrick Henry during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Justice Hill works out during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Derrick Henry, right, runs during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Derrick Henry, right, runs drills in front of coach Willie Taggart during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens back-up quarterback Cooper Rush practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens assistant head coach Willie Taggart, left, practices with running back Justice Hill during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens assistant head coach and running back coach Willie Taggart conducts practice during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens running back Justice Hill, left, receives hand-off from quarterback Cooper Rush, right, during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush throws during training camp. Rush spoke to reporters Wednesday and explained why the Ravens were the best fit for him in free agency. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, second left, poses with young fans as head coach John Harbaugh, right, takes pictures during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass as coach Tee Martin, right, watches during training camp. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, from right, introduces quarterback Lamar Jackson to a young fan during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Show Caption1 of 23Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs onto field during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Expand Lamar Jackson, Rashod Bateman in rhythm Harbaugh called this an “improvement” and “opportunity” week, and that was on display at times Wednesday for some of the wide receivers — and especially with the timing between Jackson and Rashod Bateman. About midway through practice and on the first play of an 11-on-11 period from the defense’s 40-yard line, Jackson dropped back and launched a perfectly timed pass up the sideline to Bateman, who got behind cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and safety Sanoussi Kane to haul it in for a touchdown. It was one of many connections between Jackson and Bateman, with Bateman racking up seven catches on eight targets during 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods. Receivers stacking cornerbacks and giving space for throws up the sideline, the depth of routes and spacing against zone coverage were just some of the “little details” that Harbaugh was particularly pleased with in the passing game. “You wonder why all of a sudden why the passing game starts to look better and better,” he said. “You see it’s the details of the route running a lot of the times.” Bateman, one of the best separators and deep threats in the NFL last season, has been Baltimore’s best deep performer throughout training camp. One-on-one highlights One-on-one play is entertaining, if nothing else. It gives quarterbacks, receivers and, to some extent, defensive backs a chance to strut their stuff. Two connections in particular stood out Wednesday. First, Jackson dropped a beauty of a pass to receiver Zay Flowers, who had a step on cornerback Nate Wiggins, on a deep ball up the sideline. Later, Rush found a wide-open Guillory after the receiver faked out fellow rookie Keondre Jackson at the line of scrimmage with a stutter-step that the safety bit too hard on. In the Loop After essentially getting the day off during Tuesday’s walk-through practice, rookie kicker Tyler Loop was back to work Wednesday, and the results were mixed. The sixth-round draft pick out of Arizona’s first attempt of the day during team play, a 46-yarder, sailed wide right. After that, though, he found his rhythm. In the kicking period, he rattled off makes from 33, 38, 41, 46 (which glanced the right upright) and 52 yards. He also made two more, from 35 and 25 yards, in pair of team periods. But in a “Bonsai” 45-yard attempt as time expired, Loop again missed right. The most interesting kick of the day, however, came early in practice when Harbaugh put the team through a rare free kick scenario and Loop connected from 67 yards with room to spare. It was just one of many situational drills on the afternoon. “You try to get it all practiced as much as you can,” Harbaugh said of the various scenarios. “Then when it comes up during the course of season with other teams, you always show it to them and review it with them and try to remind them about it.” Related Articles Ravens star Lamar Jackson is finally ranked a Tier 1 QB. Here’s why. Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ends trademark battle with Troy Aikman over No. 8 Josh Tolentino: Michael Phelps shares Olympic mindset with Ravens | COMMENTARY Ravens legend Ray Lewis attends practice, delivers message to team Meet the Ravens’ ‘X’s and O’s guy’ behind their rising pass rush Last season, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Cameron Dicker made the longest fair catch free kick in NFL history when he converted a 57-yarder against the Denver Broncos. That broke the previous record of 52 yards by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers in 1962 on the seldom-used play, which allows a team that has just made a fair catch to attempt a field goal with the defense 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage. Attendance Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis was a new absence. Others not practicing included wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Jaire Alexander, running back Keaton Mitchell, running back Marcus Major Jr., linebacker William Kwenkeu, tight end Isaiah Likely and rookie offensive tackle Emery Jones Jr. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Seven seasons later, Lamar Jackson has officially made it. We’re talking, of course, about the annual quarterback tiers by The Athletic’s Mike Sando, which for the first time has Jackson ranked in Tier 1. In a poll of 50 anonymous NFL coaches and executives, the Ravens’ superstar received 46 top-tier votes, double his total from the previous year. That placed him fourth overall behind the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (tied for No. 1), the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow (T-1) and the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (No. 3) and ahead of the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford (No. 5) in Tier 1. The Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels leads Tier 2 at No. 6. Jackson, 28, was ranked in Tier 4 ahead of his breakout 2019 season, in which he led the Ravens to an NFL-best 14-2 record and earned his first league Most Valuable Player Award. He was then ranked in Tier 2 for five years in a row despite winning a second MVP Award in 2023. So, what changed? In 2024, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken calling the plays for the second straight year, Jackson nearly won a third MVP Award as he became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900 in the same season. He set career highs in passing yards (4,172), touchdown passes (41) and passer rating (119.6) while throwing a career-low four interceptions and leading the Ravens to a 12-5 record and the AFC North title. However, his team came up short in the postseason once again in a 27-25 divisional round loss to the Bills marred by three turnovers and a crucial drop by tight end Mark Andrews on the potential game-tying 2-point conversion. Jackson is now 3-5 in the playoffs in his career with just one trip to the AFC championship game. To some, his growth has been evident. “Lamar has really done a great job, and I do not think it has been him that has let them down [in the playoffs],” a defensive coordinator told The Athletic. “It has been other parts of their team. He has taken leaps and bounds in the last couple years.” In the rankings, a Tier 1 quarterback is defined as someone who “can carry his team each week. The team wins because of him. He expertly handles pure-passing situations. He has no real holes in his game.” In addition to Mahomes, Allen and Burrow, Aaron Rodgers, Justin Herbert, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger have all been ranked in Tier 1 at some point during Jackson’s career as a starter dating to the end of the 2018 season. Although Jackson is 70-24 in his career, a three-time All-Pro selection and the best rushing threat in the history of the position, he’s previously been criticized for his passing ability under pressure and checkered injury history after missing time in 2022 and 2021 with ankle and knee ailments, respectively. There are fewer doubters now, at least among The Athletic’s subset of voters. “There was doubt before because it was off-schedule, it was running, it’s not sustainable, they have a great defense, they have this, they have that,” another 2025 voter said. “The offense has put the ball in his hands more, to sling the ball around.” On Tuesday, Monken said that Jackson’s improvements this summer have been “subtle.” “I think with every year that we’re running the same offense, and we’re together, we communicate better, [and we] get to learn each other better,” Monken said. “But his command at the line of scrimmage — I think he’s doing a better job with our guys consistently, what he expects from them and being on the same page, so you can just see that part of it.” In July, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that Jackson’s “window to improve is pretty big” considering the quarterback’s age and experience. He later called Jackson a “historically good passer” in an interview with ESPN. Related Articles Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ends trademark battle with Troy Aikman over No. 8 Josh Tolentino: Michael Phelps shares Olympic mindset with Ravens | COMMENTARY Ravens legend Ray Lewis attends practice, delivers message to team Meet the Ravens’ ‘X’s and O’s guy’ behind their rising pass rush Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo is ‘an upside guy.’ Will it be enough? “He’s not one of these guys that says, ‘I’m there, I’ve arrived.’ He never looks at it that way,” Harbaugh said. “He always looks at what [he can] do to get better.” In ESPN’s survey of league executives, coaches and scouts earlier this summer, Jackson also ranked fourth among quarterbacks behind Mahomes, Allen and Burrow with some evaluators knocking Jackson’s skills as a pocket passer while others praised his statistics and winning percentage. The Associated Press also surveyed eight of its pro football writers before the season, and Jackson once again ranked fourth behind the same trio. With Jackson at the helm, the Ravens enter the 2025 season among the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl. Baltimore opens the season Sept. 7 on “Sunday Night Football” in a playoff rematch against the Bills in Orchard Park, New York. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has withdrawn his challenge to Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman’s trademark use of the No. 8. In a decision to dismiss the case published Tuesday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office revealed that the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player filed to withdraw the challenge Monday after originally filing the challenge in July 2024. Jackson’s initial opposition to Aikman’s application to trademark the No. 8 — featured prominently on clothing and other merchandise associated with the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback — argued that Aikman’s trademark would ultimately create a false connection with himself, since he wears the No. 8 jersey for the Ravens and produces his own merchandise and branding featuring the number. The move comes as Jackson continues a separate trademark battle with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. over the same number, a case still pending before the USPTO. Jackson has registered marks including “ERA 8” and “ERA 8 BY LAMAR JACKSON” for apparel, bags and athletic gear, while Earnhardt Jr.’s application seeks similar protections for clothing and toy products. Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 or @mmmschumer on X. Related Articles Buddy Marucci, chairman of BMW Championship, is a renowned amateur golfer Varsity Q&A: Chesapeake boys soccer forward Byron Klohr wants more Orioles haven’t begun Camden Yards ground lease talks with deadline ahead Navy football: Predicting 5 breakout players on defense Varsity Q&A: Arjun Mistry stepped into No. 1 spot for Liberty tennis View the full article

The most decorated Olympian in history made a special appearance at the Under Armour Performance Center on Tuesday. For a team chasing its own championship dreams, Michael Phelps’ visit was more than a celebrity cameo. It served as an opportunity for the Ravens to absorb unique insight from a local legend who truly understands what it takes to sustain greatness over decades. And for this particular team, his message might be more relevant than ever. Baltimore last year produced one of the most productive seasons in NFL history … only to choke when it mattered most, with the Ravens committing an uncharacteristic three turnovers in its infamous loss to the Bills in the divisional round. Phelps, who grew up in Rodgers Forge and trained at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center throughout his prolific career, talked about perfecting preparation during his post-practice speech to the team. “It was great having a legend here, he is the best swimmer of all-time,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “As an Olympic gold medalist, regardless of sport, Michael Phelps — you have to speak his name. It was neat having him talk to us because the message … that’s one thing when you listen to the greats, you wonder how do they do such great things in the highest-tense moments? It all leads back to the work that nobody sees. That’s what Michael Phelps talked about: preparation. “It’s great for our guys to hear that because it’s one thing to hear it from somebody, a quote or book you read. But to physically see and hear that person up close, and to know all the things that person accomplished is great, man. I can’t thank him enough for coming to talk to our team.” Phelps’ mindset, one that features a special type of preparation so thorough that any outside noise can’t rattle you, is something that the Ravens need to take with them throughout the expected grind of a strenuous season. Coach John Harbaugh has long believed in off-the-field activities and its effect on team chemistry and culture. Harbaugh previously has hosted barbecue dinners at his home, invited other guests to speak with his team and visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Team bonding doesn’t only happen in the huddle, but it also can occur through special messages like the one the Ravens received from Phelps. Visits like these help break the regiment of training camp. They help spark conversations that aren’t about coverages or protections, but rather mindset and resilience. It was fitting that Phelps’ drop-in fell on what Harbaugh described as a “mental practice.” Phelps, sporting a Ravens cap and a pair of Nike “What The Kobe” 8s, observed most of Tuesday’s practice while seated from the 10-yard line with his son, Beckett. His attendance was sparked by an outcry on social media from veteran defensive back Marlon Humphrey, who playfully invited Phelps to teach players to swim in the team’s new recovery pool (safety Kyle Hamilton estimates that only one-third of the team knows how to swim). After Tuesday’s practice, Phelps led the Ravens in a team-bonding activity that featured swim lessons and a dive contest at nearby Loyola University. Lessons aside, Phelps’ presence should provide a lasting impact across the team’s locker room. Throughout his storied career, Phelps, 40, understood that even in a sport as solitary as swimming, individual talent could only take him so far. He notably relied on his team of coaches, nutritionists and relay mates. Similarly, the Ravens are fully aware that it takes a full-team effort to push forward — or fall short — when it matters most. Related Articles Ravens legend Ray Lewis attends practice, delivers message to team Meet the Ravens’ ‘X’s and O’s guy’ behind their rising pass rush Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo is ‘an upside guy.’ Will it be enough? Josh Tolentino: Rest or rust? Ravens preseason is no debate. | COMMENTARY Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve For Phelps, the margin between gold and silver was often a fraction of a second. Yet he earned his status as the most decorated athlete in history by claiming 28 Olympic medals, including 23 golds, over five Summer Games thanks to his preparation, composure and mental fortitude. His frequent presence on the podium is where the Ravens aspire to be — not drowned in repeated playoff heartbreak. If the Ravens can carry that Phelps mindset into the 2025 season, they might finally stop letting their moment slip away. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Michael Phelps, a 23-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, visits the Ravens' practice. Phelps spoke to the team and later gave swimming lessons. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

A 23-time Olympic gold medalist was in the house Tuesday at Ravens practice in Owings Mills, and he wasn’t alone. Michael Phelps was there for the Marlon Humphrey-orchestrated swimming lessons after the cornerback showed off the team’s new pool on social media and prodded the 40-year-old Baltimore native. But it was another familiar legend who drew plenty of attention. Ray Lewis, the Hall of Fame linebacker who was integral to the Ravens’ two Super Bowl titles, signed autographs and took pictures in one of the last training camp practices open to fans. Players got some face time with the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Pro, too. Among them was quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson. “Every time I’m making you come out of that spot every time because I know how dynamic you are from the spot,” Lewis told Jackson, motioning to his position in the pocket. “So I want you to be rattled everywhere.” Lewis, 50, also reminisced about the first time he met safety Kyle Hamilton, who was back at practice for the first time in a week, chatted with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, hung out with Phelps and chatted with professional golfers Chris Gotterup, Michael Kim and Andrew Novak, who are all in town for this week’s BMW Championship at nearby Caves Valley. Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis visits practice and signs autographs for fans. Lewis, a two-time Super Bowl champion, also spoke to the team. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis visits practice and signs autographs for fans. Lewis, a two-time Super Bowl champion, also spoke to the team. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis visits practice and signs autographs for fans. Lewis, a two-time Super Bowl champion, also spoke to the team. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 3Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis visits practice and signs autographs for fans. Lewis, a two-time Super Bowl champion, also spoke to the team. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand The appearance by Lewis was also a “surreal” one for Baltimore defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Orr, 33, played linebacker for the Ravens from 2014 to 2016 before congenital spine and neck condition cut his career short. He still remembers the cut-ups of Lewis that coaches showed during defensive meetings. “I grew up watching him as a kid,” Orr said, adding he didn’t know Lewis would be making an appearance. “He has plenty of pictures — plenty of honors around the building — so I think it’s great for guys who haven’t had a chance to meet him or see him up close to feel his presence.” Lewis also had a message for current players. “It was about, ‘Don’t skip any steps. The preparation is what’s going to lead you to success,’” Orr said, unaware that Lewis would be in the building. “I was fired up.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Michael Phelps shares Olympic mindset with Ravens | COMMENTARY Meet the Ravens’ ‘X’s and O’s guy’ behind their rising pass rush Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo is ‘an upside guy.’ Will it be enough? Josh Tolentino: Rest or rust? Ravens preseason is no debate. | COMMENTARY Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve View the full article

David Ojabo tapped two fingers against his temple and said, “he got the mentals, man.” Tavius Robinson tacked on to say that outside linebackers coach Matt Robinson is one of the smartest coaches that he’s ever been around. The pass rush group is headed by Chuck Smith, a boisterous guru with a doctorate in teaching knifing past offensive linemen to disrupt quarterbacks. His second in command is a Columbia native and University of Maryland graduate who specializes in the positional nuance. During practice, Matt is the one holding a pad and directing traffic for individual drills. Then he’ll dissect film in meetings. “[Matt] puts us in good positions to make plays on game days,” Tavius said. Broached for an example, Tavius laughed. He couldn’t spill playbook secrets that easily. But there were “a lot of big plays” Tavius made last year that he directly attributes to a previous conversation with Matt in a meeting room or on the practice field that manifested on Sunday. Matt has been an outside linebackers coach in Baltimore for five seasons. Monday was the first time he stepped in front of a microphone to field questions. Those seven-plus-minutes were spent unpacking the scratching and clawing it took to get a job with the Ravens while flipping through the rolodex of players he oversees. The “X’s and O’s guy,” as Ojabo called him, had plenty to report on nearly every individual at a crucial positional group for Baltimore’s defense — one that has outperformed expectations each of the past two seasons. Matt played wide receiver and linebacker at Atholton High School, where he earned first-team All-Metro honors from The Baltimore Sun. After five seasons at Maryland, Matt signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2015 but suffered a hamstring injury during camp. So he pivoted to coaching. He started at Archbishop Spalding, then followed Randy Edsall to Connecticut before he returned to coach at Maryland for two seasons. Matt’s wife, Dallas, is close friends with Ravens outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins’ wife. Both were Terps cheerleaders. That cracked the door open for a connection that became a promotion that kept him home. “While I was at Maryland, I was really trying to get a job here,” Matt said. “I was trying to contact anybody that would listen and give me an opportunity to put my head down and work.” Five years later, he’s left quite an impression. Ravens assistant coach Matt Robinson works with outside linebacker David Ojabo during practice last season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Smith credited Matt for doing a “fantastic job teaching [Mike Green] in coverage and things like that.” Matt said Green, a controversial second-round draft pick, has been his biggest surprise in training camp thus far. “Mike Green really pops out on tape,” Matt said. “He plays with a relentless mindset. He’s tenacious at the point of attack. I think you guys have seen it in games, his ability to affect the play pretty much every time he’s in there. He’s gonna set a violent edge, get pressure on the quarterback and I really like where he’s at right now.” Tavius is another intriguing piece of this year’s Ravens pass rush. He’s improved year-over-year, setting up what could be a breakout season. For one, this was the first year Tavius did not play a single snap in the first preseason game, a far cry from playing “60 or 70 snaps” last preseason. “He’s more of a physical presence,” Matt said. “He’s a dominant edge setter for us and he’s been more of a power rusher in his first couple years. I think right now, he’s definitely working on some finesse moves on the edge that he can work in some of his transition rushes.” This fall could prove to be another step forward for Odafe Oweh, the fifth-year pass rusher who broke out with a double-digit sack season in 2024 then put on 20 more pounds. Matt sees someone who is “out to prove that he’s a top-5, top-10 edge guy in the league.” Related Articles Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo is ‘an upside guy.’ Will it be enough? Josh Tolentino: Rest or rust? Ravens preseason is no debate. | COMMENTARY Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve READER POLL: Is it Super Bowl or bust for the Ravens this season? The art and science of Ravens WR Rashod Bateman’s route running Matt’s insight is perhaps most valuable for two guys a bit further down the depth chart. Both Ojabo and Adisa Isaac suffered injuries early in their careers. They’ve been put in the same bucket, having not played a ton of football at this level to show something. And for each, this is a valuable preseason to prove they belong. “They’re a lot alike in a lot of ways,” Matt said. “They’re both contact players. They’re long. They’re strong. They’re physical at the point of attack. They have really good power at the top of their rush.” Matt has seen Ojabo take steps forward but noted the 2022 second-round pick will get a “couple more opportunities to kind of prove” he can affect the game in different ways. Matt also gave a nod to Isaac showing a newfound physicality during training camp. If Smith is the pass rush room’s energetic leader, nicknamed “Dr. Rush,” then Matt is the local wunderkind second-in-command, uplifting that group from behind the scenes. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

David Ojabo moseyed to the podium after practice Monday afternoon in Owings Mills sporting a pair of designer slides that featured a skeletal foot motif on them. Unintentional, of course, it also felt apropos given all the X-rays and medical treatment the Ravens outside linebacker has undergone since Baltimore selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft. Alas, this summer has finally been different for the former Michigan standout. “It’s my first true offseason healthy,” Ojabo said. “I feel like myself. I feel confident. Just kinda letting it rip. Not thinking about rehabbing, just thinking about football.” Now the question is what kind of impact the 25-year-old will have for Baltimore this season. With outside linebackers Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy and ascendant third-year player Tavius Robinson all ahead of him on the depth chart, opportunities start to shrink quickly after that with second-round rookie Mike Green, who led the FBS in sacks last season with 17, also expected to play a significant role. That means that Ojabo and 2024 third-round pick Adisa Isaac could end up competing for one spot if the Ravens decide to keep only five outside linebackers on the 53-man roster. Coincidentally, Isaac has endured his own share of injuries, with a hamstring issue plaguing him much of last season, though he could have an edge over Ojabo given special teams duties. If the numbers game is bouncing around in the back of Ojabo’s head, he isn’t letting on. “I’ve heard nothing about that,” he said. “I’m out here, get the call, play fast, have fun, control what I can control, which is my effort and my attitude.” It’s understandable given what has been a difficult path for the 6-foot-4, 252-pound pass rusher. Over his first two seasons, Ojabo appeared in just five games. As a rookie, a torn Achilles tendon suffered during his pro day kept him sidelined until the final two games of the regular season. In 2023, he partially tore his ACL in Week 3 and didn’t play again that year. Last season, he appeared in 13 games and logged 275 defensive snaps and finished with just nine tackles, six quarterback hits and two sacks and was a healthy scratch for four games. But this summer there have been signs of progress, starting with just being on the field. Ojabo has impressed in training camp and last week, in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, he had two tackles, including an unblocked sack of Anthony Richardson that knocked the quarterback out of the game with a finger injury. “He’s an upside guy,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I feel like myself. I feel confident," said Ravens outside linebacker David Ojabo, who celebrates a sack against the Colts in the preseason. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens hope that’s the case, for Isaac as well. “They came in ready to play,” outside linebacker coach Matt Robinson said. “Their lower half is starting to come back and that allows them to play really strong at the point of attack.” Now he and the rest of the coaches just need to see more of it, in practice and later this week in Baltimore’s next preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium. “In the game I really want him to affect the game in different ways,” Robinson said. “Whether it’s setting a dominant edge, being a physical player, getting a pocket push and getting his body on the quarterback. “I think we saw him take steps toward that in the [Colts] game and he has a couple more opportunities to prove that moving forward.” Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Rest or rust? Ravens preseason is no debate. | COMMENTARY Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve READER POLL: Is it Super Bowl or bust for the Ravens this season? The art and science of Ravens WR Rashod Bateman’s route running Ravens observations: Two-score day for Zay Flowers; Robert Longerbeam goes on injured reserve Which is a direction that is relatively new for Ojabo. Injuries are like quicksand, particularly for young players trying to develop. Missing that much time not only stunts growth, it halts it. Ojabo has tried to not let it get him down, and a trip to his native Nigeria with teammates Nnamdi Madubuike and Odafe Oweh provided some life perspective. In between that and the start of training camp he also worked on flexibility, strength and X’s and O’s with Robinson as he tried to get an “edge” on formations to sharpen his football IQ in an effort to take his game to “the next level.” What’s that look like in his eyes? “Everything from run dominance to pass dominance to even dropping [into coverage],” he said. “Just being versatile, being able to be a four-down player, not just first, second or third. Just be on the field, do my drive, be productive, come off, next, next.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens’ biggest opponent over the next two weeks isn’t the Cowboys or Commanders. It’s bad injury luck. Any potential reward of seeing quarterback Lamar Jackson shake off perceived rust against opposite-colored jerseys is minimal. The injury risk, on the other hand, is glaring. So, as coach John Harbaugh continues to meet with the team’s leadership corps to decide whether Baltimore’s starters will play in the final two preseason games, the real question is: What’s there to really debate? The Ravens are first-hand witnesses of this exact nightmare. Three summers ago, former Baltimore running back J.K. Dobbins tore tore the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee, along with his hamstring, in the preseason finale against Washington. Dobbins’ injury cast a shadow over the team from the onset, and the Ravens, despite starting 8-3, were never able to overcome that significant loss. After Jackson suffered an ankle injury in Week 14, Baltimore limped to an 8-9 finish, tied for last in the AFC North, while tailbacks Devonta Freeman (576) and Latavius Murray (501) barely eclipsed the 500-yard rushing mark. Just last Thursday, rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone suffered a gruesome, season-ending knee injury in the preseason opener against Indianapolis. As Kone was carted off, his teammates, all glued to the field on a knee, were part of a somber scene at M&T Bank Stadium. There’s no good reason Baltimore should risk recreating that image by playing more significant pieces over the next two weeks. The Ravens boast one of the most talented rosters in the league. Jackson is coming off one of the best seasons by any quarterback in NFL history and he’s surrounded by formidable teammates. The hype that follows this team like a magnet is understandably palpable. Why jeopardize everything for a quarter (or less) of meaningless football in August? The romanticized notion that a series or two of live game action will further sharpen already established superstars is laughable. Even Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes jokingly agreed after Mahomes logged three snaps and played just 48 seconds in Kansas City’s preseason opener. If the Ravens decide to follow suit with Jackson, who hasn’t played in a preseason game since 2021, there’s also a trickle-down effect to weigh. Baltimore played five expected starters, including three of its projected five starting offensive linemen, against the Colts. However, it’d need the entire first-team unit, including veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley (who himself has a concerning injury history), to protect Jackson should the Ravens opt to let the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player suit up in one of their two remaining exhibitions. The Ravens lost rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone for the season after he injured his knee in the preseason opener against the Colts. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens already have advanced tools and resources to evaluate players without game risk. In fact, the team’s in-house evaluations feel more paramount than ever. Baltimore’s new grading system, which hyper-analyzes every rep from practice and is projected on screens across the Under Armour Performance Center, allows coaches to measure progress in granular detail. Other contenders have embraced the conservative route. Last summer, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and many other key starters sat out the entire preseason. That decision paid dividends in the long run, with Hurts and the Eagles claiming a dominant victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. While one could argue that Jackson didn’t look entirely sharp in the Ravens’ joint practice last week with the Colts and that Baltimore has started slow several times in the Jackson era (including 0-2 last season, 3-2 in 2023, 3-3 in 2022 and 2-2 in 2019), all it takes is one awkward cut, one unlucky collision, one meaningless snap to derail an entire season before it actually begins. With nine scheduled training camp practices remaining, the Ravens are already banged up. In addition to Kone, fellow rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam was recently placed on injured reserve with a serious knee injury. Fourth-year tight end Isaiah Likely (broken foot) and fifth-year safety Ar’Darius Washington (torn Achilles tendon) also remain sidelined. Related Articles Ravens observations: Developmental players flash upside; backup QBs improve READER POLL: Is it Super Bowl or bust for the Ravens this season? The art and science of Ravens WR Rashod Bateman’s route running Ravens observations: Two-score day for Zay Flowers; Robert Longerbeam goes on injured reserve Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie fitting in with 3 a.m. texts, pizza and wings The list doesn’t need to grow. Let the rookies and players on the roster bubble get their exposure and shine against Dallas and Washington. Those handful of series for Jackson and company could easily be replicated in a controlled environment, with the Ravens and Commanders scheduled to participate in a joint practice next Thursday in Ashburn, Virginia. That setting will provide all the competitive reps Jackson and the starters need in a controlled environment, where a whistle can help prevent disaster. The next two preseason games are nothing more than an injury lottery, and the only way to truly win is to not dabble. For Baltimore, the ultimate prize is arriving in Buffalo for Week 1 with every key piece, including Jackson, intact. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

After two straight days in full pads, Ravens coach John Harbaugh went to lighter shells and shorts Monday in a 2-hour, 15-minute practice. Nothing special occurred, and there wasn’t much hitting, but the Ravens spent a lot of time going through plays and preparing for Saturday’s second preseason game against the Cowboys in Dallas. Harbaugh said that he liked the tone. “It was a good practice,” he said. “It was hot. I thought the guys did a really good job of pushing through in terms of execution, focus and trying to take care of the details. That’s really what we were trying to do. “It’s a fast, mental practice, and we did a good job with that. So, we’ll have a different practice tomorrow, more of a mental practice, and then we’ll be pointing toward the Dallas game on Saturday.” No Hamilton, no problem for safeties The Ravens were without starting safety Kyle Hamilton for the second straight day and inserted second-year player Sanoussi Kane in his spot to start with cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Nate Wiggins and rookie safety Malaki Starks. The Ravens can play with this group, especially mixing in cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and Marlon Humphrey. Despite several injuries in the secondary, the Ravens still have enough talent to play well. In a short-yardage situation, Stark intercepted a pass by quarterback Lamar Jackson and would have returned it for 100 yards for a touchdown. The first-round draft pick from Georgia has had an outstanding camp and played as advertised. Preparing for blitzes and stunts The Ravens offensive line spent most of Monday’s first practice period working on stunts and slants, something it saw last week in the scrimmage and preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. In previous years, teams would complain about other defenses blitzing and running different games up front. Opposing teams always criticized former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan about his various packages, but a lot of teams run different blitzes in the preseason. In fact, it’s the style in the NFL because teams no longer run read-and-react defenses anymore. Defenses are now attacking offenses, so a team might as well prepare in the preseason. Wiggins and Lowery make mistakes The Ravens have been working in safety Reuben Lowery, a rookie free agent out of Tennessee-Chattanooga. During organized team activities, he was always around the ball and appeared to make an interception in every practice. But Lowery has given up some big plays in training camp, even though defensive coaches have been impressed. Another starter, Wiggins, has also given up several big plays. It’s a little disturbing because the Ravens were counting on the 2024 first-round pick to have a strong season in 2025. Wiggins still might have one, but he gave up a roughly 35-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins near the end of practice, and Wiggins had perfect position. Then he whiffed in an attempt to knock down the pass. Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland zig zags in front of offensive line coach George Warhop during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Myles Gaskin runs during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Myles Gaskin smiles during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Children greet Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as he runs through the gauntlet to participate in practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Myles Gaskin receives a handoff from quarterback Devin Leary during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens safety Beau Brade gestures toward safety Sanoussi Kane during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs with a handoff from quarterback Lamar Jackson during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Myles Gaskin gets the ball during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens outside linebackers David Ojabo #90 and Odafe Oweh take a water break during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh smiles during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 10Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland zig zags in front of offensive line coach George Warhop during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand Marlon Humphrey still has it It’s always interesting to watch slot receiver Zay Flowers go against Humphrey. Because of various injuries, some thought Humphrey had slowed down years ago, and maybe he has, but he still can make big plays. With the ball at the 7-yard line heading into the end zone, the Ravens seemed to run a perfect pick play to Flowers who had gone in motion and then seemingly sprinted past Humphrey in the back of the end zone. Humphrey, though, ran with Flowers and knocked away Jackson’s pass at the last second. Everyone knows Humphrey guesses a lot, but most of the time he is correct. Backup quarterbacks improve The Ravens’ backup quarterbacks have struggled thus far in training camp, but there are times when both Cooper Rush and No. 3 Devin Leary have thrown some great passes. Rush dropped in a 40-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews and later threw another one to Scotty Washington and another to receiver Devontez Walker minutes later. Leary had his moments, too, but a short pass in the right flat thrown behind the running back was downright ugly. In fact, is was so far behind the intended target that he fell down trying to make the catch. Highlight interception The best interception of the day came on one of the final plays of practice. As Rush lofted a long pass to Walker, Armour-Davis had great position and attempted to knock the pass down, but then safety Keyon Martin intercepted the pass in the end zone. It showed great concentration by Martin. Jaw-dropping throw The best pass of the day might have been a dart across the middle from Jackson to Walker, who made a back-shoulder catch for a 20-yard gain. The pass had a lot of velocity on it. Making big strides It’s hard to miss 6-foot-6, 370-pound nose guard C.J. Okoye. He didn’t play football in college and is from Agbogugu, Nigeria. But this kid has great potential. “C.J. Okoye is more of a nose guard, probably,” said Harbaugh. “I think he could play three-technique a little bit, or he can play over the guard. You talk about a head-up, two-technique [player], but [he’s] really more of an A-gap player probably. He’s 370-plus pounds, but he’s really learning. He’s really learning how to come out of his hips and strike and shed, stay square in there and play the run. He’s gotten some push in pass rush. He’s going to be a pocket pusher. [He’s] making good use of all that size he has. He’s come light years.” A tackle with potential Carson Vinson is a rookie and a fifth-round pick from Alabama A&M. He reminds me a lot of Orlando Brown Sr., the late offensive tackle who played with the Ravens and went to college at South Carolina State. Vinson is still raw at 6-7 and 320 pounds, but Brown was 6-7 and 360 as a rookie. Vinson will get better in the weight room. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Rest or rust? Ravens preseason is no debate. | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Is it Super Bowl or bust for the Ravens this season? The art and science of Ravens WR Rashod Bateman’s route running Ravens observations: Two-score day for Zay Flowers; Robert Longerbeam goes on injured reserve Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie fitting in with 3 a.m. texts, pizza and wings Bateman discusses former roommate, Faalele Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman had some interesting comments about former University of Minnesota tackle Daniel Faalele, who roomed with him when they were teammates in college. The 6-8, 370-pound Faalele who now plays guard, had a huge appetite and his wardrobe could have used an upgrade, too. Faalele used to weigh more than 400 pounds. “When I was in Minnesota, he was over 400 pounds, so [there is] a big difference,” said Bateman. “He was my roommate, so all the food was gone a lot. Has been quite a difference to see him come to the NFL and go through what he’s been through, being from Australia and all of that. It was kind of crazy that we got drafted to the same team, but he has worked extremely hard to get to where he’s at, so I’m definitely proud of him.” Any fashion tips for Faalele? “[There is] not much you can do there,” Bateman said, laughing. High upside for one edge rusher Like Armour-Davis, outside linebacker David Ojabo is in his fourth season, so it’s show time for him as far as his development. He got an endorsement from Harbaugh at the end of Monday’s practice. Ojabo did not play his first year at Michigan in 2019. He played in six games as a sophomore and took over the starting role in 2021. While working out at Michigan’s pro day, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and sat out his rookie season. “I think he is playing in a very direct way,” Harbaugh said of Ojabo. “The thing about David Ojabo — it’s important to remember — he’s not a guy that played a lot of football. He was late to football in high school, might’ve played one year of high school football. He really only played one year of college football, really, is what he ended up playing as far as a full season. And then he got hurt coming out. “So, football is kind of one of these games where the more you play it, the better feel you have for it. It’s like any sport, probably, but I think his upside is really there, and I believe that we’ll see it. I think we’ve seen it already in camp. I’m looking forward to the games so [that] everybody can see it, really. But yes, he’s an upside guy.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Expectations are high for the Ravens this season. They boast one of the NFL’s best rosters and, according to several sportsbooks, are the favorites to win the Super Bowl in February. Is it Super Bowl or bust for Baltimore this year? We want to hear from you. 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

In one moment, Rashod Bateman is lined up on a football field, one leg in front of the other, arms dangling, crowd noise blending into white noise. A nameless, faceless cornerback stands across from him. A single thought enters the otherwise artistic, if not frenetic mind of the Ravens wide receiver. “Kill him,” Bateman told The Baltimore Sun. “As a receiver, I think that’s gotta be your mentality.” In another moment, he is alone and it’s quiet, except for the grainy footage of Jerry Rice that he has pulled up on YouTube. He has to look closely given the lack of high definition but is consumed by the creativity and repetition from the NFL’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Rice is the “O.G.” of elite route running to Bateman, 25 and entering his fifth year in the league after Baltimore selected him 27th overall out of Minnesota in 2021. The Pro Football Hall of Famer’s achievements are aspirational, sure, but Bateman’s immediate focus is building on what was a career year for him last season both statistically (756 yards, nine touchdowns) and in more advanced measurables that put him within range of the game’s upper echelon of receivers. Going into 2024, Bateman had a career separation rate of 76.6%, per Pro Football Focus. Last season, however, that jumped to an eye-opening 91.9%, with 50 of his receptions coming from open looks. Much of the damage he did to defenses came in intermediate and underneath routes, particularly cutting across the field, where he could use his separation to pull away from defenders and his high football IQ to find uncovered patches of field. But he also proved a viable deep threat, hauling in 8 of 15 attempts for 292 yards and five scores, the latter tied for the second-most in the league with his 36.7-yard average depth of target on those deep throws, the most among any receiver with at least 15 deep targets, per PFF. More proof: Bateman ranked 11th among receivers in ESPN’s open score metric, which measures a receiver’s ability to get open on a route, regardless of whether they are targeted, relative to what is expected given the situation. That was two spots ahead of Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, three ahead of Los Angeles Rams receiver Davante Adams (another player he studies) and six ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase, who last season led the NFL in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. In order for the art and science to meld, though, a confluence of events had to occur. Pain-free The first thing Bateman needed to accelerate, literally and figuratively, was his health, something that was a challenge his first three seasons. In 2021, it was a groin injury. In 2022, it was season-ending Lisfranc surgery on his right foot. In 2023, it was lingering pain in the same foot, though he ultimately managed to appear in 16 games. “Going through that and coming back from that was tough,” he told The Sun. “In 2023, the whole year I was still dealing with pain. I still ran good routes and got open, but being able to progress and break through that barrier and the whole thing healing has allowed me to get back to doing the things I know I’m capable of doing.” Sandwiched between it all was one mental and emotional hurdle after another, including in the span of a few months the deaths of his grandmother and a teenage cousin who took his own life. Being the healthiest he ever had been in his career helped fuel Rashod Bateman's breakthrough 2024 season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Those moments sparked troubling and dark days for Bateman, who was also uncertain about his future with the Ravens. He told The Sun that he didn’t feel “fully involved” in the offense until last season, and when the team signed him to a team-friendly two-year extension in 2024, he acknowledged that the move was “a little bit shocking” to him given the ups and downs of his career to that point. It was, however, a good-faith agreement as well. Still, after his breakout in 2024, Bateman was given permission to seek a trade and there were discussions with the Dallas Cowboys. Ultimately, though, Dallas signed George Pickens to pair with Lamb, while Bateman got another extension from the Ravens, this time for three-years and a more lucrative $36.75 million with $20 million guaranteed. Not long after the ink was dry on the new contract, Bateman arrived at training camp feeling healthier than he has at any point in his career, he said. He also added 10 pounds of muscle thanks to high-octane workouts in Phoenix and Los Angeles over the summer. “I’m in better condition than last year,” he said. “I learned to run every route full speed. As a receiver we run a lot and I think the hardest thing for all of us is running the route the same with the same energy every single time. That’s always the difficult part. Being in the best condition possible will take the game to the next level.” Pilates has also become a regular part of his regimen as well. “Your body gets used to certain movements, patterns,” he continued. “It’s like being out here with Lamar [Jackson]. The year I was able to be consistent with him on the field the more I was out here.” On the same page Being simpatico with the guy throwing the ball is the key to any receiver’s success, and that’s been a lightning rod issue in particular for critics when talking about the dynamic between Bateman and Jackson. It’s not without merit. During last season’s divisional round playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, Jackson fumbled once and was intercepted once, the latter coming in the opening quarter of the eventual 27-25 loss when he threw off his back foot toward the middle of the field as Bateman was breaking toward the sideline. Jackson took responsibility after the game for the “B.S.” interception, said he should have held the safety with his eyes and made a better throw. Bateman also said he did not run the wrong route on the play, though preferred not to belabor the past and both players have been highly complimentary of each other, each recognizing the obvious talent in the other. “It takes practice,” Bateman said of what goes into quarterback and receiver being on the same page. “Me being out here with Lamar has helped me a lot. “It’s about getting those reps in and timing steps and depth and all those things.” And beating the guy trying to guard him. It’s something Bateman takes pride in and requires a certain skill. “You’re always trying to fool the other guy, making the defensive back thinking you’re going to do something else,” he continued. “Other than that, it’s creating your own way to run the route. It’s all about your hip movement and patterns. Certain routes have to be run certain ways to make sure it times up with the offense and the quarterback.” Blending art and science Bateman, a budding fashion designer whose interest in clothing has roots that trace to his childhood and more recently extended to Paris for fashion week, sees beauty and science when it comes to his craft. He also learned a lot, he says, from former Ravens wide receivers coach Keith Williams, former Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr., along with studying those videos of Rice and others. “Your feet end up in different spots all the time, but it’s all about body movement, body position and learning to counter your opponent where you need to,” he said. “There’s definitely an art to it.” That’s not the only thing that has stood out, teammates say. “The way he competes,” fellow receiver and three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins said. “He is hard on himself, which is good, which is what you look for in a young wide receiver who’s still making a name for himself in this league. “He comes out and works. He competes, he loves going against our best corners, and he looks forward to those matchups.” Batman’s penchant to hone in on his skills was evident this summer, when in addition to his usual routine he added a trip to South Florida. There, he put in a weekend session with trainer Tevin Allen, aka Goldfeet on Instagram. It was the first time the two had worked together, though Allen has worked with countless high-profile NFL players, including Jackson and Ravens receiver Zay Flowers. Related Articles Ravens observations: Two-score day for Zay Flowers; Robert Longerbeam goes on injured reserve Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie fitting in with 3 a.m. texts, pizza and wings Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line unfazed by harsh spotlight | COMMENTARY Jaguars kicker makes field goal that would break Justin Tucker’s NFL record Ravens observations: Could more starters play in preseason vs. Cowboys? “It wasn’t a lot of specific stuff that we [were] working on,” Flowers said. “It’s just [that] we wanted to get better at everything, so we went out for a weekend and trained together that whole weekend and put a lot of stuff together. We’re expecting it to translate to camp and to the season.” It had adjacent benefits, too, Bateman said. “It was all about some team bonding,” he said. Still, when it comes down to the relationship between him beating his defender, being on the same page as the guy throwing the ball and catching it, there’s one thing that ties it all together Bateman told The Sun. “As a receiver, you just gotta have swag when you go out there and play,” he said. “You gotta have some type of confidence. A lot of us have our own mentality of what that aura looks like.” Finally, Bateman seems to have found his. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Sunday’s practice was a course correction from Saturday’s mishaps. The first day of the weekend was marred by a frustrating run of false start penalties to the point that coach John Harbaugh yanked his entire starting offensive line. On Sunday, Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten each jumped once but that was all for the front five the rest of the 2 1/2-hour practice. Lamar Jackson also threw a pair of interceptions on Saturday. He was much cleaner in that department a day later. Jackson’s only turnover was an inconsequential fumble on a miscommunication during a handoff to Derrick Henry, but the quarterback was quick to scoop it back up in the pocket. Every improvement the Ravens see from day to day can, in some way, be attributed to the team’s new grading system that breaks down the minutiae of every position and every rep. Those figures are blasted on flat screens all around the facility. “I love the fact that it matters to them so much,” Harbaugh said. “I just think they understand when you go through the things that we’ve gone through, in terms of different games, they can see [the difference]. … That’s where we want to be intentional.” The Ravens will have a lighter shell practice Monday and are scheduled to hit the field earlier than normal Tuesday. This all in lead up to their second of three preseason games, a Saturday night matchup with the Cowboys in Dallas. Zay’s big day In 11-on-11 drills run at any speed that resembled live action, Zay Flowers unofficially caught four passes on five targets. His first catch was a Jackson floater that dropped softly into Flowers’ hands in the back corner of the end zone against the second team defense. The second-year receiver caught another touchdown pass later in practice against the starters. That one was a rocket from Jackson as he was rolling out to his right, fit into a tight window to find Flowers’ hands. “Some guys don’t have it, and some guys do have it,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said about having a knack for route running. “Me and Zay are definitely two receivers that I think definitely have what it takes to be at that elite level of route running.” Second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins has been making an impression on veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Hopkins praises the rookie corner DeAndre Hopkins’ uncle is the strength and conditioning coach at Clemson, so every now and then Hopkins will make the trip to South Carolina to pay Larry Greenlee a visit. Greenlee used to point to the skinny cornerback working out on his own and say, “this kid right here is gonna be great.” Nate Wiggins is gearing up for what could be a breakout sophomore season. He’s had a strong camp, sans a few down practices. But Wiggins is the defensive back Hopkins has most enjoyed repping one on one with. “Nate is a young guy who loves competing. He wants to be great,” Hopkins said. “He’s a Clemson guy, we train them well around there. Nate competes every day. … He has every tool set that you look for in a lockdown corner.” Wiggins had an up and down day on Sunday. He got burnt during one-on-ones by Bateman on a stutter-step go route up right sideline. Wiggins came back and got the better of him, stabbing the ball out of the air on a throw trying to find Bateman turning toward the inside of the field. Undrafted rookie cornerback Reuben Lowery has impressed coach John Harbaugh with his versatility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Reuben Lowery continues to turn heads The undrafted rookie’s name seems to pop up day after day. Reuben Lowery is making it hard to ignore him. On Sunday, he got in the way of a Cooper Rush pass for an impressive pass break up in seven-on-seven. Shortly after, Lowery picked off Rush on a throw to Malik Cunningham against the left sideline. “I have to say, [I’m] pleasantly surprised,” Harbaugh said on Saturday. “I hate to say it, because he was a heck of a player in college, too, but to come out here and play at the level he has – on point, know what he’s doing so well has been really impressive. He’s played every position. He played all three corner spots, he’s played both safety positions, so can’t wait to see him in Dallas and see how he plays down there.” Loop sails the long one Rookie kicker Tyler Loop had a near perfect practice Sunday afternoon. He split the uprights on his first 11 tries, but finished 12 of 13. The one errant kick was his longest of the afternoon, a 45-yarder. This was the biggest knock on Loop heading into the draft. He’s nails from inside 40. He’s got the leg to power from 50 or even 60 and beyond. But on longer kicks, he has a propensity to miss left. Loop’s longest make before the miss was from 42 yards out. He missed a 46-yard try in Thursday’s preseason game having stubbed his toe, Harbaugh said, but bounced back with a 52-yarder versus the Colts. Related Articles Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie fitting in with 3 a.m. texts, pizza and wings Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line unfazed by harsh spotlight | COMMENTARY Jaguars kicker makes field goal that would break Justin Tucker’s NFL record Ravens observations: Could more starters play in preseason vs. Cowboys? Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens stood out against fresh competition? Injuries and attendance At the start of Sunday’s practice, the team announced sixth-round rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam would be hitting the injured reserve for a knee injury. Harbaugh was cagey about any details on the injury, saying “it’s a long story” that “is what it is.” Longerbeam is the second rookie corner to be forced to miss the season after Bilhal Kone’s knee injury in Thursday night’s preseason game versus Indianapolis. Baltimore was proactive in signing cornerback M.J. Devonshire, who spent last season with the Raiders, to maintain a full room. Longerbeam hadn’t practiced since July 31. The injury designation makes way for safety Jalyn Armour-Davis and Lowery, an undrafted cornerback, to compete for the 53-man roster. Both have had impressive camps thus far but Armour-Davis is a near shoe in at this point. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, safety Kyle Hamilton and running back Keaton Mitchell are “all OK,” Harbaugh said, after none of them practiced. Tight end Isaiah Likely (foot/ankle) did not practice and neither did linebacker William Kwenkeu. T.J. Tampa was back on the field as a full participant after missing Saturday’s practice. And Marcus Major Jr. went through a regular practice after wearing a red noncontact jersey on Saturday. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

When Chidobe Awuzie has been healthy, he has proved to be a dependable cornerback with playmaking ability and sound defensive chops. That, of course, has been the rub. Last year with the Tennessee Titans he missed nine games because of a groin injury. In 2022, a torn ACL in Week 8 ended his season with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2020, a hamstring injury cost him seven games with the Dallas Cowboys. And in his rookie year in 2017, he missed six games because of hamstring and ankle injuries. Healthy again this past offseason, however, the former second-round draft pick out of Colorado had options as a free agent with a few teams expressing interest in the 30-year-old. Then the Ravens called. “There was something in my heart that was like ‘Ravens,’” Awuzie said Saturday in his first meeting with reporters since signing a one-year, bargain-basement $1.225 million deal in March. “It was a little bit intimidating, but also excitement. Just surrounding the culture that they built here, and it was like a gut feeling that just told me to run after it.” So he did. He talked with coach John Harbaugh along with cornerback Marlon Humphrey, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and a few others. Their positive reactions were all he needed to hear. So far, so good. On Saturday, Awuzie had an interception of quarterback Lamar Jackson, adding to what has already been a strong training camp. Along the way, he’s been adapting to his fit in a talented and personality-heavy secondary that already includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Jaire Alexander. The transition included joining his fellow defensive backs at Alexander’s house for a recent night of pizza, wings, card games and TV. “Everybody’s just really starting to jell together, and honestly, I don’t know where I fit,” Awuzie said. “I just exist. I’m a fun guy, but I’m also serious when I need to be. So yes, I think the good thing about it is that you can see that we’re all bouncing off of each other. “When you do that, and when you make plays, you start to celebrate, and it’s just going to keep building.” It helped, too, that there was already some connectivity with Baltimore’s defense. "It was a little bit intimidating, but also excitement," cornerback Chidobe Awuzie said of signing with the Ravens. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Awuzie spent last season with the Titans, whose defensive coordinator, Dennard Wilson, was the defensive backs coach for Baltimore in 2023. Awuzie also spent three seasons with the AFC North rival Bengals from 2021 to 2023. “A lot of the defensive concepts are very similar,” Awuzie said of Wilson and the Titans. “A lot of the ways they approach the meetings, the energy, the approach, you could tell that he was trying to bring that there. After being here now, it’s like, ‘OK.’” Ravens senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano has also had a profound impact, both in what he’s taught Awuzie and how often he communicates with him, no matter the time of day — or night. “He’ll text you at any point in time,” Awuzie said. “I feel like I’ve learned something from him almost every day, really. It’s never really a review. He always has a new pointer, new something to look at on the smallest thing, so I love it. “It might be anywhere around 3 a.m. or so. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only DB that’ll say that, but that’s great. When you have someone that is that dedicated to you watching a play of yours, whether it was good or bad play, and send it to you and have tips on it, what else would you want as a player from your coach?” Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line unfazed by harsh spotlight | COMMENTARY Jaguars kicker makes field goal that would break Justin Tucker’s NFL record Ravens observations: Could more starters play in preseason vs. Cowboys? Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens stood out against fresh competition? Ravens rookie Teddye Buchanan’s debut is a ‘dream come true’ for family Now all Baltimore needs in return is for Awuzie’s best ability to be his availability. “It’s an opportunity to be great,” he said. “We’re basically great on paper right now, and we all know that, but we know that there’s a long road to actually be great, a lot of time spent in the film room, a lot of time spent off the field building that chemistry. We’ve been talking already about starting to figure out how we’re going to be watching film during the season and stuff like that. “There’s a lot of things that we could pick each other’s brains just in the whole unit. We’ve all come from [and] been pretty successful in our careers so it’s an opportunity to be great, but we know that it’s going to take a lot to get there.” Starting with being able to stay on the field. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens’ offensive line is considered the team’s biggest weakness headed into the season, but the unit is unfazed. George Warhop isn’t into the preseason hype. “Listen, I could give whatever about that, right?” the team’s second-year offensive line coach said. “My deal is with the O-line and I tell my guys this all the time: This is a game for us. It’s not about talent, it’s about how you go about your business and how intent you are and how you play together as a unit, not the individuals. Every other position you’re looking at, it’s about individuals, but for us the sum of the parts have to be greater than the sum of the individuals. “And so that’s what we worry about is, can I be better today than I was yesterday? Can we make it as physical and hard on the defense as we possibly can?” That pretty much sums up offensive line play. The players get little glory when they win, but much criticism in defeat. Yet that’s why a lot of the so-called NFL experts have an eye on the Ravens’ front five. They have a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player at quarterback in Lamar Jackson, and Derrick Henry is one of the best running backs in modern football history. They have a good receiving corps composed of wideouts Zay Flowers, DeAndre Hopkins and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews, Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely (when Likely is healthy after having foot surgery). So, the focus is on the offensive line, which has four starters returning. The Ravens have an opening at left guard, where second-year player Andrew Vorhees has a slight lead over fifth-year lineman Ben Cleveland, according to coach John Harbaugh. But the Ravens have little depth because rookie draft picks Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M) and Garrett Dellinger (LSU) are projects more than starters and Emery Jones Jr., a third-round pick out of LSU, has yet to practice because of a shoulder injury. A lot of eyes are on Warhop. “I’m a firm talker. If I’m screaming, it’s because it’s loud and if I’m really screaming [it’s] because I’m pissed,” Warhop said. “I do talk a lot, but I like to think I’m more of a teacher.” It showed last season. Warhop, 63, had previous NFL stops in eight other cities before he was named to replace Joe D’Alessandris. The move came under unusual circumstances after D’Alessandris, one of the team’s most popular coaches, died Aug. 25 at age 70 after being hospitalized for an acute illness. Ravens offensive line coach George Warhop speaks to Ben Cleveland and Andrew Vorhees last summer. Both are competing to be the starting left guard. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) The Ravens, though, finished with a record-breaking 7,224 yards of total offense and became the first team in NFL history to achieve 40 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns in the same season. They also ranked No. 1 in rushing (187.5 yards per game) and total offense (434 yards per game). Warhop had to tread lightly, but at the same time get his point across. “I don’t know too many differences,” center Tyler Linderbaum said when asked to compare D’Alessandris and Warhop. “One, they both love the game of football. They’re going to challenge you, they’re going to expect the best from you. Since Day 1, Warhop stepped in and has done a tremendous job, obviously taking over a tough situation. But guys have responded well, he’s made us a better unit and a better football team.” Warhop agreed. Well, almost. “You got to respect the job Joe had done,” Warhop said. “But at the same time, philosophically there’s some things that I would do differently than him. So the schemes, we didn’t change very much, but there was a change in technique and how I did stuff versus how he did it.” Related Articles Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie fitting in with 3 a.m. texts, pizza and wings Jaguars kicker makes field goal that would break Justin Tucker’s NFL record Ravens observations: Could more starters play in preseason vs. Cowboys? Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens stood out against fresh competition? Ravens rookie Teddye Buchanan’s debut is a ‘dream come true’ for family Warhop was the team’s unsung hero, much like pass rush coach Chuck Smith in 2023 when the Ravens recorded a league-leading 60 sacks. But even with all of those top rankings last season, the Ravens’ postseason ended in disappointment for the second straight year with a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round. Now, they have to gear it up for 2025. It’s a good group. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, a 10-year veteran, had his best season in recent years after recovering from major ankle and knee injuries. Linderbaum is one of the best in the game at his position and giant right guard Daniel Faalele has lost about 20 to 25 pounds. Questions still need to be answered in other places. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten played well as a rookie last season, but can he duplicate that success now that there is more tape of him for opponents to study? The left guard position is still in flux, and Warhop would only yield to Harbaugh when asked whether Vorhees had a slight edge over Cleveland. “I mean, that’s always a concern,” Warhop said about the listed 6-foot-8, 370-pound Faalele’s weight. “We have super big guys, but we wanted him to play lighter, and he wanted to play lighter. He understands for longevity — injury-wise, wind and being in shape throughout the game, throughout a drive and throughout the season — all that comes with playing at a little bit lighter. “Coaching is about evolving all the time. I think probably by about [Week 6] last year, we kind of understood what I was trying to get done. We handled it pretty well. I think the only game that I would say we didn’t play well was against Philly. They were also a good team, and that’s a bad combination. But outside of that, I thought they jelled.” The Ravens need another strong season from the offensive line. They don’t have good pass blockers, but Jackson’s ability to scramble adds another element to the offense. The team struggled in pass protection against the Indianapolis Colts during Tuesday’s joint practice, but Warhop says that the Ravens have another missing ingredient. This group works extremely hard. “I think we’re making progress,” Warhop said. “We need a big jump going into [the second preseason game in] Dallas and then we need a big jump going into the Commanders [preseason finale] and then into the season. The young guys are starting to understand better what we want and how we want it done, and that’s going to be critical for them, especially after this week and the next two. “So, it’s starting to come together. I think we’re right where we’re supposed to be. I’ve never been with a team that is in the weight room and doing as much as they do in camp right now.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Travis Hunter’s professional debut included 10 snaps on offense, eight on defense and no highlights. The Heisman Trophy winner and second overall pick in the NFL draft was relatively quiet in Jacksonville’s 31-25 loss to Pittsburgh in a preseason game Saturday. He caught two passes for 9 yards, with a long gain of 6, and missed an open-field tackle. “I felt great,” he said. “A little nervous, but it felt great. It definitely settled down when I got the first catch, really when the first play started.” Hunter did, however, have a front-row seat for the most exciting play of the night: Cam Little drilled a 70-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, a kick that would have broken the NFL record had it happened during the regular season. “Adrenaline is a beautiful thing,” said Little, whose phone was filled with texts and messages. “It does [stink that it doesn’t count]. That means we just have to go out there and make it again.” Still, Little is keeping the ball — even if the Pro Football Hall of Fame calls. “Heck, yeah,” he said. “Are you kidding me. … That ball is staying with me. Canton, Ohio, can get another ball.” Little and the Jaguars celebrated widely as the half ended. Holder Logan Cooke lifted both arms shortly after the ball took flight. Little leaned forward a little and then raised an arm as it cleared the crossbar. Cooke pushed Little to start the party, and then Hunter greeted Little on the field with a midair body-bump. Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker holds the NFL mark, having made a game-winning 66-yarder at Detroit in 2021. Tucker was released in May and later suspended 10 games by the NFL after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior at several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers. Little, a sixth-round draft pick from Arkansas in 2024, made 27 of 29 field goal attempts as a rookie and all 27 extra points. His long was 59 yards. He seemed to know his latest one was good from the onset. He watched intently and pumped his fist as it slid a little left and cleared the bar by several yards — far enough that the ball boy caught it. The Steelers had much more to talk about after their preseason opener even though most of their starters watched from the sideline. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, receiver DK Metcalf, linebacker T.J. Watt and cornerback Jalen Ramsey were among the Pittsburgh stars who got the night off. They witnessed backup Mason Rudolph complete 9 of 10 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph carved up Jacksonville’s starting defense on Pittsburgh’s opening drive. Third-stringer Skylar Thompson was just as good in relief, throwing for 233 yards and three scores. “I was super excited to get out and compete today,” said Thompson, who spent the past three years in Miami. “Coming into a new organization, a new team, kind of a little bit of a fresh start for me. I was excited to go play some football and help out my teammates. Definitely did that today.” Pittsburgh’s first two QBs combined to complete 29 of 38 passes for 317 yards and four TDs, with no turnovers. Jaguars first-year coach Liam Coen may have wanted a restart before Little’s kick. His offense was flagged twice on its opening drive and hampered by four dropped passes in the first half. Parker Washington, Tank Bigsby, Trenton Irwin and Hunter Long all let balls slip through their fingers. And Coen’s first-team defense was gashed early. Lawrence returns Trevor Lawrence, playing in his first game since sustaining a harrowing concussion against Houston last December, completed 6 of 7 passes for 43 yards in a series of work. Lawrence’s one incompletion was a ball thrown late down the field to Brian Thomas Jr. He also scrambled for a 3-yard gain that ended with a hard hit. Flipping out Steelers rookie Max Hurleman, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, celebrated his 3-yard TD catch in the second quarter with a backflip. It was a clear sign of Hurleman’s athleticism. He spent four years playing running back at Colgate before joining the Fighting Irish and switching to defensive back for his final collegiate season. He’s back at running back now and trying to make Pittsburgh’s roster as a backup and a special teams ace. Up next The Steelers host Tampa Bay in another exhibition next Saturday; the Jaguars play at New Orleans next Sunday. View the full article

Two days removed from their preseason opener, Ravens players were back to work Saturday in Owings Mills, where they were in pads and had what coach John Harbaugh referred to as a “spirited,” “intense” and “pretty darn sharp” practice in blissful and sunny conditions. Some players performed better than others, of course. But the most entertaining part of the 2 1/2-hour session came at the end of practice, when the offensive line was pitted against the pass rush with the rest of the team encircling the drill. By nature, the defense has the edge, but the offense had some moments. None was better than when left tackle Ronnie Stanley stonewalled outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy with one block, then broke into a sword celebration. Stanley also stuffed him on at least one more play, too. Other times, the offense was not so fortunate. Rookie tackle Carson Vinson had to practically tackle rookie edge rusher Mike Green to prevent him from getting to quarterback Devin Leary on one play. Linebacker Malik Hamm also juked rookie tackle Gerad Lichtenhan out of his cleats and raced in unabated to set off a wild defensive celebration. Baltimore had done the drill a couple of times previously this training camp, but it was the first time players formed a ring around the action. “That ramped it up,” Harbaugh said. “The stakes definitely go up. It’s a fun drill. That’s been a good drill.” Offensive standouts After Dayton Wade was a nonfactor against the Colts on Thursday night with zero catches on three targets, including on a box fade that was intercepted, the second-year receiver put together a nice practice as he has done a few times this summer. In 11-on-11 play, he made a leaping grab over Jalyn-Armour Davis on a pass from Cooper Rush and then later made a nice adjustment on an out route that Rush threw too far inside and caught it anyway. In red zone one-on-ones, he hauled in a touchdown on a fade with Sanoussi Kane in good coverage, then beat undrafted rookie cornerback Marquise Robinson with a shake to break free on another out route. Unsurprisingly, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins also had a nice contested catch, while tight end Charlie Kolar and receiver Anthony Miller both delivered highlight-reel moments. Kolar made a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone with Kane on him, while Miller snatched an out route against rookie safety Malaki Starks and then celebrated with some dance moves punctuated by a twirl. Of course, it was easier for Harbaugh to evaluate the wide receivers’ performance with more accurate throws than he got from Rush and No. 3 quarterback Devin Leary on Thursday against the Colts when they combined for a woeful 59 passing yards. “How many chances did they have to catch passes?” he said. “That kind of game is like, what are you gonna do? You just go wow. That’s kinda shocking to throw for that few yards. Hope we never see that again.” Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins continued a strong camp with an interception at Saturday's practice. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Defensive standouts Nate Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie each had an interception of quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson threw a pass right to Wiggins during a 7-on-7 red zone period, while Awuzie picked off a late throw in the middle of the field intended for Tylan Wallace during a two-minute drill in 11-on-11. It was a particularly good day for Wiggins after some struggles earlier in the week. In addition to the gift-wrapped interception, he was particularly sticky in red zone one-on-one play against the Ravens’ top receivers and swatted away one end zone fade intended for undrafted rookie receiver Jahmal Banks. Dealing with false starts False starts have been a topic of conversation throughout training camp and the problem reared its head again Saturday. In an early red zone period, the second-team offense was at one point flagged five times in eight plays for moving too soon. It also burned a timeout in that span. How did Harbaugh react? By yanking all five linemen off the field at once. He’d had enough. “Seemed effective,” he said. “Cleaned it up after that. … Seemed like it worked for the most part.” It did, though not entirely, with the offense flagged for two more false starts later in the day. It probably beat some of the past punishments. In previous years, players would be forced to run laps, do log rolls or up-downs. “We’ve got lots of options,” Harbaugh said. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is not ruling out the idea of more starters playing in the preseason. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Harbaugh doesn’t close door on more starters playing On Thursday, only five expected starters for the Ravens played against the Colts. Three of them (Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten) were along the offensive line, with the other two being linebacker Trenton Simpson and first-round draft pick Starks. Could that change for Baltimore’s next preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Saturday night? Harbaugh didn’t slam the door on the idea, at least not yet. “We’ll just wait and see,” he said after practice. “We’re having conversations with the leaders about that. We’ll see how practice goes this week, see how we feel about it towards Wednesday-ish.” Jackson hasn’t played in a preseason game since 2021, the same year the Ravens lost running back J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending knee injury in the preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. However, there has been a growing trend around the NFL of more starters, including at quarterback, getting at least limited action in the preseason. Already, Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow and the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young and Las Vegas Raiders’ Geno Smith have been among the quarterbacks to play in their respective team’s preseason openers. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray were also slated to play in a limited capacity on Saturday night. Injuries and attendance A few players were missing from practice. Most notable among them were safety Kyle Hamilton and running back Keaton Mitchell. Hamilton, who appeared to be dealing with a groin issue on Monday and hasn’t practiced since, did some jogging on a side field. Mitchell, meanwhile, was in street clothes and only watched after logging 14 snaps on offense and four on special teams Thursday night against the Colts. Related Articles Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens stood out against fresh competition? Ravens rookie Teddye Buchanan’s debut is a ‘dream come true’ for family Ravens rookie report: Preseason opener offers glimpse of impressive class 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Colts Ravens preseason observations: Is LaJohntay Wester the missing piece? Also missing was cornerback T.J. Tampa, who logged a team-high 80 snaps against the Colts and has six tackles and two pass breakups. Harbaugh said none of the injuries are serious, including for undrafted rookie cornerback Keon Martin, who limped off during Saturday’s practice. On the flip side, rookie running back Marcus Major Jr. returned to practice, but it was in a red noncontact jersey after he suffered a concussion recently. Myles Gaskin, a six-year veteran with the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, signed with the Ravens on Saturday, according to a source with direct knowledge of the deal. The 28-year-old has rushed for 1,354 yards in his career but just 25 in the past three seasons. Baltimore also signed cornerback M.J. Devonshire, a second-year player out of Pittsburgh who spent last season with the Raiders before being claimed off waivers by the Panthers during the offseason. Devonshire’s addition is likely to help with some of the attrition in the defensive backfield. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Training camp practices are one thing. Joint practices and preseason games are quite another. After 11 sessions of Ravens players going against one another, they finally got a taste of new blood, with the Indianapolis Colts in town for a lively practice and the preseason opener for both teams Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium. Only five of Baltimore’s expected regular starters — left guard Andrew Vorhees, right guard Daniel Faalele, right tackle Roger Rosengarten, linebacker Trenton Simpson and safety Malaki Starks — played in the game, but everyone got good run in the two-plus hour practice against Indianapolis. Put another way, this week was the best test yet of where players are in their progress with the start of the regular season a month away. Here’s a look at whose stock has risen and fallen over the past week as the Ravens return to the practice field Saturday for the first of six straight days of work. Brian Wacker, reporter Stock up: Edge Mike Green. Through the first two weeks of camp, the Ravens’ polarizing but highly touted second-round rookie edge rusher did not exactly announce his presence with authority. His 17 sacks at Marshall to lead college football last season perhaps set unrealistic expectations that he would have immediate and meaningful success, and it generally does not work that way. But against the Colts, both in practice and in the game, Green made his presence felt. In Tuesday’s practice, he consistently put pressure on Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and it’s possible that he would have been credited with at least one sack if not more. He also showed off his speed and power, giving Colts linemen some trouble in one-on-one drills. Two days later — and on his first play in an NFL game — he was instrumental in forcing an incompletion by Richardson and was in the backfield on a few other occasions, including once converging on the quarterback with fellow outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, who was credited with the sack. Stock down: Quarterbacks not named Lamar Jackson. There’s no sugarcoating it. Cooper Rush and especially Devin Leary were dreadful against the Colts on Thursday night, combining to go 5-for-16 for 59 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Neither quarterback was overly impressive in practice against Indianapolis earlier in the week, either. Though Rush did have his best practices to date this past week, he had some blunders, too. Among them was an interception off a tipped pass during the final two-minute drill against the Colts as well as an interception on his first pass attempt of Thursday’s game. Leary’s development, meanwhile, has been mixed at best in his second year. That has been evident in practice and exposed in the game against the Colts, in which he went 3-for-12 for 43 yards with an interception and some woeful overthrows. Mike Preston, columnist Stock up: FB Lucas Scott. The undrafted free agent might have earned a spot on the 53-man roster, and if not, at least on the developmental squad. The Ravens were waiting to see how Scott played in the preseason and the Army graduate was very successful against the Colts. Go watch the tape. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Scott is as big as starter Patrick Ricard, and might even have better technique. A key to being a good blocker or a fullback is to have good hips, and Scott did a good job walling off defenders for running back Keaton Mitchell. He’ll run through defenders and has good explosion upon contact. He also has decent feet, especially for a person of his size. The Ravens might not have room for two fullbacks on the regular-season roster, but if Scott can play on special teams, he might have a shot. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard, left, and fullback Lucas Scott go through a drill during the first day on training camp. Scott looks the part of an NFL player, and he's in the mix to land a 53-man roster spot after the first preseason game. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Stock down: LG Ben Cleveland. He had a poor performance against the Colts, and he fell way behind Andrew Vorhees in the battle for the starting position. Cleveland does well in short space because he can be overpowering at times, but he doesn’t run well and has problems turning the corner. He can trap, like most guards, but to turn and get up field is not his strength. Pass blocking has never been a forte of Cleveland’s, and he got exposed once or twice against Indianapolis. Cleveland’s lack of versatility and depth could be a glaring problem for the Ravens all season. The offensive line has to stay healthy to be successful. Meanwhile, Vorhees played well and got up field quickly. Sam Cohn, reporter Stock up: RB Keaton Mitchell. Thursday night’s performance stamped what had already been an impressive week for Mitchell. He checked every box. Nearly two years removed from ACL surgery, the crafty back showed a return to form in practices without tackling. Then he snapped off big runs when the pads came on. He did it again in the joint practice. That knee looked stronger than ever on Baltimore’s 71-yard drive in which Mitchell handled four carries for more than 50 yards, capped by a 22-yard touchdown run. Harbaugh said Thursday night, while his running back sat to his left, “You can bounce it to the edge. You can cut it back. … and then also establishing the fact that you’ll run the ball between the tackles. … You don’t want to be the guy that they say, ‘Oh, he is an outside run game guy,’ right? You want to make him pay between the tackles, too. That’s something, too, that I know he is very focused on.” There were questions about how Mitchell would fit into a backfield behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. There was justified concerns about whether he’d return to form. This week in particular, he’s banging the door down to earn touches. Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell scores a touchdown in the team's preseason opener against the Colts. Mitchell is expecting to play meaningful snaps in the regular season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Stock down: WR Dayton Wade. This was supposed to be Wade’s week. He’d been so sharp for much of training camp, flashing in live drills against his own team’s defense with a knack for finding open space and aggressively pursuing the ball no matter who was throwing it to him. A joint practice against the Colts and the first preseason game served up prime opportunities to prove it wasn’t a farce. Wade was a relative nonfactor in the joint practice this week and he came up empty on three targets Thursday night. Some of that blame can be pointed toward the shaky quarterback play, but by and large Wade didn’t show that same aggressiveness toward the ball. The week was a missed opportunity for someone vying for a 53-man roster spot in a crowded wide receiver room. Josh Tolentino, columnist Stock up: WR/PR LaJohntay Wester. When I asked Wester back during Big 12 pro days in March in Frisco, Texas, what he hoped to show at the next level, the 5-foot-10 wideout grinned and offered his brief reply: “Speed. Folks will find out soon.” Wester then waited until the sixth round of the draft to hear his name called, but the former Colorado standout put on a show in his Ravens debut. His 87-yard punt return for a touchdown was the marquee moment. Wester also led all receivers with two catches for 41 yards. With his electric outing, Wester, who recorded a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, has started to distance himself from teammates Tylan Wallace and Anthony Miller in solidifying himself as the team’s Week 1 punt returner. Stock down: OL Daniel Faalele. The 6-8, 370-pound Faalele was sent sprawling to the ground by Colts defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore and surrendered a sack in one of his most embarrassing reps of the summer. Faalele, a 2024 Pro Bowl alternate, was one of three projected starting offensive linemen to play in the preseason opener. Considering their unimpressive backup quarterback play this summer, the Ravens need Lamar Jackson upright once the games and results matter. Faalele allowed just one sack last season, but on Thursday, he couldn’t get out of the first quarter without surrendering two pressures and Adebawore’s sack of Rush. Related Articles Ravens rookie Teddye Buchanan’s debut is a ‘dream come true’ for family Ravens rookie report: Preseason opener offers glimpse of impressive class 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Colts Ravens preseason observations: Is LaJohntay Wester the missing piece? Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester makes case with highlight-reel touchdown Sam Jane, reporter Stock up: TE Charlie Kolar. “They forgot about the fat white guy.” That’s how Charlie Kolar described himself a year ago when the third-string tight end rumbled for a long touchdown catch. But now Kolar’s in Year 4 and Jackson is making sure that nobody’s forgetting about the former Iowa State star. Jackson said that Kolar is starting to look like Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews, and Kolar dominated during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Colts with a touchdown catch and another reception in zone coverage. With Likely out for at least the preseason, the Ravens should be fine in the short term with Kolar as TE2. Stock down: DB Beau Brade. Brade made the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent last season, but he finds himself in another tight battle to make the team this year. The River Hill and Maryland graduate is competing with Sanoussi Kane to secure the team’s third safety spot, and Kane has impressed in practice. Undrafted free agent defensive back Reuben Lowery also has positional flexibility, which adds another roadblock to Brade’s roster chances. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. 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Arron Smith doesn’t consider himself a man of many emotions. But the 57-year-old father of Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan was brought to tears Thursday night when he witnessed his son run out of the tunnel for the first time at M&T Bank Stadium. To Smith, who donned a black Ravens jersey with Buchanan’s No. 40, Thursday wasn’t just the preseason opener. To him and his family, this was their Super Bowl. “This is a dream come true,” Smith said. “I used to not be emotional. But this year … I’ve had some really emotional moments.” Smith sat with a slight lean, his hands clasped and his eyes locked on the field as Buchanan, 22, made his unofficial debut in the first of three Baltimore exhibitions. Although the result, a 24-16 Ravens win, didn’t matter much, Smith cemented Thursday as a core memory. The events started the previous night, when Smith and Buchanan’s mother, Kimberly, boarded a redeye, cross-country flight in San Francisco. Throughout Buchanan’s childhood, Smith served as his youth coach. He recalled how a then-6-year-old Buchannan scored five touchdowns in his first organized game for the Mountain View (California) Marauders. “I was like, ‘I think we’ve got something,” Smith said of Buchanan’s early introduction to the sport. “He’s always been really disciplined. Started doing pushups at 5, started lifting weights at 11.” Despite being raised in Northern California, Buchanan actually grew up a Washington Commanders fan thanks to his father’s rooting interests. Smith was a self-proclaimed “die-hard” Washington fan and grew up in nearby Charlottesville, Virginia. It wasn’t difficult for him to ditch his Washington gear for No. 40 Baltimore jerseys after he witnessed his son achieve his dreams earlier in the year. “I told myself, ‘I’ve got to let it go,’” Buchanan jokingly belted regarding his Commanders fandom. “Honestly, when he put the Ravens jersey on, that was the best thing in my life.” Since he was selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft out of California, Buchanan feels as if he’s grown in a multitude of ways. Against the Colts, he sported the “green dot” on his helmet, signifying his role as the defensive play-caller in the huddle. Buchanan joins a loaded and talented roster in Baltimore with the starting linebacker spots currently manned by Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson. Top rookie safety Malaki Starks labeled Buchanan a “natural leader.” “Teddye looked really good,” Starks said. “He has natural leadership skills. He’s just a natural when it comes to playing football. Just to be out there and be with him felt really good.” “I used to not be emotional. But this year … I’ve had some really emotional moments," Arron Smith, the father of Ravens rookie Teddye Buchanan, said of his son's journey to the NFL. (Kevin Richardson/Sun Staff) In addition to patrolling the defense’s second level, Buchanan appeared on special teams, a role he’ll need to embrace heading into Year 1. Last season at Cal, he led the Golden Bears in tackles (114), tackles for loss (12) and finished second in sacks (five). “Compared to OTA’s, I feel great,” Buchanan said. “It takes time to earn trust and respect from your teammates and also be able to trust yourself with knowing the defense, helping guys get lined up. Things have improved dramatically. “[Special teams] is different from college, the kickoffs and punts. It’s great to get reps. I look forward to doing that all season.” When Buchanan, who was named after his grandfather, recorded his lone tackle of Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren, Smith and Kimberly Buchanan rose to their feet and lifted their arms in the air. The moment felt like a culmination of their combined support — Buchanan’s parents are separated but amicable — and they flashed wide grins for the rest of the evening. Buchanan’s unofficial NFL debut was filled with some expected growing pains. On a couple of occasions, he was the closest defender in coverage following completions by Colts backup quarterback Daniel Jones. But he also flashed on a few instances. After he allowed a deep completion, Buchanan on the subsequent play rushed from the left side and forced an errant incompletion from Jones. Related Articles Ravens rookie report: Preseason opener offers glimpse of impressive class 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Colts Ravens preseason observations: Is LaJohntay Wester the missing piece? Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester makes case with highlight-reel touchdown Ravens rookie Bilhal Kone carted off with injury in preseason opener “He played at a high level, talking and communicating,” Simpson said of Buchanan. “Just for a rookie to come do that in his first preseason game, it’s a great sign. … He’s definitely a calm guy. I didn’t sense any nervousness from him. He’s just ready to play.” Over the next several weeks, the Ravens will continue to evaluate the roster’s talent and eventually make tough decisions before they embark on the regular season, already overflowing with high expectations. Buchanan is aware that Thursday marked just the first step of what he hopes to be a long journey in the pros. For Smith, that evaluation is already complete. He too hopes Buchanan enjoys a prosperous NFL future, but Smith is unapologetically basking in pride, unafraid of the tears that might fall. “For them to come means a lot, to have parents to support me the way they have my whole life,” Buchanan said. “It’s not an easy flight. I’ve had to do it several times since being drafted but, I really appreciate them coming out and supporting me.” Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

When you’re on a team filled with explosive players such as Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Kyle Hamilton, etc. — and those guys aren’t on the field — it’s easy to understand why rookie LaJohntay Wester said that he knew he was going to be aggressive. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, it’s difficult for rookies to make an impact. But Baltimore has several first-year players who could get on the field this season. Thursday night was an encouraging sign for their prospects. Most of the Ravens’ established starters didn’t play in their 24-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. The preseason lays an easy path for rookies to make an impact, since they’re often the most talented players in uniform. Wester returned a punt for an 87-yard touchdown and added a 17-yard return, second-round edge rusher Mike Green displayed fluid bend on two third-down pass rushes, first-round safety Malaki Starks looked steady in the back end on a pair of drives and sixth-round defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage. The night wasn’t without blemishes. Sixth-round defensive back Bilhal Kone suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first quarter and was carted off the field in an air cast. Kicker Tyler Loop missed a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left, but he did rebound with a 52-yarder. Overall, the rookies looked the part of a pro-ready draft class. Other than Starks and Loop, none of them are expected to start in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, but Green, Wester and linebacker Teddye Buchanan could all compete for rotational snaps. Here’s a report on the rookies’ performances on Thursday: Safety Malaki Starks The first-rounder was one of the few projected starters to take the field Thursday, as most of the Ravens’ core players sat out. The safety played in just two drives and made a tackle. He was seen communicating with the rest of the defense, which has been a theme throughout training camp. “[Starks] does a great job communicating with us, making it super easy on the linebackers,” Buchanan said. Edge rusher Mike Green Green was drafted for his pass-rushing acumen. Baltimore needed more juice off the edge, especially with the status of former high draft picks David Ojabo and Adisa Isaac in question. The Marshall product gave a preview of what his role could be during the regular season. On two third-and-longs, Green dipped around the edge with fluid bend, pressuring the quarterback on both dropbacks. First, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was forced to step up in the pocket because of Green’s pressure. Quarterback Daniel Jones then was grabbed around the ankles by Green on the ensuing drive, which allowed Isaac to sack Jones. “It was great because in practice, you got to stay away from the quarterback. You can’t practice tackling the quarterback,” Green said. Ravens inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan tackles Colts tight end Tyler Warren above cornerback T.J. Tampa. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Linebacker Teddye Buchanan Buchanan played for a majority of the first half, tallying just one tackle. He was the closest defender on a long completion by Jones but blitzed and forced a rushed throw from the quarterback on the ensuing play. “I practice against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry every day. I feel like I’ve grown tremendously since April,” Buchanan said. Wideout LaJohntay Wester The most impressive rookie and perhaps the best player on the field Thursday, Wester returned a punt for an 87-yard touchdown. He tallied 41 receiving yards on two receptions, 32 more than the next Raven. “If you know me, you know I always have confidence just because everybody overlooked me,” Wester said. “It’s one of the reasons why they brought me here to become a game-changer in the special teams department.” The 23-year-old also had a 17-yard punt return in which he also evaded several Colts players. Wester’s elusiveness has stood out during training camp, as he’s thrived in short area situations and one-on-one drills. Ravens kicker Tyler Loop follows through on his field goal after the hold from punter Jordan Stout. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Kicker Tyler Loop Coach John Harbaugh said that while it wasn’t a home run game for Loop, it was a solid B performance. The coach reaffirmed the team’s commitment to the rookie, who’s the only kicker on the roster after undrafted free agent John Hoyland was cut. Loop’s 46-yard attempt went wide left, which is where he’s typically missed in training camp. But the Arizona product rebounded with a booming 52-yarder, easily splitting the uprights. Related Articles Ravens rookie Teddye Buchanan’s debut is a ‘dream come true’ for family 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Colts Ravens preseason observations: Is LaJohntay Wester the missing piece? Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester makes case with highlight-reel touchdown Ravens rookie Bilhal Kone carted off with injury in preseason opener Defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles A big man with a big personality, Peebles batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage and followed it with several different dances. He emulated cornerback Jaire Alexander’s signature seatbelt celebration, then rubbed his stomach in joy. Peebles also pushed the pocket in the late stages of the game, which is exactly what Baltimore drafted the undersized defensive tackle for. Cornerback Bilhal Kone Preseason football giveth and preseason football taketh. Kone, who’s played well in training camp and was emerging as a legitimate backup cornerback, suffered a torn ligament in his knee and will be out for the season, Harbaugh said. The sixth-round pick was playing well up until the injury, nearly intercepting a wayward pass and deflecting a fade route on the play he injured his left leg on. Harbaugh said that he delivered a simple message to the emotional Kone as he was being carted off. “The sun will come up tomorrow.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

The Ravens couldn’t escape a meaningless preseason football game completely healthy, but they beat the Indianapolis Colts, 24-16, behind two show-stopping ball carriers. Here are five things we learned from the game: It’s officially time to be worried about the quarterbacks not named Lamar Jackson Consider this halftime stat: Two Ravens quarterbacks combined for two completions and two interceptions over seven drives. Neither Cooper Rush nor Devin Leary inspired much confidence that they’d be able to keep the Ravens afloat should Lamar Jackson be forced to miss any time. It started bad and never got better, as the two signal callers totaled 59 passing yards. “Has an NFL preseason game ever been won in 59 passing yards?” Harbaugh said. “We’d like to pass for more than 59 yards.” The second Ravens play from scrimmage in the first preseason game of what is to be a season with February aspirations was a pick thrown by Rush. He dropped back in the pocket and heaved the ball up the right sideline to a streaking Dayton Wade, ignoring safety Alex Johnson engulfing Baltimore’s undersized receiver in coverage. Johnson shed a push and brought the ball into his chest. It was quite the debut for Rush, who threw an interception in his last ball of Tuesday’s joint practice. Rush signed a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million this offseason. His seven years of NFL experience — in which, as offensive coordinator Todd Monken pointed out, “he’s done an outstanding job — not a good job — an outstanding job” — made him seem like a viable backup. Rush finished his Ravens debut with two completions on four attempts for 16 yards. His passer rating was 20.8. Leary replaced Rush in the second quarter. He threw an interception before completing a pass, the latter of which didn’t happen until past the seven-minute mark of the third quarter. He completed three passes on 12 attempts for 43 yards, good for a 7.3 passer rating. “I feel good about Cooper,” Harbaugh said. “Devin, competitor, fought out there, but just didn’t go his way tonight.” Don’t be surprised if a UDFA makes this roster In 20 of the past 21 seasons (sans pandemic-marred 2020), the Ravens’ final 53-man roster has included at least one undrafted free agent. The organization prides itself on talent evaluation of the kind of gem who might fly under the radar but offer a cost-efficient contributor. Patrick Ricard, Michael Pierce and Keaton Mitchell are a few recent examples. The two undrafted rookies with the best shot to claim a roster spot by the 53-man roster deadline later this month are Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins and Tennessee-Chattanooga cornerback Reuben Lowery. Higgins was the better of the two Thursday night. He grabbed Baltimore’s lone interception in the fourth quarter, picking off fellow rookie Riley Leonard. That’s to say there’s less grandeur in a preseason garbage-time interception. Still, he forced a takeaway to complement his three tackles and two pass deflections. If there’s a UDFA roster spot available, it likely falls to a linebacker. The only certainties are Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson and rookie Teddye Buchanan. It’s likely that the Ravens carry a fourth into Week 1 and prioritizes them on special teams. Lowery is the other intriguing option because of his flexibility in the secondary. He can play in nickel or dime looks. His versatility fits right in to the stylistic approach of Baltimore’s defense. It’s also a position fraught with injuries, meaning that if the Ravens see a necessity in keeping another defensive back, Lowery should be in the mix. He finished with four tackles Thursday night. Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester all but secured the role of punt returner with his performance Thursday night. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Keaton Mitchell and LaJohntay Wester bring the juice LaJohntay Wester called his shot this week. He told Keaton Mitchell and any teammate willing to bend an ear at practice that he felt in his bones that he could take a return to the house in his Ravens debut. One of the NFL Network cameras caught Wester on the sideline after the game, letting all that emotion pour out. “I just knew it was coming,” the sixth-round draft pick from Colorado said. “Just by watching film and us practicing against them, I just knew we had them.” Wester and Mitchell were the cornerstone duo of the preseason win. In a game in which the tangible takeaways are few and far between, it’s easy to look at those two and start to dream about how they can inject a new layer of juice into what was already one of the best offenses in the NFL last year. According to Next Gen Stats, Wester traveled a total distance of 115.4 yards on the cutback 87-yard punt return touchdown. He recently told The Baltimore Sun that he grew up watching Devin Hester highlights. Following in the footsteps of his idol, the similarly named Wester’s first punt return in an NFL game went 80-plus yards to the end zone. “That is one of the reasons why they brought me here, is to become a game-changer in the special teams department,” Wester said. “I am taking that role head on.” There was talk all through camp of how that position might be decided upon. Wester was the popular pick for surprise runaway. Tylan Wallace and Anthony Miller made sense as incumbents. Coach John Harbaugh and special teams coordinator Chris Horton assured reporters that how any of them capitalize on a return matters far less than how often they catch the ball. Harbaugh said that he isn’t rushing to carve a Week 1 punt returner’s name in stone. The Ravens entered camp with a fairly wide-open race. “Still got two more weeks, a lot of things can happen,” Harbaugh said. But Wester makes it hard to look away. As for Mitchell, the kid’s still got it. In Week 15 of 2023, Mitchell suffered a season-ending ACL tear that left him on the shelf until the back half of last season. Even then, he never looked like himself: the shifty playmaker fans remembered pre-surgery. Mitchell has been the talk of training camp. That talk all sounds the same: he’s back to his normal self. Back to “being supersonic,” Derrick Henry said. Thursday night, Mitchell single-handedly drove the first iteration of the offense. He carried the ball four times for 52 of a 71-yard drive, including the touchdown. That 22-yard run showcased a fully repaired knee that handled two sharp plants and dive into the end zone with a defender clinging to his calf. “I haven’t gotten to the box in a minute,” Mitchell said. “It took a lot, just trusting rehab, trusting the people that’s putting you through rehab, making sure you follow the right steps. You gotta be disciplined with everything you do. And most importantly, just trusting yourself.” Now, picture that alongside Henry and Justice Hill in a backfield steered by Jackson. Loop gets a ‘B+’ Tyler Loop’s first field goal attempt was a head scratcher. His 46-yard attempt sailed wide left. That was after a nearly perfect training camp and the 60-yarder at a recent stadium practice to cap a perfect week. The crowd that drowned out M&T Bank Stadium with chants of “Looooop” after a point after surely expected a no-doubter on the mid-distance try. Harbaugh said that Loop “stubbed his toe on the ground” on the downswing. It pushed the ball slightly left. The coach was more impressed by Loop’s ability to flush that miss, get pushed back to 52 yards, and connect. “He passed the test tonight,” Harbaugh said. “Might not have been an A++, but B+.” Average out the two grades the coach has given his rookie kicker and it’s clear that there’s enough confidence that his job isn’t in impending danger. The Ravens saw enough in Loop that they were comfortable parting ways with UDFA John Hoyland this week. And Harbaugh dismissed the notion that the one miss introduced any uncertainty to the situation, partly because it was obvious from the sideline what went wrong in the operation. An argument vindicated by the made kick. Ravens cornerback Bilhal Kone is carted off the field after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the preseason opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) It stinks to watch a major preseason injury Kone was carted off the field with his left leg wrapped in an air cast, ending his chances at a fight toward a roster spot as a depth cornerback. Harbaugh said postgame that Kone will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his knee. He was injured on a jump ball in the front corner of the end zone and immediately started writhing in pain — a gutting scene for a sixth-round rookie making his case for a roster spot. Kone had already been through the ringer this training camp. He missed several practices early on because of a shoulder injury. It’s not his first confrontation with adversity. Kone was born in Apple Valley, Minnesota, but spent the first years of his life living with his grandmother in Ivory Coast because of the family’s financial troubles. French was his first language. When he moved back to the States at 6 years old, assimilating wasn’t so easy. Kone told The Sun that his brother Momo once shoved an apple in his face. “This,” Momo taunted, “red. Apple,” carefully enunciating each syllable. English wasn’t much of a prerequisite to play youth football. As a 7-year-old at the Apple Valley Community Center, Kone played for the red team. “First kick of the first quarter, beginning of the game, boom. Took it to the house,” Momo said. “I’m there at the game watching this and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God. You’re gonna be special.’” Related Articles Ravens preseason observations: Is LaJohntay Wester the missing piece? Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester makes case with highlight-reel touchdown Ravens rookie Bilhal Kone carted off with injury in preseason opener Instant analysis from Ravens’ preseason opener against Colts Risers and fallers: Ravens open preseason with 24-16 win over Colts His household was a clinic in overcoming adversity, his family a well of inspiration. Bilhal’s younger brother, Hamza, endured two bouts with cancer and died in July 2016, the summer before Bill’s freshman year of high school. He writes “Ball for Hamza” on every pair of cleats in the closet. And Bilhal’s mother, Amy Camara, was “the definition of a superwoman,” as Momo called her. She juggled a hair salon and a weekend gig working for Amazon, then took a cleaning job that kept her out of the house from 3 p.m. until 2 a.m. every day. Bilhal was a zero-star recruit who climbed through three schools to reach the doorstep of the NFL. He played at Iowa Central Community College then Indiana State before getting to Western Michigan. When the Ravens drafted him 178th overall, a watch party in downtown Minnesota full of his closest kin swelled with pride. Bilhal raised a glass to the room. Between the heartfelt thank you’s and teary excitement, Bilhal uttered the line that still sticks with his best friend, Davy Hosea, months later: “I’m glad it took this long.” Thursday night throws yet another wrench in his pursuit of an NFL roster spot. But Bilhal has been historically comfortable with a little hardship. It will just take a little longer. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens might have found a missing ingredient from their championship seasons in 2000 and 2012. His name is LaJohntay Wester, a rookie sixth-round draft pick out of Colorado. Wester had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter of the Ravens’ 24-16 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night. He also had another return for 17 yards. Wester gives the Ravens something they’ve lacked in the past couple of seasons — a bonafide threat as a return specialist. A year ago, the Ravens were indecisive about when to return a punt, but Wester, 23, appears to have the green light to go, at least for now. In 2000, the Ravens had slot receiver Jermaine Lewis return punts and he averaged 16.1 yards per return. He also had an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second half of the Ravens’ 34-7 win against the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. In 2012, it was Jacoby Jones who electrified fans as he led the league with 30.7 yards per kickoff return, including two touchdowns. Wester has the same move as Lewis — a juke step to one side, then a quick change of direction to allow his blockers to set up. On his punt return for a touchdown, Wester started to his left, took a hard jab stab to that side and then reversed to his right to score as he broke several shoe-string tackle attempts. The last time a rookie caused this type of excitement was outside linebacker Peter Boulware in 1997 in the final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. After a five-to-six-week holdout, Boulware had two sacks in that game. He’s back Running back Keaton Mitchell had nine carries for 68 yards before he was pulled at the beginning of the second half, but one of his featured runs was a 22-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter. But let’s forget about the touchdown. Let’s talk about other things, like the power the 5-foot-8, 190-pound Mitchell showed breaking through several tackles and the body lean he displayed going into the end zone. The third-year back showed good bounce to the outside. He showed no signs of the severe knee damage, which forced him out for most of the 2024 season. Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell showed impressive burst in his return from a knee injury that cost him most of last season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Left guard battle If the battle for the starting left guard position was close, then Andrew Vorhees created more distance between him and Ben Cleveland, his closest competitor. Vorhees had several decent seal blocks while pulling and looked good and versatile getting around the corner. He worked off double-team blocks well and held his ground in pass protection, even though he was uncovered sometimes. Cleveland struggled in pass protection and was only effective in short-yardage situations and straight-ahead blocking. Coach John Harbaugh said that this was a close competition, but not after Thursday night. QB concerns Reserve quarterback Cooper Rush needs to pick up the pace and play better. Rush was successful as a backup to Dak Prescott in Dallas, where he played in 38 games, started 14 and finished with a 9-5 record. But with the exception of a practice or two, Rush hasn’t played well in training camp and completed only two of four passes for 16 yards against the Colts. His first pass was underthrown to receiver Dayton Wade and picked off by cornerback Alex Johnson. The Ravens signed Rush to a two-year deal worth $6.2 million in March that could climb to as high as $12.2 million. So far, he hasn’t proven that he would be effective as a starter if star quarterback Lamar Jackson gets hurt. Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush threw an interception in his first preseason game with the team. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Now or never Fourth-year cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis needs to have a big year, and he played well in the first half against Indianapolis. He broke up three passes and covered well. He was also involved on special teams, which means he probably has a spot on the 53-man roster if he continues to play well in the preseason. Learning curve Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan played well against the run, but struggled in pass coverage. At times, he looked a little lost. As for some others who played well, rookie fifth-round pick Carson Vinson and fellow guard Darrian Dalcourt held their own, even though they both seem more destined for the practice squad than the starting lineup. Sour taste I felt compassion for defensive end Brent Urban. The 34-year-old journeyman is in his 12th season, yet he was out there playing in a preseason game. That stinks. As for a bad taste, Harbaugh can’t even win a challenge in the preseason. He lost out on a disputed catch by the Colts with just over eight minutes to play. Got beef? The hopes are still high for 6-6, 370-pound defensive tackle C.J. Okoye. He never played college football but is still a load to move in the middle. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Colts Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester makes case with highlight-reel touchdown Ravens rookie Bilhal Kone carted off with injury in preseason opener Instant analysis from Ravens’ preseason opener against Colts Risers and fallers: Ravens open preseason with 24-16 win over Colts Pass rush promise Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green played well. The second-round pick was in on a sack, and he had a couple of pressures. Granted, it was against the Colts’ second- and third-team players, but he had a presence while out there. Green, though, gets swallowed up when the Ravens rush him up the middle. Quick takes How could the Colts look so impressive in Tuesday’s scrimmage against the Ravens, yet play so poorly Thursday night? Been telling anyone who will listen to watch rookie fullback Lucas Scott from Army. He has game. The Ravens had three full-time starters on the offensive line to open the game, but neither right guard Dan Faalele nor right tackle Roger Rosengarten were overly impressive. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

LaJohntay Wester has a knack for making an impact in his debut. In Colorado’s first Big 12 game against Baylor last year, Wester made a miraculous 44-yard touchdown catch to tie the game with no time remaining. Then, in the Ravens’ first preseason game Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore’s sixth-round rookie returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown. Wester avoided the first two Indianapolis Colts defenders on the return, initially breaking to the left before ducking back toward the middle of the field. He stepped out of several shoestring tackle attempts and coasted the remaining 40 yards for his first NFL touchdown. The 23-year-old also impressed on his first return of the night, evading several Colts during that 17-yard run as well. Wester’s elusiveness has stood out during training camp, as he’s thrived in short area situations and one-on-one drills. The Florida native returned two punts for touchdowns during his college career at Colorado and Florida Atlantic. Wester was named American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and was an All-AAC first-team selection at both receiver and special teams as a junior at FAU in 2023. He averaged 12.2 yards per return in his lone season at Colorado. “What stands out about him is really his returnability,” Ravens general manager DeCosta said after the draft. “If you watch him, we think he’s a twitchy, explosive punt returner.” Baltimore was searching for a punt returner this offseason after cycling through a variety of options last season. The Ravens ranked 26th in total punt return yards, 16th in yards per return and tried Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty and Steven Sims. Wester also had a connection within Baltimore’s organization. He played under former FAU coach and current Ravens running backs coach Willie Taggart for two seasons. DeCosta selected Wester with the 203rd overall pick. “What I’m seeing from LaJohntay every day is the consistency in the ball catching,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “He has great technique. He has great fundamentals in really how we want to field the ball.” The wideout’s idol is Devin Hester, the only player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a returner. Hester set an NFL record with 19 career returns for touchdowns (14 punts, five kickoffs) over 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. While Thursday’s touchdown won’t count towards Wester’s career statistics, it’s a huge moment for a player vying to make the 53-man roster. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Colts Ravens preseason observations: Is LaJohntay Wester the missing piece? Ravens rookie Bilhal Kone carted off with injury in preseason opener Instant analysis from Ravens’ preseason opener against Colts Risers and fallers: Ravens open preseason with 24-16 win over Colts View the full article

Ravens sixth-round rookie Bilhal Kone suffered a leg injury during Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens training staff placed an air cast on his left leg and carted him to the locker room. He appeared emotional while being carted off. He was declared out of the remainder of the game almost immediately by the team. The severity of his injury is unknown. Kone injured his leg on a pass breakup in near the goal line, when he awkwardly fell after getting tangled up with Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin. The former Western Michigan standout was competing for a spot on the 53-man roster. Kone had stood out in a crowded defensive back room during training camp, often thriving during one-on-one drills. During Baltimore’s joint practice Tuesday with the Colts, he had a pass breakup during team drills and knocked away another pass during one-on-one drills. The lanky cornerback played on the outside for a majority of the first quarter Thursday night before suffering the injury. T.J. Tampa Jr., Jalyn Armour-Davis, Robert Longerbeam and Reuben Lowery are other cornerbacks competing for a roster spot. Kone, at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, was a two-year starter at Western Michigan, leading the Broncos in passes defended each of the past two years. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and earned a spot at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. On the day he was drafted, the 178th overall draft pick out of Western Michigan by way of Iowa Central Community College and Indiana State was asked what kind of player was joining the Ravens. “You’re going to get a dog with a chip on his shoulder,” Kone said. “You’re going to get a guy who’s been through the longest journey, and you’re going to get a guy who has fought through every type of adversity you can probably think of.” This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Ravens vs. Colts in preseason opener | PHOTOS | Photos 3 things we learned from the Ravens’ joint practice with the Colts Lamar Jackson, Ravens’ offense have up-and-down practice vs. Colts Ravens observations: Practice vs. Colts shows much room for improvement Ravens CB Nate Wiggins throws punch, ejected from joint practice vs. Colts View the full article