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Finally, the Ravens put on pads, took the field and hit guys in different-colored jerseys (although some hit more than others). Tuesday was the first of two joint practices Baltimore has scheduled this preseason. Most of the team’s starters won’t play until the regular season kicks off next month. So, in some ways, these heightened practices are the only tangible preseason assessment. With the Indianapolis Colts in Owings Mills, here are three things we learned. Secondary skepticism The Ravens’ secondary will, in all likelihood, be OK. They have the talent and flexibility to temper some of the NFL’s most lucrative passing attacks. What was the biggest thorn in Baltimore’s side for 10 weeks in 2024 should be a strength in 2025. It just didn’t look like it during Tuesday’s practice, which went on without All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton for what coach John Harbaugh deemed “one of those camp deals” — a precautionary measure after exiting Monday’s practice early. The rest of Baltimore’s secondary didn’t dominate the way many might have expected. In an early iteration of 11-on-11 drills, Colts wideout Adonai Mitchell burnt Nate Wiggins up the right sideline for a deep touchdown. Wiggins, who has had an otherwise strong camp, looked out of sorts in deep coverage, which might have influenced the tension that boiled over into him getting booted from practice for a scuffle that he escalated. In an early session of 1-on-1s, Colts quarterbacks unofficially combined to complete 9 of 15 passes. Alec Pierce got the better of Marlon Humphrey on a crossing route. Mitchell left Jalyn Armour-Davis in his dust on an out route. Josh Downs caught three passes in a row during 7-on-7s, including a 15-yarder over Humphrey and a 10-yard dig route through zone coverage. That said, Baltimore’s defense looked sharper in intermediate throws and played its cleanest defense while backed up in the red zone. T.J. Tampa dove to disrupt a dart from Anthony Richardson. Starks and Jaire Alexander stuffed Michael Pittman Jr. at the goal line. And on one rollout to his right, Daniel Jones tried to shovel a pass up the middle that went nowhere. Either way, it was a small sample size in the first time against a different offense and with Hamilton sidelined. Reading too much into it would be a fool’s errand. “We’re not game planning these guys or anything,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said Monday. “[We’ll] just come out here and practice, run our defense, versus their offense and vice versa and really see where you stack up at.” It wasn’t enough to definitively say the Ravens’ back end issues are a thing of the past. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Sanoussi Kane make contact during a joint practice Tuesday. The team's defensive backs had an inconsistent performance in the practice with the Colts. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Charlie Kolar looks ready to be TE2 Lamar Jackson flicked a ball over a Colts defender toward tight Charlie Kolar against the right sideline. The throw traveled maybe 20 yards, sinking into a pocket in the defense that Kolar converted into a long touchdown. He had another catch in the middle of the end zone, again finding a hole between defenders that Jackson capitalized on. Kolar arrived in Baltimore in 2022 as a primary pass catcher. He wasn’t much of a blocking tight end at Iowa State, but he has made a professional career out of being a blocking tight end, sitting third on the depth chart behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. Now with Likely sidelined for at least the rest of the preseason — he was seen watching Tuesday’s practice in a knee scooter — Kolar should get a slight uptick in targets. Andrews, who still holds the top spot on the depth chart, had an impressive diving touchdown catch in the back of the end zone against the Colts. But if all goes well, maybe Kolar’s success bleeds into the season and gives Jackson yet another viable option in an already crowded room of pass catchers. “Charlie’s getting a great feel for the game,” Jackson said, “looking like a little Mark and little Isaiah out there in his own way. He’s coming along great.” Kolar said he spent most of his offseason fine tuning his athleticism. At 6 feet 6, he’s keying in on how to stay low presnap and fire out of the stance into a route. Opportunities in the passing game have generally come from play-action or swimming upstream. Alignment and leverage, he said, will help round out his game. Although any Likely absence would be a tough blow to the offense, Kolar’s performance during Tuesday’s litmus test opposite an unfamiliar defense is a sign that the Ravens should be OK in the short term. Prioritizing a ‘punt catcher’ LaJohntay Wester snaked through an onslaught of Colts defenders and found the sideline, cruising to the end zone for a kick return touchdown. It appeared that no official made any effort to blow the play dead, insinuating that even if both teams were live tackling, he would’ve been safe. It was a remarkable display from the sixth-round draft pick making a strong case to be Baltimore’s kick and punt returner. Harbaugh and special teams coach Chris Horton don’t prioritize that kind of thing. “Your punt catcher is more important than your punt returner,” Harbaugh said. Wester is in the running to make the roster as a return man alongside Keaton Mitchell, Dayton Wade, Anthony Miller, D’Ernest Johnson and Malik Cunningham. “They all are very good after the catch,” Horton said. Harbaugh said that he thought Wester looked sharp during Tuesday’s practice but acknowledged that the decision comes down to running back the tape and diagnosing everyone’s posture when catching the ball. He wants to see the fundamentals of how the football nosedives into their waiting arms. Harbaugh said that he learned that from Chiefs coach Andy Reid and former Eagles coach Ray Rhodes. Related Articles 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 Ravens take over marketing for premium areas at M&T Bank Stadium Meet the Ravens rookie who hopes to answer team’s punt return prayers What does good posture look like when catching a punt? “Square,” Harbaugh said, excited to talk special teams minutiae. “You’re perpendicular to the path of the ball. You’re square shouldered on the catch. You are right down the middle, elbows tight, high hands. How’s that? You like that? That’s an easy one for me. I know the answer to that one.” It’s easy to look at how guys are able to give the offense an advantage with their feet. Harbaugh and Horton care far more about whether they get into a position to do something with their feet. Tuesday’s practice also helped get a feel for the way a live punt falls out of the sky versus on a JUGS machine — another nuance to the craft that can get lost in the annals of practice logs. “When we’ve got the JUGS, we’re just trying to shoot the ball as high as we can and make it a timing thing,” Horton said, “because that ball will hang up there a little bit longer, and it might not necessarily turn over, so now the ball’s falling down to the right or falling down to the left. Whereas, when you’re on the live foot, the ball’s turning over and it’s going down to the spot. So, we’re looking for a couple different things with a live punter versus the JUGS.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Lamar Jackson scrambled to his right and away from the Indianapolis Colts’ pass rush, surveyed the field in front of him and in a flick the ball was gone. The Ravens quarterback committed the typically unforgivable sin of throwing across his body and back into the middle of the field. Except this was vintage Jackson, with a leaping Rashod Bateman on the receiving end on an open patch of grass. Other than a benches-clearing brawl that broke out during a punt drill and resulted in Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins and Colts running back Tyler Goodson getting ejected, it was the highlight of a sometimes-up, occasionally-down joint practice for Baltimore’s offense against the Colts on Tuesday afternoon in Owings Mills. It was also as close as Jackson and most of the first-team players will come to seeing full-speed, live action against an opponent before the start of the regular season, with coach John Harbaugh having already said that they won’t play in Thursday night’s preseason opener for both teams at M&T Bank Stadium. “I wouldn’t say [training camp is] boring,” Jackson said of the joint practice. “Just competing another team instead of going against our guys all the time, your competitive side kicks in a little bit more. “We get to see different looks from different guys, different types of coverages, see how different guys guard different people, see different blitzes. We get a lot out of these joint practices.” How did Jackson and the offense fare? “Our offense, there’s always room for improvement,” said the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who is coming off career highs in touchdown passes (41) and passing yards (4,172). “In camp, we have good days, we have bad days, we have OK days, we have great days. “We’re right where we need to be right now.” As Harbaugh said, “You’re looking at the details, really. You’re not looking at the outcome.” The Sistine Chapel wasn’t painted in a day, after all. And Baltimore’s offense, as deep and talented as it perhaps has ever been in the franchise’s 30 years of existence, is still a work in progress, which was evident against a Colts defense that should be improved under new coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo is a familiar foe for Jackson. He was the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2024, and the two men had a brief chat about their past battles at one point Tuesday. “He was telling me he glad he don’t have to face me twice a year anymore,” Jackson cracked. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jahmal Banks turns upfield during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews walks during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Baylor Cupp throws the ball in front of tight end Scotty Washington during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker turns upfield during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback T.J. Tampa and safety Keondre Jackson collide during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Xavier Guillory turns upfield during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Sanoussi Kane collide during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs through an obstacle during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali gets hit while navigating an obstacle course during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 10Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jahmal Banks turns upfield during a joint practice at Baltimore’s training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand Their most recent showdown had its highs and lows for Jackson and what was the league’s top offense in just about every metric last season and returns intact, if not improved. On the upside was the performance of the tight ends. With Isaiah Likely watching from a doorway leading to the team’s locker room as he recovers from surgery to repair a fractured bone in his foot, Charlie Kolar and Mark Andrews provided a sigh of relief and were the most efficient recipients of Jackson’s passes. Kolar, in the final year of his rookie contract, hauled in one sideline fade from Jackson then rumbled about 50 yards. He also had a touchdown during a red zone period and held on for a tough 20-yard catch over the middle as he got popped on another play. Andrews, long Jackson’s security blanket and in the final year of his contract, looked the part, too. He had a couple of catches early in 11-on-11 periods, then hauled in a pair of touchdowns in two different red zone periods — including one in which Jackson rolled right, pump-faked, then fired into a tight window to the eighth-year vet in the end zone. “Charlie’s getting a great feel for the game,” Jackson said of the Kolar, now in his fourth year. “Looking like a little Mark and Isaiah out there, in his own way.” One of the more intriguing receivers at Jackson’s disposal has been free agent addition DeAndre Hopkins. The two have connected on several plays through the first two-plus weeks of training camp and did so a couple of times Tuesday, including on a nice back shoulder pass during a seven-on-seven period. However, Hopkins also had an uncharacteristic drop on one play and the two had a miscommunication. “I feel like we’re getting better,” Jackson said. “I messed up one time. I didn’t think he seen me on a route I gave him. He did see me.” It wasn’t the only mistake by Jackson. Related Articles Ravens observations: Practice vs. Colts shows much room for improvement Ravens CB Nate Wiggins throws punch, ejected from joint practice vs. Colts Ravens take over marketing for premium areas at M&T Bank Stadium Meet the Ravens rookie who hopes to answer team’s punt return prayers Browns signing ex-Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, AP source says In his final two-minute period, the quarterback tried to throw back against his body again, this time for second-year receiver Dayton Wade, but was easily intercepted by safety Hunter Wohler. It was one of two for the seventh-round rookie, who also had an interception of backup quarterback Cooper Rush in the two-minute period. Jackson also misfired on a few deep passes, including one intended for Bateman, though coverage was also tight. Other times, he had nowhere to go with the ball and took a sack on at least a couple of occasions. The Colts also blew up a few plays before they could develop, forcing Jackson to throw the ball into the dirt. Still, he looked like his old self at times, including on one long run in which he raced deep into the secondary. Asked if he’s as fast as he’s ever been, Jackson said, “absolutely.” “I been saying that except when I was a little bulky, that’s why I had to get that weight off,” he said. “But I feel good. I feel like I did my rookie year speed-wise, mobility-wise. I feel great.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

It was fresh meat day for the Ravens at the Under Armour Performance Center. After nearly two weeks of practicing against each other, the Ravens finally got some new blood to compete against Tuesday with the visiting Indianapolis Colts, whom the Ravens play Thursday night in the preseason opener. It was good for both teams because it’s a change of pace and talent. When teammates face each other consistently, there is a chance of becoming complacent and predictable, even though the Ravens weren’t very good in the nearly two-hour session. In fact, they looked nothing like a team that is expected to seriously challenge for a Super Bowl title. The good news is that it’s not where you start, but where you finish, but the Ravens have work to do. Let’s start with the offense: Not sharp Besides Mark Andrews and fellow tight end Charlie Kolar, few Ravens receivers got open consistently. The Colts were physical and played the Ravens tight, but Andrews easily beat safeties Nick Cross and Camryn Bynum several times. Andrews has perfected the last-minute push off to gain separation. The best catch of the practice came from receiver Anthony Miller, who hauled in a one-handed, 35-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline despite being blanketed by Bynum. The best dropped pass of the session was receiver Rashod Bateman losing a possible 35-yard touchdown along the same sideline on throw from by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Offensive line woes The Ravens’ pass protection during the team period was poor, and at times Jackson showed his frustration by slamming the ball to the ground. He rarely had time to throw, and when he did he usually went to the check-down receiver or running back. The lack of pass protection wasn’t only in the team session, but the individual period as well. On the first four snaps, both tackles, Roger Rosengarten on the right and Ronnie Stanley on the left, were beaten badly. Stanley even got thrown to the ground in what can only be described as an ugly pass-blocking attempt. The Colts certainly worked on the spin move, and just about all of their defensive linemen attempted it. It seemed apparent that the Colts changed up on their defensive line and the Ravens were ill prepared. But then again, a 4-3 defense is pretty standard. It’s not like these guys haven’t seen it before during their high school and college careers. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Sanoussi Kane collide during a joint practice Tuesday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Sticky coverage Now, on to the defense. Second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s scheme might not be new, but secondary coach Chuck Pagano continues to put his own spin and emphasis on ramping up the defensive backs, several of whom struggled Tuesday. Pagano repeatedly gave his guys an earful after Baltimore struggled to contain Indianapolis’ pass-catchers during one-on-one periods. Pagano’s messaging was palpable and remained consistent through the ups and downs of the joint session. During 1-on-1s, Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell jetted past cornerback Chuck Awuzie for an easy completion. A few reps later, safety Marlon Humphrey was burned by Colts wideout Alec Pierce on a fade route, but the throw from quarterback Anthony Richardson arrived short and the ball hit Pierce in the hands before falling incomplete as the two players tumbled to the grass. A relieved Humphrey jumped to his feet, retreated to the sideline and jokingly said, “that’s a fast white boy.” Wiggins’ involvement in Tuesday’s brawl could’ve been a build-up from his struggles earlier in practice. During a full-team period, Mitchell burned Wiggins on a deep ball down the right sideline. Richardson’s heave wound up toward Mitchell’s back shoulder, but the receiver adjusted midair to snag the ball against the trailing Wiggins, who tossed his hands up in frustration. One of Wiggins’ sparse highlights included him sticking Pierce on an intermediate comeback route during 1-on-1s. With his running mate and fellow safety Kyle Hamilton absent, rookie Malaki Starks held his own in his first action against real competition. Starks registered a pass breakup against Mitchell during a full-team period, although the Colts quarterbacks rarely thew Starks’ way the rest of practice, a possible indicator of how sticky the 21-year-old was in coverage. Memory lane It’s tough seeing the Indianapolis Colts practice at The Castle in Owings Mills. For those of us old enough to remember, the new facility is only a few miles from the old one on Owings Mills Boulevard where the Colts left Baltimore on March 28, 1984. Some of us grew up watching quarterback Johnny Unitas and running back Lenny Moore near the tail end of their careers. We saw tight end John Mackey in his prime, but also the “Sack Pack” and colleagues such as former Colts linebacker Stan White and safety Bruce Laird. Quarterback Bert Jones and running back Lydell Mitchell had Pro Bowl seasons here. It still hurts seeing that old horseshoe and blue and white colors on a team from Indianapolis, even though former Ravens owner and the late Art Modell tried to purchase the name back before moving his Browns from Cleveland to Baltimore before the start of the 1996 season. Harbaugh likes to talk about history, but here is one lesson for him: In Week 12 of the 1998 season, his younger brother Jim completed 16 of 25 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns as the Ravens beat the Colts, 38-31, in Indianapolis’ first trip to Baltimore. Afterward, Jim presented the game ball to Unitas, who was standing on the sideline. It was a great gesture, and it doesn’t get any better than that for old Baltimore Colts fans. By the way, one of the people on the field Tuesday was Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who is football executive and co-owner and CEO of the Colts. She is the granddaughter of former Colts owner Robert Irsay and the eldest daughter of late Colts owner Jim Irsay. Rookie gem? Keep an eye on Ravens rookie fullback Lucas Scott, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound undrafted free agent from Army. This kid can play. If he does well in preseason games, he could make the team in some capacity, even on the developmental squad. He’s tough, plays extremely hard and looks a lot like current starting fullback Patrick Ricard. The assumption here is that Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken got a nice tip from his cousin, Jeff Monken, the coach at Army. Penalty problems The Ravens will probably have problems jumping offsides because of changes in the cadence for the rest of the preseason, but it’s not a big deal. Not yet, anyway. Harbaugh said before training camp started that they were working with Jackson on different variations of the cadence, and that always causes confusion, especially early in training camp. The Ravens had several high snaps Tuesday and it threw the timing off. Now, if the flags keep flowing once the regular season starts, then the Ravens have big problems. The alternative isn’t good, like going on the first sound or using hand motions. Those tricks are only good on the road, and for just an abbreviated period of time. Leaving a legacy The Ravens recently brought back defensive end Brent Urban, and he is the kind of player most fans root for. The 34-year-old played at the University of Virginia and was drafted in the fourth round by the Ravens in 2014. Urban hasn’t been a star player, but he’ll make a play occasionally, such as knocking down a pass with his long arms. Urban has 169 career tackles, including 10 sacks and 16 pass deflections. He played well against the Colts. His legacy to survive this long in the crazy world of the NFL is amazing. Plus, he is wearing No. 58, the old jersey of nose tackle Michael Pierce who retired at the end of last season. Another Ravens great once wore that number: outside linebacker Peter Boulware who finished with 70 sacks during his eight-year career in Baltimore and is in the team’s Ring of Honor. Traffic nightmare Here’s hoping that the Ravens and city officials make some modifications for fans traveling to M&T Bank Stadium during the regular season. Right now, traffic is a mess getting in and out of the facility and the roads on Russell Street are closed. In addition, there is currently construction going on at the stadium, so it’s a total mess, much like the parking situation over at the practice facility in Owings Mills. Related Articles Lamar Jackson, Ravens’ offense have up-and-down practice vs. Colts Ravens CB Nate Wiggins throws punch, ejected from joint practice vs. Colts Ravens take over marketing for premium areas at M&T Bank Stadium Meet the Ravens rookie who hopes to answer team’s punt return prayers Browns signing ex-Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, AP source says Familiar face One of the former Ravens who attended practice Tuesday was cornerback Chris McAlister, a first-round pick by the team in 1999. McAlister played for 11 seasons in the NFL, his last one in 2009 with the New Orleans Saints. He was part of the feared duo of cornerbacks on the record-setting 2000 defense as he teamed with Duane Starks, both of whom could play in press coverage. McAlister finished his career with 431 tackles, 137 pass deflections, 26 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns. He should be in the Ravens Ring of Honor, but the team has yet to give him that nod. Special teams signs Harbaugh has spent a lot of time lately working on special teams. In particular, he seems to be aligning the splits between offensive linemen in preparation for field goal attempts. The Ravens, though, could use a little help after scrimmaging the Colts. Indianapolis would have scored one touchdown on a kickoff return and came close to scoring another. The Ravens did score on a punt return with LaJohntay Wester as the specialist. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins was ejected from Tuesday’s joint practice in Owings Mills after throwing a punch at an Indianapolis Colts player during a fight between the teams. The altercation occurred during a punt drill, which Wiggins was not involved in. After pushing and shoving broke out between players following the play, the second-year cornerback sprinted in and punched Colts running back Tyler Goodson. Wiggins, 21, then walked inside the team facility, where he watched the rest of practice. Goodson was also ejected, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. Harbaugh said that the team was treating the practice like a game, which is why Wiggins was removed. Harbaugh said that he and Colts coach Shane Steichen agreed that brawls often happen during the special teams portions of practice. “It should be a learning opportunity for our team,” Harbaugh said. Colts safety Camryn Bynum agreed. “No matter what, you can’t get out of joint practice without a fight,” Bynum said. “That’s a staple of joint practice. Every time there’s a special-teams thing, it gets chippy. “That’s just the dog mindset. It’s one of those things. It’s all love.” The fight occurred early in practice on the far-left field of the Ravens’ facility. Defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike said that he did not see it but was eager to ask Wiggins, a 2024 first-round draft pick and rising star, what happened. “I heard Nate was slugging somebody or something, but it was crazy,” Madubuike said. “I might have to say something to him like, ‘Hey bro, did something happen I missed out on? I wanted to get into it.’” Fullback Patrick Ricard said Monday that it’s hard to avoid fights during joint practices. It’s often the first time that players face opponents other than their own teammates, and many are competing for roster spots. Both Harbaugh and Steichen did not seem too concerned about the fight. The teams engaged in a full-team brawl the last time they met up for a joint practice, Ricard said, and this one seemed to be limited to a smaller scale. Related Articles Lamar Jackson, Ravens’ offense have up-and-down practice vs. Colts Ravens observations: Practice vs. Colts shows much room for improvement Ravens take over marketing for premium areas at M&T Bank Stadium Meet the Ravens rookie who hopes to answer team’s punt return prayers Browns signing ex-Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, AP source says There were no other skirmishes for the rest of Tuesday’s practice. Both teams had an up-and-down day, with Ravens running back Derrick Henry saying that “we made some plays, they made some plays.” “I thought guys handled it well,” Steichen added. “You never want to see a fight. We always talk about that in meetings — we’re not fighting. Obviously, one skirmish broke out there, but I thought the guys handled it well. Everyone broke it up, and we went back to practice.” There is no practice Wednesday. The teams will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium for their first preseason game. 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 will take over marketing for all events in the exclusive areas and club level of M&T Bank Stadium under a new deal with the Maryland Stadium Authority. The move, approved by the Maryland Stadium Authority board of directors, shifts promotional duties from the state agency to the team, which already has dedicated staff, established corporate partnerships and brand assets to help sell premium spaces. “The team’s rationale for doing this is that there are new spaces on the surface level and the new clubs,” Michael J. Frenz, executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority, said at the group’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6. “Those are team-exclusive areas, so they control nongame-day catering there. We both agreed it didn’t make sense to bifurcate nongame-day catering between club-level events and other events.” Under the agreement, the financial arrangement will shift from a percentage-based system to a flat annual fee of $431,085 for fiscal 2025. That amount will rise 3% annually, a figure calculated by averaging 11 years of stadium revenues while excluding the lowest-performing years and the pandemic period. The change comes amid a major $489 million renovation of M&T Bank Stadium, which is scheduled for completion in 2026. The state earmarked $434 million in public funds for the project, but the Ravens will contribute an additional $55 million to cover cost overruns. The Maryland Stadium Authority will reimburse the team up to $35 million of that amount. Most of that funding comes from a 2022 state law authorizing the stadium authority to issue up to $1.2 billion in bonds for upgrades to M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards — $600 million for each facility. The Ravens became eligible for their share of those funds in January 2023 after agreeing to a lease extension that keeps them in Baltimore through at least 2037. In addition, Al Tyler, vice president of the Capital Projects Development Group at the Maryland Stadium Authority, confirmed that all historic portions of Pimlico Race Course might not be salvaged in light of recent demolition work. Notably, Stall 40 — traditionally reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner when horses arrive for the Preakness Stakes — was mostly eaten away by a termite infestation. The stall has housed some of racing’s most celebrated champions, including Triple Crown winners Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and American Pharoah (2015). The goal is to reconstruct the stall with the salvageable material. “We think we can save the front, which is what you see in the pictures with the green front with the gate,” Tyler said at Tuesday’s meeting. “The back wall seems to be in pretty good shape. For what reason — I’m not sure why — the termites don’t like to make a left on the way down the road. But the sidewalls are gone.” The Maryland Stadium Authority began structural demolition at Pimlico last month, starting with the barns and outbuildings along Winner Avenue. The work will clear the way for a major redevelopment of the site. The project is part of a $400 million plan approved by state lawmakers in 2024 under House Bill 1524. The legislation authorizes the authority to fund a complete overhaul of Pimlico in Baltimore and build a new training facility at Shamrock Farm in Carroll County. Preparations for demolition began shortly after the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes in May. During construction, racing and training operations will shift temporarily to Laurel Park. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

LaJohntay Wester is used to being the smallest and thus usually doubted. Long before the rookie was a sixth-round draft pick of the Ravens selected to be their answer to last season’s punt return woes, he spent his childhood in southwest Florida sandwiched between his bigger, taller football playing brothers John Jr. and Jaylen, both of whom played defense and often had their way with the diminutive middle child of John and Laquita Wester. “I didn’t really like contact growing up,” LaJohntay told The Baltimore Sun. “I wanted to score and dance, so I stayed on the offensive side.” It wasn’t always easy to do so in the Wester household, where the boys’ father wouldn’t return home from his day jobs as a personal trainer and massage therapist until around 11 p.m., walk in the door and immediately challenge his sons to race him out in the street. “The house was super competitive,” John Jr., a former 6-foot-2, 180-pound defensive back at Fayetteville State and Florida Atlantic told The Baltimore Sun. “LaJohntay probably had it the worst being the only offensive player.” Indeed. His other brother, Jaylen, who also played with the siblings at FAU, is currently a linebacker at Western Kentucky. “LaJohntay’s always been small,” John Jr. continued. “But having that extra oomph in his personality is what made him able to make crazy plays.” Still, when LaJohntay was a senior at Palmetto (Fla.) High School in 2019, a college recruiter in attendance for the Tigers’ game against nearby Largo told Wester’s coach, Dave Marino, that he wasn’t interested in talking to the undersized, unranked senior. So Marino promptly delivered the message to Wester before the game and Wester responded by returning a punt and kickoff each for a touchdown and added another score on a bubble screen in the 44-6 rout. “He was just electric,” Marino told The Sun, adding that Wester’s ability as a point guard in basketball through high school added to his spatial awareness. “Every time he had the ball in his hands, you were just waiting for something special to happen, even at that young age. But because he was undersized, he always had a chip on his shoulder like, ‘I’ll show you.’” Yet even then it took a bit of serendipity. With Bowling Green and Kansas among the few schools offering a scholarship to the 5-foot-9, 170-pound speedster who was even smaller back then, Marino, a onetime grad assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles who went on to a long and successful high school coaching career called his old friend Willie Taggart, who was from the same area and then in his first year as FAU’s coach. Marino pestered him to offer a scholarship to the receiver who in his senior season had returned seven kick and punt returns for touchdowns and tallied 758 receiving yards and eight more scores. Taggart obliged. In four seasons for the Owls, Wester racked up 2,703 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns on 252 catches. He also returned a punt for a touchdown, was named American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and was an AAC first-team selection at both receiver and special teams as a junior in 2023. Then came Colorado’s Big 12 opener against Baylor last season. Two seconds on the clock. Third-and-10 from the Baylor 44-yard line. Trailing by 7. As quarterback Shedeur Sanders scrambled left, he spotted Wester, who’d transferred to Boulder to play for coach Deion Sanders and increase his NFL exposure, and heaved the ball into the front left corner of the end zone. Wester broke free from his man and made a sliding grab between two defenders for the touchdown. Colorado won in overtime and Wester was on his way. “Deion knows Florida football,” Marino said. “He had no hesitation bringing an undersized guy into the Power 5 level of football coming from a mid-major.” Wester ended the season with 74 catches for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also averaged 12.2 yards per punt return, which included a 76-yard return for a touchdown against Utah. Along the way, he was finally able to switch jersey numbers, too, going from No. 10 to No. 1. “He wanted the No. 1 when he came here,” Sanders told reporters following the Buffaloes’ win over Cincinnati. “No. 1 ain’t something you acquire, it’s given to you. … He earned it.” Now, he hopes to earn something else: The starting job as Baltimore’s punt returner. Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, while undersized, has the speed and elusiveness needed to make an NFL roster as a rookie. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Finding a dependable option was among coach John Harbaugh’s draft wishes after the Ravens last season ranked 26th in total punt return yards, 16th in yards per return and struggled to find someone who could consistently catch the ball as they uneasily bounced between Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty and Steven Sims. So general manager Eric DeCosta used the 203rd overall pick on Wester, a player who of course Taggart, now the Ravens’ running backs coach, was intimately familiar with. “What stands out about him is really his returnability,” DeCosta said following the draft. “If you watch him, we think he’s a twitchy, explosive punt returner.” Through the first two-plus weeks of training camp, Wester has gotten only scant chances to show his stuff. He’s caught most but not every ball during kick and punt return drills but at least has looked comfortable fielding them. “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.” This week, he’ll finally get more opportunities to do so at full speed in a joint practice against the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday followed by the Ravens’ first preseason game on Thursday night against the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. Related Articles Browns signing ex-Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, AP source says Ravens observations: No Lamar Jackson on a light practice day From hospitalizations to pancake blocks, the Ravens love playing in pads Josh Tolentino: Embarking on a new chapter with a familiar passion | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Was the trade deadline a success for the Orioles? When he does, he hopes to channel one of his idols, Devin Hester, who he used to watch highlights of on YouTube and ESPN and then try to imitate. The only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a returner, Hester starred at the University of Miami before going on to set an NFL record with 19 career returns for touchdowns (14 punt, five kickoff) over 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. For now, though, Wester has a simple but effective philosophy he’ll lean on first when it comes to the return game. “Catch the ball,” he said. “Before you do anything, before you think about anything, catch the ball. If we make explosive plays off it, that’s a big plus. But the main objective is to just catch the ball.” Once he does, the rest should take care of itself. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns’ crowded quarterback competition will add one more because of injuries. The Browns are signing Tyler Huntley, a person close to the situation said Monday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. The Browns will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday to take part in joint workouts with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday and a preseason game Friday night. Huntley will become the the sixth quarterback on the Browns roster. Joe Flacco is in the lead to start the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, but faces competition from Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson is on the physically unable to perform list, but was listed fifth on the first depth chart released on Monday. Watson is expected to miss the entire season due to two Achilles injuries. However, the Browns are lacking healthy QBs at the moment. Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries while Sanders sat out the Aug. 2 practice due to a sore arm. Pickett and Gabriel participated in individual drills Monday, but are questionable to do any team drills the rest of the week. Coach Kevin Stefanski would like to have Flacco go in the joint practice but sit him out of the preseason game. Barring any other injuries, that would make Sanders and Huntley the quarterbacks for Friday night’s game. “Injuries are a part of this game. They’re frustrating from the standpoint of when you lose a guy for a good amount of time you feel, that’s tough on the players. But the dealing with injuries, adjusting because injuries, that’s just part of the game,” Stefanski said before Monday’s practice. Huntley was with the Browns during the preseason last year, completing 37 of 51 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 92.1 passer rating before being released. He signed with Baltimore’s practice squad before being claimed by the Miami Dolphins before Week 3. Huntley started five games for the Dolphins, including Week 17 at Cleveland when he was 22 of 26 for 225 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 20-3 victory. In five NFL seasons with Baltimore and Miami, Huntley has appeared in 25 games and made 14 starts. Related Articles Ravens observations: No Lamar Jackson on a light practice day From hospitalizations to pancake blocks, the Ravens love playing in pads Josh Tolentino: Embarking on a new chapter with a familiar passion | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Was the trade deadline a success for the Orioles? Ravens CB Nate Wiggins in Year 2 is ‘a totally different ballgame’ View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson did not practice on Monday for what the team called a pre-planned personal matter and excused absence. This was Jackson’s first missed practice of training camp. Without the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player or wide receiver Rashod Bateman and a scheduled day off for kicker Tyler Loop, Monday’s shortened practice proved to be vanilla. Dozens of young children repping Jackson’s No. 8 jersey searched across the Ravens’ practice field for him. “I see Lamar,” one yelled, only to be disappointed when he learned he’d be watching a Jackson-less practice. Howard County resident Patrick Campbell said his two children asked at least six times where the quarterback was. His 6-year-old son’s interest waned when Campbell told him Jackson wouldn’t be practicing today. Jonas Ritter, a 17-year-old from White Marsh, said, “I’m a little upset” about not seeing the starting quarterback. It’s “got to be disappointing for [children] to realize he’s not here.” Tight end Isaiah Likely (foot), running back Marcus Major Jr. (concussion), offensive tackle Emery Jones (shoulder) and cornerback Robert Longerbeam were all expected absences. Safety Kyle Hamilton appeared to come off the field early and was stretching his groin. He did not return, but a majority of the veterans enjoyed a lighter day. Wide receiver Xavier Guillory was pulled early, too, and did not return. Neither case appeared to be serious. Monday’s shell practice set up what should be a dramatic Tuesday. ‘It’s two games this week’ On Tuesday, the Ravens host their first of two joint practices. This one, against the Indianapolis Colts, is the opening act to the preseason opener Thursday night. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr said he’s telling his players, particularly the ones on the roster bubble, “it’s two games this week.” Orr was in that position during his playing days. So he’s using the buildup to Tuesday and Thursday to remind them that “no matter where you’re at in your career … every single time you step on that field, you’re fighting for your career. You’re getting evaluated and you got to think that way.” Tuesday’s practice should break up the monotony of camp, too. The Ravens have spent the past two weeks running plays against their teammates. This is finally a different colored jersey to hit. “It’s just fun to do something different,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. Sunday’s stadium practice was the first time in weeks that Monken didn’t wake up and go through his regular, strict routine, he said. Tuesday poses the first challenge for this iteration of his offense to test itself against new schemes and unfamiliar formations. And considering coach John Harbaugh said Sunday that no Ravens stars will be suiting up during the preseason, the joint practice means valuable reps for guys like Jackson, Derrick Henry, Roquan Smith and others. Monken equated the first joint practice to the first day of training camp. Guys are reenergized. In 2018, when these two teams shared a practice field, it led to a full-out brawl, spawning from two players throwing punches on a punt return. How hard is it to manage those tempers and avoid fighting? “I think it’s pretty hard,” veteran fullback Pat Ricard said. “We’re in training camp, especially guys who are fighting for their jobs, their livelihoods. … Hopefully that doesn’t happen again because it got crazy out there [in 2018].” Ravens quarterbacks Devin Leary, left, and Cooper Rush, pictured during the first day of training camp last month, took the snaps under center at practice on Monday with Lamar Jackson absent. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A pair of Rush highlights Without Jackson, backup quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Devin Leary split Monday’s practice reps. It wasn’t until the back half of the 90-minute session that Rush connected with Zay Flowers streaking upfield for a long touchdown, eliciting the afternoon’s first cheers. A few plays later, Rush made another throw from inside the red zone that Tylan Wallace corralled against the left corner of the end zone over cornerback Nate Wiggins. “I think [Rush] just gets it,” Monken said of what’s impressed him most about the new backup. “When I was in Tampa, we tried to get him there but we were pretty loaded at quarterback. You don’t make it as long as he has without understanding, one, what’s asked of you through your system and yet knowing your liabilities as a player. And I think he’s maximized that.” Related Articles From hospitalizations to pancake blocks, the Ravens love playing in pads Josh Tolentino: Embarking on a new chapter with a familiar passion | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Was the trade deadline a success for the Orioles? Ravens CB Nate Wiggins in Year 2 is ‘a totally different ballgame’ Ravens kicker Tyler Loop receives ‘A+++’ grade for first stadium practice Cornerback No. 3? Baltimore’s top two cornerback spots are all but locked up, with Marlon Humphrey and Wiggins. One of two new guys in the room could grab that No. 3 spot: Jaire Alexander or Chidobe Awuzie. Orr doesn’t see it that way. “Both of those guys know they’re gonna play,” Orr said. “You’re gonna see those guys out there at the same time. I think that’s a decision, if Coach [Harbaugh] and them wanna make it. I’m not really looking at it as a competition. Those guys are gonna play for us. I’m not looking at it as 1s or 2s.” Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Jane contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Odafe Oweh was a towering 6-foot-5, highly touted four-star recruit at Blair Academy in New Jersey. But the first time Oweh practiced in pads at Blair, he ended up in the hospital. The Ravens defensive end was sprinting upright during kickoff coverage, opening his chest and ribs to a potential target. A smaller player spotted the vulnerability and hit Oweh between his ribs. Oweh collapsed and he was hospitalized after practice. “After that, I was like, all right, I know what I’m doing now. Stay low,” Oweh said. “I’ll always remember that, even when I’m out here.” With the Ravens back in pads for training camp, The Baltimore Sun asked Ravens players and coaches about their favorite or first memory in pads. Some players, such as running back Derrick Henry, were prolific from the beginning of their careers, while others eventually grew into their frame. Fullback Patrick Ricard was an average size for most of his childhood, but blossomed into a strong athlete by his sophomore year of high school. During practices that season, he would de-cleat players and pancake them on running plays, earning a starting spot. “Actually being able to run full speed into someone,” Ricard said about his favorite part of putting pads on. “When you have pads on, [teammates] have pads on, so there are no excuses, you can leave no doubt on the field.” Wide receiver Tylan Wallace was a little more timid the first time he was tackled. As an 8-year-old, he was nervous to be hit. When he got hit hard, Wallace would “get in his feelings” and trot to the sideline in tears. Eventually, he embraced the physicality of the game and turned into a four-star recruit who starred at Oklahoma State. “Once you get that first hit, tackle in, and as a kid I was flying all over the place. After that, I was like, ‘Oh this isn’t bad at all,’” Wallace said. Training camps have changed over the years, as the allowable contact has scaled down to limit preseason injuries. Coach John Harbaugh remembers practicing twice a day during his playing career at Miami University in the 1980s. “You see guys walking in the cafeteria beforehand and you’re like ‘Oh, my God,’” Harbaugh said. “I remember bouncing off the running back one time, early on and being like ‘Wow, this is different.’” The Ravens are only allowed to practice in pads for three consecutive days during camp, according to the NFL Players Association rules. Practices are typically two hours long and can’t stretch past 3 hours, 30 minutes, according to guidelines. During the Ravens’ first week, temperatures rose into the upper 90s. Players were constantly cooling down on the sideline with water, misting fans and cold towels. Harbaugh said the weather helps the players’ condition for the season. Related Articles Ravens observations: No Lamar Jackson on a light practice day Josh Tolentino: Embarking on a new chapter with a familiar passion | COMMENTARY READER POLL: Was the trade deadline a success for the Orioles? Ravens CB Nate Wiggins in Year 2 is ‘a totally different ballgame’ Ravens kicker Tyler Loop receives ‘A+++’ grade for first stadium practice “Constantly got to cool the body down,” Wallace said. “Once you take the pads off, you feel like you can breathe all over again.” The challenge of camp comes with its reward. Veteran players will make an average of $3,500 per week during the 2025 training camp. Rookies make $2,000 per week. Training camp lasts until Aug. 27. The Ravens will have joint practices against the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday and the Washington Commanders on Aug. 21. In total, they’ll have 25 practices and three preseason games before making it to the regular season, when their work practicing in pads is put to the test. Ricard still recalls his first training camp as one of his favorite memories in the NFL. “Wearing an NFL jersey with my name on it, it was a surreal moment. Just everything you’ve been through to get here,” Ricard said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, right, blocks tight end Charlie Kolar during practice last Tuesday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ravens kicking battle took a turn Saturday. Baltimore released undrafted rookie free agent John Hoyland, leaving sixth-round rookie Tyler Loop as the lone kicker currently on its roster just two weeks into training camp. Coach John Harbaugh said after practice that the move was made for roster reasons. “We definitely weren’t planning on making a move,” he said. “We were planning on John being there for at least one [preseason] game, maybe two games, maybe all the games depending how it went. “We just had roster needs right now.” Among those needs were adding a pair of tight ends to account for the loss of Isaiah Likely, who is expected to miss at least the next six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot that he suffered earlier in the week. To fill the void, the Ravens signed Scotty Washington, 28, and former Kansas City Chiefs reserve Baylor Cupp, 25. In corresponding moves, the Ravens also brought back veteran defensive end Brent Urban, 34, and signed former Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson, 29, with undrafted rookie free agent Marcus Major Jr. dealing with a concussion. To make room for them, they also released tight end Sam Pitz and outside linebacker Diwun Black. As for Loop, Harbaugh said he has kicked well enough so far to win the job, though he stopped short of declaring him Baltimore’s starting kicker. Though Loop did not take any kicks during Saturday’s practice, Harbaugh said that he practiced at M&T Bank Stadium earlier in the day and made all of his attempts. Baltimore will have its annual stadium practice Sunday. “But as we know, it’s gonna be the games that mean the most,” Harbaugh said of Loop, the first kicker the organization used a draft pick on in its 30-year existence. The Ravens’ first preseason game is Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts in Baltimore. Up until Saturday, both kickers had performed similarly, with Loop converting 40 of 44 field goal attempts and Hoyland making 28 of 32, though Loop has looked more the part with a powerful leg. Related Articles Stock up, stock down: Which Ravens are making moves at training camp? Ravens observations: Lamar Jackson shows off; defense ‘not always fun’ After viral Ravens video, Michael Phelps says he’ll teach players to swim Odafe Oweh’s breakout Ravens season earned him his renaissance summer How Ravens backup QB Cooper Rush factors into Super Bowl chase | COMMENTARY “Tyler’s kicking the ball great,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said Thursday. “The ball sounds awesome coming off his foot. “We just have to find that consistency from the field that we’re practicing on early in practice, when we go over as a team, and we’re together, we are continuing to see the same swings and the same ‘foot the ball.’ Other than that, I think he’s doing a heck of a job.” Each had been competing to replace the embattled Justin Tucker, who was released by the Ravens earlier this offseason shortly before he was suspended 10 weeks by the NFL after facing sexual misconduct allegations from more than 15 massage therapists at Baltimore-area spas. Harbaugh had hoped to identify a replacement for Tucker by the third week of training camp or so. But with Hoyland’s release, that decision has likely been made, though Harbaugh didn’t rule out bringing back Hoyland if Loop struggles and if he’s still available. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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