ExtremeRavens

LANDOVER — The Ravens unveiled their game plan in case backup quarterback Cooper Rush has to play for starter Lamar Jackson. It wasn’t pretty, but effective. The plan also depends on the opponent just as much as the quarterback. If it’s Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes or Buffalo’s Josh Allen, then the Ravens might be in trouble because they’ll have to push the offense. But against most teams in the AFC, the Ravens would be competitive, and would probably win. Rush, 31, was signed by the Ravens in March to a two-year, $6.2 million deal worth up to $12.2 million. Against the Commanders on Saturday afternoon at Northwest Stadium, Rush completed all five of his passes for 59 yards and a 14-0 lead before being replaced by Devin Leary early in the second quarter of an eventual 30-3 win. Apparently, Ravens coach John Harbaugh had seen enough. Actually, we’ve all seen enough, and maybe the owners will finally decide to shorten the preseason to two games. But after three exhibitions and nearly four weeks of training camp practice, the Ravens’ game plan of featuring the No. 1 running game the past two years hasn’t changed. It will be Derrick Henry with plenty of carries, and then more Henry. There will be modest changes. Jackson can throw almost any pass required by a NFL quarterback except the deep comeback. With Rush in the lineup, the dynamics change. Not just because Jackson is a better runner and scrambler, but Rush’s arm isn’t as strong. So, what you got Saturday is most likely what you will get on game day if Jackson is sidelined. According to Harbaugh, Jackson is expected to practice Monday after suffering an apparent injury Wednesday. Rush, though, played well. He threw a lot of quick slants and hitches. On the Ravens’ opening 14-play, 70-yard scoring drive against the Commanders, they ran the ball 10 times. On their next seven-play, 57-yard scoring drive, which resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by D’Ernest Johnson, the Ravens got a little bold with a 22-yard completion over the middle to LaJohntay Wester off a play-action pass from Rush. You get the picture. The Ravens were pretty vanilla Saturday, but they won’t go far off course. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to practice ‘unless he doesn’t want to,’ Harbaugh jokes Risers and fallers: Ravens end preseason with 30-3 win over Commanders Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-3 win over Commanders in preseason finale The 6 Ravens with most at stake in preseason finale vs. Commanders Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down as training camp concludes? Without Jackson, there are no options or fake quarterback runs off the perimeter. There is no Jackson dart left, dart right, improvise and throw a touchdown pass. With Rush, he has to make throws and deliver the ball quickly. He has decent athleticism, but isn’t in Jackson’s class. Few are. But the Ravens have the playmakers who can complement Rush. Rashod Bateman is a good route runner. Fellow wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has good hands, as strong as any receiver in the league. The Ravens also have tight end Mark Andrews, who could become Rush’s go-to receiver just like he has been for Jackson. Everything, though, is predicated off the run. That’s where Henry and his supporting cast come in. The Ravens have a solid backup in Justice Hill, a third-down specialist whom Rush can throw safely to out of the backfield. They also have Keaton Mitchell, a good change-of-pace back for Henry. “I think things went well,” Rush said of his performance. “You always like those long drives that take eight or nine minutes. We were moving the ball on the ground. Those guys up front and our backs played very hard. We did a good job of operating and our center [Corey Bullock] always makes it easy with the pass protections. It’s a lot easier when you are operating the way we were.” Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush celebrates with running back Rasheen Ali during Saturday's preseason win over the Commanders. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.) It seemed kind of weird that the Ravens gave Rush or any backup quarterback that kind of money several months ago. After watching him perform in training camp, there were doubts. Early in organized team activities, he had no touch on the long ball. His timing was off, especially with the tight ends. There were times when Rush threw some of the strangest interceptions in practice and you wondered whether he could ever become the quality backup the Ravens wanted him to be. But offensive coordinator Todd Monken has shaped a game plan around Rush, who has played in 38 games since 2021 as the primary backup to Dallas’ Dak Prescott. Rush started 14 of those games and has a 9-5 record with a passer rating of 83.8. He isn’t Jackson, but he doesn’t have to be. Like most backups, he doesn’t have the arm strength to be a starter, but it’s not required in another offense. It’s all about design. He can win if needed. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected be ready for the regular season. Coach John Harbaugh said after Baltimore’s 30-3 win over the Washington Commanders in Saturday’s preseason finale that Jackson is expected to return to practice Monday after exiting Wednesday’s session early with an apparent injury. “Unless he doesn’t want to,” Harbaugh joked, eliciting laughter from the assembled media at Northwest Stadium in Landover. “He is Lamar.” Jackson was knocked down on a passing play during a full-team period against the scout team defense Wednesday and was helped up by left tackle Ronnie Stanley. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player stayed in for two more plays but looked to be flexing his wrist or throwing arm. He left the field with strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott and didn’t practice Thursday. Harbaugh said Thursday that Jackson got his foot stepped on, but that an X-ray revealed no damage. The coach said that he was relieved that Jackson avoided a major injury. “I was praying, and God came through,” he said. Jackson, who hasn’t played in the preseason since 2021, was on the sideline with his teammates in street clothes during Saturday’s final exhibition. He did not appear to be walking with any noticeable limp and was not wearing any protective gear. The Ravens will begin preparation in earnest next week for their Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the host Bills in a rematch of last season’s AFC divisional round clash won by Buffalo, 27-25. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens can win with Cooper Rush if necessary | COMMENTARY Risers and fallers: Ravens end preseason with 30-3 win over Commanders Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-3 win over Commanders in preseason finale The 6 Ravens with most at stake in preseason finale vs. Commanders Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down as training camp concludes? View the full article

LANDOVER — Preseason finales are largely about bubble players getting one final shot to impress coaches as they try to make the roster. And, of course, about teams escaping uninjured. On the latter front, the Ravens had two wide receivers, Dayton Wade and Xavier Guillory, both go down with shoulder injuries Saturday against the Commanders. On the former, much of Baltimore’s roster was likely already set, though there remains some intrigue over the precious final few spots. That intrigue was perhaps further fueled by undrafted rookie cornerback Keyon Martin, whose interception return for a touchdown late in the second half was one of a few highlights in Baltimore’s 30-3 blowout of Washington. Here’s a look at the biggest risers and fallers from the Ravens’ final preseason game: Risers Cooper Rush: It was a short but efficient day for the Ravens’ No. 2 quarterback. With Lamar Jackson in street clothes on the sideline and looking just fine after leaving practice early with an apparent injury Wednesday, his backup completed all five of his attempts for 59 yards. That included a nice deep out to rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester for 22 yards to the Commanders’ 7-yard line in the second quarter to set up Baltimore’s second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run from D’Ernest Johnson. Keyon Martin: For the second straight game, the undrafted rookie cornerback made a splash play. Last week, he recorded a safety when he raced in unblocked and dropped Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III in the end zone. Saturday, he read Sam Hartman’s throw to Luke McCaffrey before the ball was even out of the quarterback’s hand, broke on the out route and easily picked it off before racing 26 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Martin also dropped McCaffrey for a 2-yard loss in the first quarter, downed a punt from Jordan Stout at the 11 in the second and brought down running back Jeremy McNichols for a 4-yard loss. The Louisiana product wasn’t even initially signed by Baltimore and only was added after a tryout. But he might be one of several undrafted free agents to make the 53-man roster. Related Articles The 6 Ravens with most at stake in preseason finale vs. Commanders Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down as training camp concludes? Ravens first-year coach is ‘amazing instructor’ who came highly recommended Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses practice after injury scare: ‘He’s good’ Ravens observations: Undrafted rookie from Army might be future at fullback Reuben Lowery: It’s been a stanout summer for the undrafted free agent safety out of Tennessee-Chattanooga and it continued Saturday. In addition to leading Baltimore in tackles (seven), Lowery chased down Colson Yankoff midway through the second quarter to save a touchdown. The play went for 52 yards, but that wasn’t on Lowery, who raced downfield, caught and dragged down the 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end. It was all but a certainty that Lowery had already made the team in the minds of coaches, but he didn’t play like his spot was already secured. Trenton Simpson: Right behind Lowery in tackles was the inside linebacker, the only starter on either side of the ball to play Saturday. Simpson had six tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, two quarterback hits, one pass breakup and a forced fumble when he dropped Hartman with under a minute to go in the first half. Malik Hamm recovered and that set up a 52-yard field goal by Tyler Loop as time expired. Tyler Loop: The kicking job is already the rookie’s, and the sixth-round pick continued to justify coach John Harbaugh’s decision to name him Justin Tucker’s replacement. Loop converted all three of his field goal attempts, drilling a 46-yarder and the aforementioned 52-yarder before delivering his best one of the preseason. Early in the fourth quarter, he smoked a 61-yard try down the middle with plenty of room to spare. Fallers Devin Leary: It was another shaky outing for Baltimore’s No. 3 quarterback. First, the second-year passer had Anthony Miller for a second-quarter touchdown up the sideline after the receiver got behind safety Tyler Owens, but he threw the ball too far inside, allowing Owens to get back in position and break it up. On the next play, Leary’s egregious throw to Miller coming across the middle was high and behind him, hanging the veteran out to dry against his defender. Late in the third quarter, Leary aired it out for Miller again, but he was well-covered and the pass fell harmlessly to the ground. Preseason stats only go so far, but averaging 3.1 yards per attempt against third-stringers and guys who won’t have a job come Tuesday did not inspire. Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh watches from the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman (15) fumbles the ball during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (5) celebrates with his teammates during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin celebrates after intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown during the first half Saturday against the Commanders in Landover. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman (15) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Trenton Simpson (32) and inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan (40) as defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles (93) gets in on the play during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Devin Leary (13) throws over Washington Commanders safety Daryl Worley (29) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson watches from the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates after scoring during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore is unable to catch a pass as Baltimore Ravens cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr. (27) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh greets his team before a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a touchdown run during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Show Caption1 of 12Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Expand Teddye Buchanan: The rookie inside linebacker struggled again in pass coverage, continuing what has been an uneven preseason for the fourth-round pick. In particular, he seemed to be fooled on a few run-pass options or play-action passes and was often out of position as a result. He also whiffed on an open-field tackle of McCaffrey on an 11-yard completion in the second quarter. Bringing down any wide receiver in that situation is a tough task for a lot of linebackers, but he barely got a hand on him. T.J. Tampa Jr.: The second-year cornerback allowed the longest play of the game, choosing to try to blow up Yankoff on a completion in the middle of the field instead of simply tackling him. Not only did Yankoff not go down, but he rumbled 52 yards before being chased down by Lowery. The play led to Washington’s first points of the game, a 47-yard field goal. Later, Tampa was flagged for pass interference on Ja’Corey Brooks with under a minute to go in the first half. The flag gave Washington some life, but only for a moment with Hartman being strip-sacked by Simpson two plays later. Carson Vinson: The rookie tackle out of Alabama A&M is a project, so that has to be taken into consideration. But once again the 6-7, 320-pound fifth-round pick seemed to lack some power while getting the start at left tackle. Baltimore ran the ball well on its opening drive, with 12 of 14 plays coming on the ground before Rasheen Ali found the end zone off left tackle from 9 yards out, but Vinson continues to look like a long-term project. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 30-3 win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday afternoon at Northwest Stadium in Landover. Brian Wacker, reporter: The Ravens’ game plan was obvious from the start: Keep the clock running. Baltimore ran it on 12 of its first 14 plays and the game ended up finishing in under three hours. At this point, many of the roster decisions have been made, so it was a chance for a few players on the bubble to make one last push to make the roster. Unsurprisingly, undrafted rookie free agents Reuben Lowery and Keyon Martin continued to make plays, with Lowery saving a touchdown after a long gain by tight end Colson Yankoff and Martin providing a pick-six. Don’t be surprised if at least two undrafted rookies make Baltimore’s 53-man roster. Mike Preston, columnist: Eventually, the NFL will shorten the preseason from three games to two. It’s inevitable, and has already been discussed by league executives. The Ravens got very little out of this game except to find some special team performers, but at least some of the backups got a chance to play because they won’t see much playing time during the regular season. The Ravens also got to see a second strong performance by backup quarterback Cooper Rush, and kicker Tyler Loop showed he has the distance with a 61-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Now, it will be interesting to see how the first-team secondary has progressed under senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano. It’s time to start the regular season. It’s show time. Bring it on. Josh Tolentino, columnist: The Ravens closed out their preseason with contributions from a cast of depth players, underscoring the strength of a roster that’s already largely set heading into Week 1 at Buffalo. Rising undrafted safety Reuben Lowery led the team with seven tackles, while fellow rookie defensive back Keyon Martin provided the highlight of the afternoon with a pick-six on a pass from Washington backup quarterback Sam Hartman. Third-year linebacker Trenton Simpson, the lone projected defensive starter to suit up against the Commanders, was disruptive, helping force two takeaways that swung early momentum in Baltimore’s favor. Even with impressive outings from Lowery, Martin and other undrafted hopefuls, coach John Harbaugh has already indicated that the 53-man roster is essentially set ahead of Tuesday’s roster cut deadline. For the fringe players, Saturday offered more of a final audition for potential practice squad spots in Baltimore or elsewhere. The Ravens conclude the preseason unbeaten, a nice but ultimately meaningless footnote. Ultimately, all eyes remain on two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson. After leaving practice earlier in the week with seemingly a minor injury scare (X-rays on his foot came back negative), Jackson was back on the sideline Saturday, walking without a limp or protective gear. Sam Cohn, reporter: Finally, we can start thinking about the regular season! Meaningful football. The only thing standing in our way is Tuesday’s roster deadline and this game — which featured four forced turnovers by Baltimore’s defense — offered a bit more clarity on some of those looming choices. Undrafted free agent Reuben Lowery played early and often, and there’s a real chance the hybrid defensive back squeezes into a thin position group. Cornerback Keyon Martin, another UDFA, added a pick-six as he’s trying to break through the roster bubble. On the other hand, safety Beau Brade played sparingly and late in this one, implying a tougher route to the final 53. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens can win with Cooper Rush if necessary | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to practice ‘unless he doesn’t want to,’ Harbaugh jokes Risers and fallers: Ravens end preseason with 30-3 win over Commanders The 6 Ravens with most at stake in preseason finale vs. Commanders Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down as training camp concludes? Jay Higgins IV didn’t jump off the page Saturday like he did with a pair of takeaways the past two games. The inside linebacker’s path to the league more likely starts on Baltimore’s practice squad, but it’s not nothing to hear defensive coordinator Zach Orr say that the former Iowa star should have been drafted. Check back in three days. C.J. Doon, editor: If we learned anything from this game, it’s that the Ravens’ depth should be the envy of the league. Cooper Rush looked like the high-end backup quarterback he’s paid to be. Rasheen Ali might be the best fourth running back in the league. Reuben Lowery and Keyon Martin might have solidified their spots on the roster, and fellow undrafted rookies Jay Higgins IV and Chandler Martin are right behind them. Cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and T.J. Tampa Jr. look more than capable of filling in when called upon. Outside linebackers David Ojabo and Malik Hamm made splash plays to continue a competitive battle at pass rusher. Even an expected starter like weak-side linebacker Trenton Simpson looks ready to make a Year 3 leap. And how about Tyler Loop? If there were any lingering doubts about the rookie kicker being ready to step into the spotlight, he put those to rest with a 52-yard bomb to end the first half and an impressive 61-yarder in the fourth quarter. The sixth-round pick has missed just two of his 11 attempts this preseason (from 46 and 50 yards) while showing off his powerful leg throughout training camp. More than anything, the Ravens ended the preseason close to fully healthy. While it would have been nice to see some of the starters shake off some rust, the risk is almost never worth it. The roster looks as good as one can hope for entering a season with Super Bowl expectations. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after making a 61-yard field goal as guard Jared Penning (63) watches during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, right, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson talk following a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson (14) throws under pressure from Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Malik Hamm during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers watches from the sidelines during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh watches from the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman fumbles while being hit by Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson during Saturday's preseason finale in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (5) celebrates with his teammates during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin (38) celebrates after intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman (15) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Trenton Simpson (32) and inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan (40) as defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles (93) gets in on the play during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Devin Leary (13) throws over Washington Commanders safety Daryl Worley (29) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson watches from the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates after scoring during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore is unable to catch a pass as Baltimore Ravens cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr. (27) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh greets his team before a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a touchdown run during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Show Caption1 of 16Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after making a 61-yard field goal as guard Jared Penning (63) watches during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Expand View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has an appreciation for what it takes to beat the odds of not having his name called during the NFL draft and still making it in the league. Undrafted out of North Texas in 2014, he signed with Baltimore, racked up four tackles (including one for a loss) and a quarterback hit in the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers and went on to make the 53-man roster. He finished the season second on the team with seven special teams tackles and two years later won the job as the starting weak-side linebacker. Orr was also part of a unique group. In 20 of the past 21 years, an undrafted player has made the Ravens’ roster. That number figures to grow this year, with a handful of undrafted rookies pushing to add their name to the list. Saturday’s preseason finale against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium will therefore mark the last, best opportunity for those on the bubble of a roster loaded with talent and with few openings to make their case. “If you can be consistent, it’s going to equal production,” Orr said earlier this week. “It is really cool to see a lot of guys taking the consistent efforts they’ve put in practice [and] carrying it over to the games. Now they’ve started to make a name for themselves and put themselves in a really good position. So this week and then on Saturday [during] the game, [if] they keep that going, [there are] going to be a lot of guys that are going to make our team or make somebody else’s possibly.” With that in mind, here are the six Ravens with the most at stake with roster cuts coming Tuesday: Safety Beau Brade One of Baltimore’s undrafted rookie free agents who seems destined to make the team is safety and training camp darling Reuben Lowery, who has been around the ball all summer. If he does, he would join Kyle Hamilton, first-round rookie Malaki Starks and Sanoussi Kane. This is where roster dynamics and special teams could come into play. If Baltimore decides to go with five safeties, Brade, who has special teams experience, will be on the team. If there’s a desire to add to other positions, though, the former River Hill and University of Maryland standout is in jeopardy. The Ravens' Beau Brade gestures toward fellow safety Sanoussi Kane during practice. Both are competing for a spot on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Linebacker Jay Higgins IV If Lowery has been the most talked about undrafted rookie free agent, Higgins is a close second. In the Ravens’ first preseason game against the Colts, the former All-American out of Iowa made a leaping interception in the fourth quarter, then added a pass deflection. Last week against the Cowboys, he led the team with six tackles and strip-sacked quarterback Will Grier, resulting in a turnover. With inside linebacker Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Jake Hummel and fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan all expected to make the team, the question then becomes, does Baltimore decide to keep a fifth inside linebacker? It seems unlikely, but it also could be hard to stash Higgins on the practice squad given all the attention he’s gotten. Linebacker Chandler Martin See above. The Ravens aren’t keeping both Higgins and Martin on the roster, so only one of them has a chance to break through. Higgins figures to have the advantage, but Martin has impressed coaches. “I think he and Jay have both done a really good job,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They’ve learned the defense well and played well and have done well on special teams, so I am very happy. [Martin] is in the mix. He’s one of those guys in the mix, for sure.” Cornerback Keyon Martin Similar to Chandler Martin, Keyon Martin has perhaps been a bit overshadowed by his fellow defensive backfield mate, Lowery. The Ravens also like to have a lot of cornerbacks. Given the injury histories of Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, neither of whom has practiced of late, perhaps they will be inclined to keep as many as seven on the roster with Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Alexander, Awuzie, T.J. Tampa Jr. and Jalyn Armour-Davis all expected to be on the team. If they add another, Keyon Martin, who made a splash play with a sack on Dallas quarterback Joe Milton III for a safety last week, figures to be next in line. Another strong game this week could make it difficult for the Ravens to get the undrafted free agent to the practice squad. Related Articles Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down as training camp concludes? Ravens first-year coach is ‘amazing instructor’ who came highly recommended Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses practice after injury scare: ‘He’s good’ Ravens observations: Undrafted rookie from Army might be future at fullback Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits practice, but team says he’s ‘fine’ Defensive lineman C.J. Okoye At 6 feet 6 and 370 pounds, Okoye, the Nigerian-born lineman who didn’t even play college football, is a tantalizing prospect. Though he’s unlikely to make the roster with Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, John Jenkins and rookie Aeneas Peebles all ahead of him in the pecking order, he certainly has a shot at the practice squad. Even then, though, there is competition with veteran Brent Urban and C.J. Ravenell. One thing that could help, though, is the one international designation teams are allowed, which would bump the Ravens’ practice squad from 16 to 17 players. Running back Rasheen Ali Harbaugh said earlier in training camp that his plan was to keep four running backs. If that holds, Ali will be the fourth back behind Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell. But it’s also possible that the coach will be more interested in adding to another position with more need. Ali has looked good at times on kick returns, but will that be enough to chew up a roster spot? A strong performance against the Commanders could also land the 2024 fifth-round pick a job on another team’s 53-man roster. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens held the last of their 21 fully open training camp practices Thursday in Owings Mills. They’ll play their preseason finale Saturday against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium, then shift into regular-season mode. Next week, only the first 20 or so minutes of Baltimore’s three practices will be open to the media, the roster will be trimmed to 53 players on Tuesday and the final practice will be held Wednesday before players break until Sept. 1 and the first full week of the regular season. Here’s a look at whose stock has risen and fallen over the past week as the Ravens get set to play their final preseason game and turn toward games that count: Brian Wacker, reporter Stock up: WR Rashod Bateman. If there was a consistent standout through training camp, it was fifth-year wide receiver Rashod Bateman. There was nary a week that went by when he didn’t do something impressive. On Tuesday, he took an end around with tight end Mark Andrews leading the way and raced for a big gain. Later in the same practice, he easily got by cornerback Nate Wiggins and hauled in a pass on an in route. Even when quarterback Lamar Jackson wasn’t throwing to him, he stood out. That includes Thursday when, during a red zone 7-on-7 period, he shielded cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis before making a fingertip grab and getting both feet down in bounds on a pass from third-stringer Devin Leary. Bateman also had a smooth one-handed catch during a full-team period later in the same practice. Stock down: QB Cooper Rush. After throwing a pair of interceptions against the Cowboys last week — only one of which was the quarterback’s fault — the trend continued this week. On Monday, Rush was intercepted on a pass intended for receiver Malik Cunningham when safety Beau Brade jumped the hitch route and snagged the ball. A day later, Rush was again looking for Cunningham when he instead threw the ball directly to rookie outside linebacker Mike Green, who had dropped into coverage. And on Wednesday, Rush almost had another pass picked off when it was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Finally, he threw two more interceptions to wrap up the week Thursday, with the first coming on a nice play by undrafted rookie defensive back Reuben Lowery and the second a gift to undrafted rookie linebacker Chandler Martin. Some of the interceptions could be chalked up to a Ravens defense that has been intentional about being more aggressive, while others were more egregious. Still, it wasn’t a great final week of training camp for the backup quarterback. Related Articles The 6 Ravens with most at stake in preseason finale vs. Commanders Ravens first-year coach is ‘amazing instructor’ who came highly recommended Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses practice after injury scare: ‘He’s good’ Ravens observations: Undrafted rookie from Army might be future at fullback Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits practice, but team says he’s ‘fine’ Mike Preston, columnist Stock up: LB Jay Higgins IV. The undrafted rookie free agent from Iowa has a nose for the ball, regardless if it’s a run or pass. He seems to play with a lot of natural instincts. In pass defense, he gets really good drops and he can fill holes on running plays. It will be hard for the Ravens to keep him off either the 53-man roster or 16-man practice squad. He’ll be good on special teams with the ability to sniff out the ball. Stock down: WR LaJohntay Wester. The rookie sixth-round pick has been in a funk ever since the second preseason game against Dallas. In that contest, his route running was poor and he didn’t show enough as far as going back and fighting for the ball. His effort carried over earlier in the week when it appeared as though he was going through the motions again. He might make the team as a punt returner, but he has to show more promise as a receiver. Josh Tolentino, columnist Stock up: LB Jay Higgins IV. With less than a week until the NFL’s roster cut down deadline Tuesday, the undrafted linebacker out of Iowa has emerged as a legitimate 53-man roster contender. Higgins’ blend of instincts and playmaking continue to flash in practice and preseason games. He’s recorded key takeaways in each of Baltimore’s exhibitions so far, including a strip-sack of Cowboys backup quarterback Will Grier. He also led the team with six tackles in last week’s victory over Dallas. The Ravens have several undrafted rookies who’ve made their case this summer, and Higgins might be near the top of the list. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr offered his glowing review of Higgins on Thursday: “He’s really instinctive and has a high football IQ,” Orr said. “A lot of linebackers got moved to linebacker late in college. He’s been a linebacker basically his whole life. He understands how to read linemen, read pulls, understands zone drops, man drops and spacing in coverage. That’s underrated for the linebacker position.” Baltimore currently has three inside linebackers cemented atop the depth chart: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson and fourth-round draft pick Teddye Buchanan. If the Ravens opt to keep just four players at the position, Higgins might need to beat out special teams ace Jake Hummel. Stock down: OL Emery Jones Jr. Coach John Harbaugh revealed earlier in the week that Jones will not be ready for the start of the regular season. Since the Ravens took him with their third-highest selection in this year’s draft (Round 3, pick No. 91), Jones has yet to practice because of offseason shoulder surgery. Consider this as a step in the wrong direction after Harbaugh previously said that he expected Jones to return during training camp. Ahead of next week’s roster deadline, Jones, listed as a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive tackle, will remain on the non-football injury list, which will allow the Ravens to allocate his spot on the 53-man roster to another player until team doctors provide full clearance for his return. Jones, a two-time All-SEC selection at LSU, also will be forced to miss the team’s first four regular-season games against Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City. Given his expected late return to the field, it’s difficult imagining Jones making any type of significant contribution during his shortened rookie season. Ravens cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr., shown in June, stood out recently in his push for playing time in a talented secondary. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Sam Cohn, reporter Stock down: CB T.J. Tampa Jr. Tampa did something no Ravens defender has done all training camp: intercept three passes in two days. The second-year cornerback hasn’t had an especially flashy summer. After a rookie year marred by injury, he invested time and money into his body to arrive back in Owings Mills for a prove-it August that might land him a tangible role. It’s tough to stand out among such a talented secondary that starts five former first-round picks. But Tampa’s takeaways, all on throws from backup quarterback Cooper Rush over two Jackson-less practices, marks his best stretch. It’s an ever-depleted position group. Maybe this helps nudge his way into more first-team reps. Stock down: RB Keaton Mitchell. He was one of the offense’s first breakout players with an electrifying performance in the preseason opener after missing most of last season in the climb back from ACL surgery. Then he suffered a hamstring injury in that game that lingered through all of last week. This week, he has steadily worked back into full speed reps. But we haven’t seen any dazzling cuts in nearly two weeks, raising an eyebrow about the 23-year-old’s ability to stay healthy. It has been deemed a nonserious injury. Harbaugh said there’s a chance that Mitchell plays against Washington. If not, “he’ll be fine for the opener.” After that win in Dallas, Harbaugh also said that the team’s current plan was to take four running backs, implying Rasheen Ali could slip into the 53-man roster, presumably for sake of injury insurance in the backfield (if not to dangle Ali as a trade chip). We got a sneak peek at full-form Mitchell. We haven’t seen that since. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Tyler Santucci was in Northern Virginia on a home recruiting visit when his phone rang. Unless the caller ID reads “Spam Risk,” he’ll usually pick up. This unknown number happened to be Ravens coach John Harbaugh calling with a job offer. “I did not anticipate it, not one bit” said the first-year Ravens linebackers coach who was officially hired by Baltimore in early February. Santucci called his wife, Arielle, after he and Harbaugh hung up the phone. He pulled over to the side of the road so they could share a few proud tears. Santucci has had a winding ascendence here to his first NFL coaching gig, which has “been a long dream of mine to work with the best in the world.” Harbaugh said Santucci, 37, came “highly recommended.” That’s a credit to the young assistant’s coaching style and relationship building that yielded immediate success over several stops at the college level. Most recently, as Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2024, Santucci flipped the Yellow Jackets from the ocean floor of the Atlantic Coast Conference to one of the best in show. They went worst (437.1) to fourth (342.8) in the league in average yards allowed per game and took a huge jump in average rushing yards allowed (221.3 to 122.2) en route to the program’s first Associated Press Top 25 ranking in nearly a decade. In the same position at Duke in 2023, Santucci called plays for the 16th-best scoring defense (19.0 points allowed per game) in the country. That earned him a nomination for the Broyles Award, given annually to college football’s top assistant coach. Santucci wasn’t clear if there was one connection that led him to Baltimore. He guessed maybe Dave Clawson, who met Santucci at Wake Forest and has a good relationship with Harbaugh. Or Mike Elko, the former coach at Wake Forest and Duke who later took over Texas A&M. Santucci reportedly turned down several coaching opportunities at power conference programs this offseason before Harbaugh called. Baltimore brings Santucci as close to home as he’s been since he started coaching football — even if home is due north of his new division rival Pittsburgh. Harland Bower, the defensive ends coach at Duke who has known Santucci since their shared layover at Notre Dame in 2017, has had conversations over the years about his goal of reaching the NFL. Bower always saw those qualifications in how Santucci went about his business. “From the time that I’ve known him,” Bower told The Baltimore Sun, “he’s always been an elite level, smart, cerebral football coach. I think he’s grown into being able to — some guys are really smart and they can’t get what they know into their players’ heads — I think I’ve seen him grow in that aspect.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses practice after injury scare: ‘He’s good’ Ravens observations: Undrafted rookie from Army might be future at fullback Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits practice, but team says he’s ‘fine’ Inside Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley’s renaissance: Pilates, acupuncture, MMA Mike Preston: This Ravens DL learned the game through social media | COMMENTARY Santucci had a moment like that this summer with Trenton Simpson, the 23-year-old who was benched in Week 13 last year and is now being counted on as the projected starter at weak-side linebacker. “There was a little bit of an ‘ah-ha’ moment in the spring,” Santucci said. “It was the smallest thing.” He pointed out an adjustment in Simpson’s presnap stance. “Oh, I feel it,” Simpson told him. What’s impressed Santucci the most about Simpson, who enters Year 3 with a fire lit under his backside, is that everything that has come up in meeting rooms, the former Clemson star is taking to the practice field. Bower recently took a recruiting trip to Maryland and made time to visit Santucci. They talked a lot about the difference between college and the NFL, the most obvious discrepancy being the professionalism with which his players show up to the facility and get their work done. There will be plenty of eyeballs on Santucci’s first group, which collectively had a down year in 2024 and will be crucial to Baltimore’s Super Bowl aspirations. The centerpiece of the Ravens’ defense, All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, has been a sounding board for Santucci. As the rookie coach gets acclimated to the language of a Zach Orr defense, he’ll sometimes check with 28-year-old veteran before a meeting to say, “Hey, this is how I want to teach this. Does this make sense to you?” “I think he’s a really good teacher,” Smith said, “able to break things down for the guys and in the simplest terms and have your guys and technique, as well. That’s a big thing of his.” Tyler Santucci has been described as a "really good teacher" and "amazing instructor" by his players. (Kim Hairston/Staff) According to Smith, Teddye Buchanan has been one of the biggest beneficiaries in that regard. The rookie of the pack has already garnered enough trust that Santucci has Buchanan repping both inside linebacker positions, something only a couple guys in that room do. “‘Coach Tucc’ is an amazing instructor, amazing man,” said Buchanan, a fourth-round draft pick. “I know it’s his rookie year in the NFL as well, so getting to go through that together has been a really cool experience. I’ve learned a ton from him in a really short time.” Harbaugh said earlier this week that oftentimes players take on the personality of their positional coaches. They spend so much time together that they all start to act alike. By that logic, what’s to be expected from the inside linebackers? “Gritty. Tough. Pittsburgh,” Bower laughed. “I know fans don’t want to hear Pittsburgh, but that’s where he’s from. But he’s hard-nosed. He’s [got] energy. When he stands in front of a room and he speaks to them, everybody’s eyes are locked in and the energy that he brings has a gravitational force. “He’s juiced up and that’s fun to be around.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

A day after Lamar Jackson left Ravens practice early with an apparent injury, the star quarterback was absent from Thursday’s session in Owings Mills. Coach John Harbaugh said that Jackson got his foot stepped on Wednesday, but that an X-ray revealed no damage. “I’m sure it’s a little sore today, so we just kept him in,” Harbaugh said. “But he’s fine, he’s good.” Harbaugh said that he was relieved that Jackson avoided a major injury. “I was praying, and God came through,” he said. Jackson was not the only notable player missing from the final open practice of the week before Saturday’s preseason finale at Washington. Tight end Mark Andrews, wide receiver Zay Flowers, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and fullback Pat Ricard were also absent. Cornerback Jaire Alexander also did not practice, though he did do some running on a side field. Ricard has a “soft-tissue thing” and should be back next week, Harbaugh said. None of them were expected to play against the Commanders. As for Jackson, it is not immediately clear when he will be back. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player was knocked down on a passing play during a full-team period against the scout team defense Wednesday and was helped up by left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Jackson stayed in for two more plays, but looked to be flexing his wrist or throwing arm. He then left the field with strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott, though a team spokesperson said after practice that Jackson’s foot was stepped on and that the 28-year-old is “fine.” The Ravens open the season Sept. 7 in a divisional round playoff rematch against the host Buffalo Bills. Jackson has not missed a game because of injury since he suffered a knee injury in 2022. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens observations: Undrafted rookie from Army might be future at fullback Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits practice, but team says he’s ‘fine’ Inside Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley’s renaissance: Pilates, acupuncture, MMA Mike Preston: This Ravens DL learned the game through social media | COMMENTARY Ravens rookie nicknamed ‘Fub’ could take ‘hungry’ defensive line to another level View the full article

It’s been clearly noticeable within the past week of training camp, but the Ravens are having fewer false starts and presnap penalties. It was only a matter of time before the team became less penalized because the only thing a team can do is stay on pace with the cadence. “You can’t consider yourself an elite offense if you can’t change the cadence,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. Most of the penalties occurred early in training camp when the defense is usually way ahead of the offense. However, a potential injury to Lamar Jackson on Wednesday could throw off the timing if the star quarterback is forced to miss any practice time ahead of the Sept. 7 season opener against the Buffalo Bills. Fullback in waiting? The Ravens have the best fullback in the NFL in ninth-year player Patrick Ricard, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound former undrafted free agent from Maine. The Ravens have their fullback in waiting in Lucas Scott, a 6-3, 290-pound undrafted rookie from Army. And of course, Monken got a good and encouraging report on Scott from Black Knights coach Jeff Monken. “He has been great, just like my cousin said,” Todd Monken said. “He has been physical and picked up things in the backfield.” The Ravens might be able to stash Scott, a former offensive lineman, on the 16-player practice squad, but it’s hard to hide a player when there is a lot of film available, especially if that team has a good, strong running back. Injuries and attendance Despite recent injuries, the Ravens only had two players working on the far field away from the practices and scrimmages. Both were in full gear as wide receiver Dayton Wade, a second-year player out of Mississippi, ran some zig-zag sprints the length of the field and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy ran hills. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits practice, but team says he’s ‘fine’ Inside Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley’s renaissance: Pilates, acupuncture, MMA Mike Preston: This Ravens DL learned the game through social media | COMMENTARY Ravens rookie nicknamed ‘Fub’ could take ‘hungry’ defensive line to another level Ravens observations: Tavius Robinson gets a lesson from another No. 95 O-line intrigue One of the best things you notice about rookie center Corey Bullock is the way that he controls the offense on the field. During Saturday’s preseason game against Dallas, Bullock was in the face of the officials when the Ravens were in a hurry-up offense. The former Maryland lineman always seems in control when calling out and designating blocking assignments. It’s hard to see how he doesn’t make this team backing up starting center Tyler Linderbaum. Practice standouts Rookie receiver LaJohntay Wester made a strong catch while going up against three defenders for a 35-yard reception. In the immediate area were cornerbacks T.J. Tampa Jr. and Keyon Martin. Tampa, though, had a strong practice with two interceptions, including one he dove for when a pass by backup quarterback Cooper Rush was tipped at the line of scrimmage. That’ll leave a mark The best contact of the day belonged to cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and rookie safety Malaki Starks, who banged around receiver Anthony Miller after a short pass of about 5 yards. It was supposed to be light contact, but Armour-Davis and Starks knocked Miller around like a pinball. It was good that the referees blew a quick whistle. Miller, though, had a good practice, hauling in a long pass down the left sideline while beating Armour-Davis for about a 35-yard gain. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens suffered a scare Wednesday afternoon when quarterback Lamar Jackson left practice with an apparent injury a little more than halfway through the two-hour session. Jackson was knocked down on a passing play during a full-team period against the scout team defense, was helped up by left tackle Ronnie Stanley and stayed in for a few more plays, but appeared to be flexing his wrist or throwing arm. He then left the field with strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott at 2:25 p.m. A team spokesperson said after practice that Jackson’s foot was stepped on and that the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is “fine.” Coach John Harbaugh was not available to reporters. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said that he did not see what happened. Wide receiver Tylan Wallace, who also met with reporters after practice, said that he did not see what happened to Jackson either but added, “I was thinking he’s just probably resting his arm. … Obviously keep him in our prayers and everything, hope he’s doing great … but I’m sure Lamar being Lamar, he’ll be back sooner before we know it.” Before leaving, Jackson, who is entering his eighth season and coming off career highs in touchdown passes (41) and passing yards (4,172), had been having an up-and-down day, including missing on several short throws. He completed a long pass to rookie LaJohntay Wester after being knocked down, but his final pass of the day, to running back Keaton Mitchell in the flat, was well off target. Jackson has missed only one training camp practice, on Aug. 4 for pre-planned personal reasons. He has not played in the preseason since 2021, and Harbaugh said earlier this week he will not play in Baltimore’s preseason finale Saturday at the Washington Commanders. The Ravens have one more open practice scheduled for this week before Friday’s walk-through, followed by three more practices next week beginning on Monday. Baltimore opens its season Sept. 7 in a divisional round playoff rematch against the host Buffalo Bills. Jackson has not missed a game because of injury since he suffered a knee injury in 2022 during a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos. The injury kept him out for the remainder of the regular season as well as the Ravens’ wild-card game against the host Cincinnati Bengals. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens observations: Undrafted rookie from Army might be future at fullback Inside Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley’s renaissance: Pilates, acupuncture, MMA Mike Preston: This Ravens DL learned the game through social media | COMMENTARY Ravens rookie nicknamed ‘Fub’ could take ‘hungry’ defensive line to another level Ravens observations: Tavius Robinson gets a lesson from another No. 95 View the full article

The sound of losing, it’s usually silent. Inside the visiting locker room at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, this past January, though, frustration echoed thunderously through the cramped and dated space for one Ravens player in particular. While most solemnly dressed and quietly exited, left tackle Ronnie Stanley was still angry. So, as another painful playoff loss soaked in, this one by two points to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, he vented to quarterback Lamar Jackson about Baltimore overcomplicating things during the game one minute and not being able to get out of its own way the next. “That loss hurt as bad as any, yeah,” he told The Baltimore Sun in a recent interview. “To keep adding another one, it’s like again? You keep getting so close. In that moment, you’re just shattered. Having all these past instances doesn’t make it easier; it makes it harder.” That was only part of the motivation behind Stanley’s decision to eschew a likely more lucrative free agent offer from another team this past offseason and return for a 10th season with the Ravens, making him the longest-tenured player on the roster. Yes, the blindside protector of Baltimore’s $260 million face of the franchise considered exploring the riches of the open market, he told The Sun, and there was outside interest from at least a few teams, including the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders. The three-year, $60 million extension he signed in March was, well, also close enough. But he was acutely aware of what he has in staying with the organization that drafted him sixth overall out of Notre Dame in 2016 in terms of comfort and a talent-rich environment. There is “unfinished business” in the 2019 All-Pro’s eyes as well, and the 31-year-old appears to be having a late-career renaissance after a bounce-back 2024 in which he was selected to the Pro Bowl following years of injury-marred seasons, questions about his commitment and, in 2023, being rotated in and out of the lineup down the stretch of the season because of his poor play. “That was part of it,” he continued. “Also, the connection I have with my teammates, this city and this organization. I do have a ton of belief in our team and in our players, our whole organization. “We should be winning championships. That’s the standard that we have and we’ve come up short to that standard, but I still believe in us because I know how we work and what type of players we have.” The work Stanley put in during the offseason has continued through training camp. It’s notable. So far this summer, he hasn’t missed a practice — an anomaly for a player of his experience, age and what was once a proclivity for his share of veteran days off. Now, on almost any day after practice, he also stays on the field to spend extra time with younger, less experienced linemen, polishing their technique and working on communication, something he started doing midway through last season and said that he used to do in college. “I think it’s really good at the end of practice when your legs are really tired to get a couple technique-focused drills in,” Stanley said. “Being able to do it in a slow, controlled environment while you’re already that fatigued, it’s a good opportunity. You really can’t get it unless you’re that tired, so after practice is the perfect place.” Related Articles Mike Preston: This Ravens DL learned the game through social media | COMMENTARY Ravens rookie nicknamed ‘Fub’ could take ‘hungry’ defensive line to another level Ravens observations: Tavius Robinson gets a lesson from another No. 95 Ravens’ events partner at M&T Bank Stadium to offer access to new spaces How a 2 1/2-hour dinner led to Tyler Loop becoming Ravens’ kicker For an offensive line with three players (left guard Andrew Vorhees, right guard Daniel Faalele and right tackle Roger Rosengarten) with less than two years of NFL experience at their respective positions and an average age of just under 25, the sessions are invaluable as they are impactful. “He’s a tremendous player and an even better dude,” Vorhees said. “You guys don’t get the opportunity to spend as much time as we do, but Ronnie is an awesome dude. When you get the opportunity to play next to an All-Pro player, kind of makes your life a little easier at times.” Added Rosengarten: “Every piece of information I can get from him, I’ll take it.” Said general manager Eric DeCosta after re-signing Stanley: “He’s really grown into being one of the leaders of our team, and just looking out at the draft and free agency, we just didn’t really see a lot of guys that we felt were better than him.” Last season offered plenty of proof. Stanley allowed just two sacks, per Pro Football Focus. He also had a pass-block win rate — how often a lineman can sustain their blocks for 2.5 seconds or longer — of 92%, ranking him 11th among offensive tackles, per ESPN analytics. Few players on the Ravens’ historic offense mattered more. It wasn’t perfect, though. “We should be winning championships," Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. "That’s the standard that we have and we’ve come up short to that standard, but I still believe in us because I know how we work and what type of players we have.” (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Communication issues and penalties plagued Baltimore’s offensive line. In all, the Ravens’ O-line was flagged 45 times during the regular season, per nflpenalties.com, more than any other group on the team. Stanley was the biggest culprit, with 13 penalties (though three of those were part of a crackdown for illegal formation in the first game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs). Part of the problem, Stanley said, was all the moving parts within the group, particularly early in the year, with three new starters up front. This year, that group returns intact, with Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, 25, the next most experienced player after Stanley. Though penalties have reared their head at times during training camp, Stanley insists that things are more “stable” now and the unit is now “operating on a pretty high level at this point.” Time will tell. But it helps that Stanley came into training camp healthy this year for just the second time since 2019. To do so, he completely retooled his highly regimented routine, both during the offseason and within the plush confines of the Ravens’ training facility. “This year and last year my whole lifestyle revolved around my body,” he said. Stanley, who spends much of his offseason in Los Angeles, doled out for all sorts of bodywork, including extra gym sessions, pilates, acupuncture, sauna and cold tub treatments, swimming, foam rolling and a pair of Normatec boots, a type of pneumatic compression device used for recovery and rehabilitation that apply dynamic air pressure to the legs to promote circulation, reduce muscle soreness and aid in the removal of lactic acid. He also for the first time took part in a mixed martial arts program at Unbreakable, a gym in Hollywood, California, run by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. In doing so, Stanley said that he was able to get better at different techniques while focusing on certain muscle groups that are integral to blocking. And throughout training camp, his routine has included daily sauna, ice, stretching and foam rolling, followed by those Normatec sessions every night. “That helps me set up for a better next day instead of going home and waking up super sore,” he said. Most importantly, he believes that all of it will help keep him on the field and playing his best when the stakes are at their highest. “It’s just about sharpening up those little details, playing how you already play in those moments,” he said. “You don’t have to do anything more or anything else.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. To stay healthy, Ronnie Stanley's routine has included daily sauna, ice, stretching and foam rolling. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

As C.J. Okoye was about to be interviewed, a couple of his teammates talked about him becoming the next “Nigerian Nightmare.” But Okoye is close to fulfilling an American dream. He probably won’t make the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster, which will be set next Tuesday, but the team will probably put him on the 16-player practice squad for the 2025 season as he attempts to become one of the top run stoppers in the NFL. With size there is always potential, and Okoye (pronounced ah-KOY-ay) is 6 feet 6 and weighs 370 pounds. The 23-year-old is perhaps the biggest player on the roster, bigger than 341-pound nose guard Travis Jones and offensive guard Ben Cleveland, who weighs only a measly 355. Right guard Daniel Faalele, who has lost about about 20 pounds this offseason from his listed 6-8, 370-pound frame, is the only one who comes close. Okoye could have as strong a presence for the Ravens’ defense as other former star tackles such as Sam Adams, Haloti Ngata and the late Tony Siragusa. But that probably won’t happen this season. Despite his incredible size, Okoye is still a project because he never played college football. He might be a year or two away, but he is like a fast-moving train: He’s coming. “He’s really learning,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He is making good use of all that size, and he has come light-years.” Okoye is already a success story. A lot of players dream of playing in the NFL and don’t make it despite successful high school and college careers. Okoye was born in Agbogugu, Nigeria, and played mostly basketball and soccer while growing up. At one time, he hoped to earn a college scholarship to play basketball. He played center in the Nigerian big leagues until he was noticed and scouted by Ejike Ugboaja, a 2006 draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ugboaja and a friend of Okoye’s suggested that he should try out for the UpRise football camp hosted by Osi Umenyiora, a former NFL player and two-time Super Bowl champion as a defensive end with the New York Giants. Okoye reportedly struggled at the camp, but Umenyiora thought that he did well enough to take a shot on him and invited Okoye to the 2022 NFL African camp in Ghana. Related Articles Inside Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley’s renaissance: Pilates, acupuncture, MMA Ravens rookie nicknamed ‘Fub’ could take ‘hungry’ defensive line to another level Ravens observations: Tavius Robinson gets a lesson from another No. 95 Ravens’ events partner at M&T Bank Stadium to offer access to new spaces How a 2 1/2-hour dinner led to Tyler Loop becoming Ravens’ kicker Okoye eventually went through two more camps before being one of 13 players selected to the NFL’s International Pathway Program in 2023 and trained at the IMG Academy in Florida. After that, he was one of eight players to be allocated to a team, and he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in May 2023. He was waived in August that year, but later re-signed with the practice squad. He spent another season on the Chargers’ practice squad before he signed a reserve/future contract with the Ravens in January. “He is more of a nose guard, probably,” Harbaugh said. “I think he could play three-technique a little bit, or he can play over the guard. You talk about a head-up, two technique [player], but he’s really more of an A-gap player, probably. He is really learning how to come out of his hips and strike and shed, stay square in there and play the run. He’s gotten some push in pass rush.” Okoye, who started as an offensive lineman before switching to the defensive side, is still young in terms of learning the game. “The truth is, I started learning from YouTube until I came out here,” a smiling Okoye said. “I didn’t know most of the things I was doing. International Pathway, that’s when I started learning. All the pass rushing stuff I learned on Instagram.” Okoye has always been big and tall, which is why he played basketball and hung around his older brother’s friends. There was something about football that jazzed him, something he swears that made him run to the sport. “I’m still learning how to play because I'm still new in this game, so I'm playing catch-up,” Ravens defensive lineman C.J. Okoye said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Here in Baltimore, he has noticed the difference in the hot, humid conditions, which he says will prepare him for games but also improve his work ethic. It’s stronger with the Ravens than with the Chargers, even though John’s younger brother, Jim, is the coach in Los Angeles. “I didn’t know I was going to get signed by the Ravens, or anywhere else,” Okoye said. “I was just hoping to get a chance to play this game I love. So when my agent told me the Ravens wanted to sign me, I came running because I know they are the best organization in the league. “It’s a blessing in disguise because now I know if you can play here in this weather, you can whoop anybody’s [butt] anywhere. If you love working, there’s a place for you, and you work here. If you don’t like working, you’re going to be exposed.” It’s easy to see Okoye’s energy. He is always one of the first on the field, usually doing some extra pounding on the sled. The only player who might hit it harder is Jones, the 2022 third-round pick, but both deliver fierce, steel-rattling blows. In the Ravens’ preseason opener against Indianapolis, Okoye had three tackles and a quarterback hit. On Saturday against Dallas, he had only one tackle, but that’s not the main focus of a nose guard. They need to stay square, keep their pads down, take on double teams and not relinquish any ground in the middle. Mission accomplished. “I’m still learning how to play because I’m still new in this game, so I’m playing catch-up,” Okoye said. “I feel like I need to clear my head and learn the proper way to play the physical and mental part of the game. That’s why I talk to my coach, and he tells me what I need to improve on.” C.J. Okoye is always one of the first on the field, usually doing some extra pounding on the sled. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Okoye has also had to learn a new culture. He said that Nigerians never look people in the eyes and always look away. In America, it’s different, a sign of being straightforward and honest. There was also getting used to new foods. Nigerians love jollof rice, suya, egusi soup and pounded yams. Okoye has fallen in love with steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and chicken and waffles. He also misses his family back home in Nigeria. But Okoye has plans. If the Ravens go to the Super Bowl in San Francisco, he plans on flying them to the game. But he has to make the team first. “I felt like everything was pouring out to me at once,” Okoye said. “I needed to learn how to talk to people, I needed to learn about the culture, the food, learn people’s names and how to play this game. There was a lot to listen to and make adjustments. “But if all goes well, and I pray to God that it does, I’m planning on having them come over and watch when we go to the Super Bowl. I don’t know anything about making the roster, I’m just hoping and praying to God.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

During a live drill session near the end of Tuesday’s practice, Aeneas “Fub” Peebles broke through the middle of the Ravens’ starting offensive line with little to no trouble. The sixth-round rookie emerged face-to-face with Lamar Jackson before slamming on the brakes, avoiding any contact with the prized quarterback on a play that would have otherwise been a surefire sack. Even Jackson felt obligated to high-five Peebles for the effort. Peebles downplayed what was his best rep of the afternoon, saying, “I guess it’s what I feel like I’m supposed to be doing.” In truth, the 289-pound interior defensive linemen standing a touch over 6 feet has outperformed the expectations placed on him as an unconventional, undersized Ravens interior defensive lineman. It has all but earned him the fifth roster spot in that room. “I think he’s a really good player. We all do,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s gonna be out there, so he’s gonna have to do it.” Through two preseason games, Pro Football Focus ranked Peebles as the 13th-best interior defensive lineman. That list, of course, excludes most stars and starters. Among the reserves fighting for relevance in games that matter less, Peebles jumped off the page. He’s earned a B- grade, per PFF, on 60 total snaps, the most of any Ravens at his position between games against the Colts and Cowboys. “Fub is one of the most explosive defensive linemen I’ve ever coached or evaluated on tape,” defensive line coach Dennis Johnson said. Defensive lineman Broderick Washington threw out another superlative: “Baller energy.” Pass rush coach Chuck Smith recently called Peebles, “lightning quick.” Peebles has said he didn’t realize until the predraft process that advanced scouts’ biggest knock was that, coming out of Virginia Tech, he could rush the passer but that he didn’t have the size to plug the middle in run defense. Related Articles Ravens observations: Tavius Robinson gets a lesson from another No. 95 Ravens’ events partner at M&T Bank Stadium to offer access to new spaces How a 2 1/2-hour dinner led to Tyler Loop becoming Ravens’ kicker Ravens observations: Injury updates on Emery Jones, Adisa Isaac; defense creating turnovers Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Browns naming Flacco starting QB: ‘Joe can sling it’ Baltimore takes pride in its run defense. That group ranked first in the NFL last year, allowing 1,361 yards on the ground. So when the Ravens lost in the AFC divisional round, cut up by Buffalo’s ground game, “It sucked,” the veteran Washington said. “It was bad.” Some were surprised when the Ravens — a team with a reputation of prioritizing big bodies on the defensive line — went after an undersized player on Day 3 of the draft. Not being the “typical Ravens D-lineman” built a chip on Peebles’ shoulder. “Me and him will be off talking,” Washington said, “and he’ll be like, ‘I can’t wait to show folks I can play the run. I’m more than just a pass rusher.’ And he’s chasing it. He’s in the weight room with me, [Travis Jones] and other guys trying to get stronger.” That whole group wants to arrive at Week 1 with a similar mentality. Jones spent most of 2024 hampered by a high ankle sprain that reeled him in from one of the best stretches of his career. Washington thinks “he’s gonna put it all together this year and, if he stays healthy, he’s gonna be the best nose tackle in the game.” Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike are the most competitive duo in that room. Leaning into the trenches analogy, Johnson said they’re like “brothers in arms.” He called C.J. Okoye one of the biggest surprises in camp. Jayson Jones has turned some heads, too. And Peebles is the standout who played his way onto the roster. “[Aeneas Peebles] is one of the most explosive defensive linemen I’ve ever coached or evaluated on tape,” Ravens defensive line coach Dennis Johnson said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)“I think we got a lot of guys that are hungry,” Washington said, “whether it’s for a job or a championship. I think we got a group that’s hungry.” Much of this stems outward from the head of the snake, which is Johnson, now entering Year 2 in Baltimore. Harbaugh described him as someone who brings high energy to the practice field, lunch, dinner, every meeting room and probably when he’s by himself, too. There’s a good mix of yelling and maniacal study to best prepare his players. Harbaugh said that on the defensive line particularly, players will reflect the personality of their coach. It’s chaotic in the trenches, and Johnson sets the tone. “I heard Fub say this the other day,” Washington said. “He was like, in the back of his head, he could hear Dennis yelling at him, telling him to run to the ball. [Johnson] is a technician, and he’s on every little detail.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Former Ravens outside linebacker Jarret Johnson visited practice Tuesday, and of course he will always be a fan favorite after decking Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward in a 2011 game at M&T Bank Stadium. He took Ward completely out to the enthusiasm of a packed stadium, and it was even better because Ward had cheap-shotted so many Ravens players in previous years. I can’t lie. It was pretty cool to see. With one hit, Johnson became a part of Baltimore football history. That history isn’t lost on Baltimore’s current No. 95, Tavius Robinson, who not only is wearing the same number that Johnson did for the Ravens but is intimately familiar with the the former fourth-round draft pick out of Alabama who spent nine hard-nosed seasons in Baltimore from 2003 to 2011. “I’ve watched,” Robinson, 26, said last week when asked if he’s seen tape of the old No. 95. “I’ve watched as many podcasts — as many everything that he’s been on — just trying to tap into his mental [approach] a little bit and his highlights as well, because he was a guy that maybe didn’t get all the credit that he deserved — sack-wise and pass-wise — but he was a dominant run defender, dominant physical gritty player. So yes, I’ve done a couple of deep dives on him and gone through his career here.” After Tuesday’s practice, Johnson, now 44, made his way onto the field and did some work with Robinson. The two also planned to watch tape together. “We welcome all the old players back,” coach John Harbaugh said. “The tradition, the standard that they set, of excellence is something that our guys respect and strive for. They even wanna raise the bar.” So, who’s better? “Well,” Harbaugh said. “We’re gonna find out.” Bills prep already underway As soon as the 2025 NFL schedule was announced, the Ravens probably started slowly preparing for Buffalo. The Bills host the Ravens on Sept. 7 in the regular-season opener on “Sunday Night Football” after Buffalo knocked Baltimore out of the playoffs last season, 27-25, in the divisional round. Harbaugh said that the team is focused on preparing for the preseason finale against the Washington Commanders on Saturday as well as the season opener against the Bills two weeks later. “We do want to go down there and play,” Harbaugh said of facing Washington. “Guys are fighting for jobs and for opportunities. And also, guys who we know are going to make the team will be playing in that game, too, to get themselves ready for what’s next and to gain experience. But then also, we’ll be practicing for the start of the regular season, too.” Rush takes a step back In one of the worst interceptions of training camp, backup quarterback Cooper Rush was picked off by rookie outside linebacker Mike Green with about 32 minutes remaining in the two-hour practice. The worst part is that Green might have scored if it was a real game. To make matters worse, not even Rush could explain why he just tossed the ball out to the left flat where there was no receiver in the area. Just when Rush seemed to make progress last week against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, he throws possibly the worst pick of training camp. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gestures for a ball during practice. He once again showed off his skill in the open field. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Lamar Jackson highlights One of the best things about watching quarterback Lamar Jackson in practice is that he never stops with the razzle-dazzle moves. He ran an option play to the left, cut inside, and then pulled off about two or three fakes, complete with head moves, and still kept motoring down the field. It’s amazing to try to think about what is going through his head in the open field. He never stops moving. Best hit The best hit of the day belonged to guard Jared Penning, an undrafted rookie out of Northern Iowa. Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan blitzed on the left side and was struck by Penning in the guard/tackle hole. It made a nasty thud and Buchanan had to leave for a few plays because he seemed to have a “stinger” on his shoulder. Regardless, the hit was vicious. Buchanan, though, did return a couple of plays later. Preseason finale plans The routine appears to be set for the third and final preseason game. The Ravens are expected to start Rush for a half followed by second-year player Devin Leary in the final two quarters. Starters aren’t expected to play again, but Harbaugh did say that the final 53-man roster, due by 4 p.m. Tuesday, had not been set. He left open the possibility that the Ravens could keep as many as 10 offensive linemen, even though nine would be more preferable. Kyle Hamilton returns Safety Kyle Hamiton participated for the first time since before the Colts visited Owings Mills for a joint practice nearly two weeks ago. Hamilton appeared sluggish and tight during the early part of practice, but more limber after warming up. He didn’t move well in one-on-ones earlier in the day but got around well in the final team periods. Wide receiver Zay Flowers is often the most animated player during practices. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Receivers check Second-year receiver Devontez Walker has played well throughout organized team activities and training camp and seems to have added another piece to becoming a complete receiver. During one-on-ones, Walker has developed a good push-off move and gained separation twice against cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr. One receiver who seems to be stuck in the gloom department is rookie LaJohntay Wester. He played a poor game Saturday against Dallas and had several opportunities to make catches Tuesday but showed a lack of effort. Memo to Wester: This isn’t Colorado young lad, time to step up or step back. Speaking of one-on-ones, Rashod Bateman might be the best route runner of any of the receivers. The outside juke he put on cornerback Nate Wiggins before running a slant was devastating. I can only say to Wiggins: “Nate, he went that way.” Related Articles Ravens rookie nicknamed ‘Fub’ could take ‘hungry’ defensive line to another level Ravens’ events partner at M&T Bank Stadium to offer access to new spaces How a 2 1/2-hour dinner led to Tyler Loop becoming Ravens’ kicker Ravens observations: Injury updates on Emery Jones, Adisa Isaac; defense creating turnovers Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Browns naming Flacco starting QB: ‘Joe can sling it’ Zay Flowers’ moves The most animated player during practices, particularly early, is slot receiver Zay Flowers. He has one of the toughest stretching routines around, but he also can bust a couple of dance moves. Injuries and attendance There were two notable returns Tuesday with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis both back at practice, though Hopkins ended up leaving early. Others who didn’t practice included cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, fullback Pat Ricard, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and wide receiver Dayton Wade. Van Noy and Wade were in workout clothes, though, and did some light running on another field. Outside linebacker Malik Hamm also left practice early. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh talks following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Jarret Johnson, a former outside linebacker with the Ravens, speaks with center Nick Samac after Tuesday's practice in Owings Mills. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh smiles following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)From left, Baltimore Ravens guard Daniel Faalele, Corey Bullock and center Nick Samac walk with the rest of the offensive line following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Facing camera, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh embraces Dick Cass, president emeritus following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews stands following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Members of the Baltimore Ravens offensive line walk together following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Wide receiver Zay Flowers is often the most animated player during practices. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Dick Cass, Baltimore Ravens president emeritus stands following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Dick Cass, Baltimore Ravens president emeritus talks with head football coach John Harbaugh following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop stands following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks hits practice gear while eyeing Thomas Graham Jr. to engage the cornerback during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson waves his arms to piped in music as Devin Leary, left and Cooper Rush jog to begin passing to receivers during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller catches a pass during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jake Hummel stops a wide throw during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Jay Higgins IV catches a pass during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Dennis Johnson watches outside linebacker David Ojabo hit the pads during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr. lunges during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight ends coach George Godsey listens to wide receiver Zay Flowers during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks with quarterbacks coach Tee Martin during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gestures for a ball during practice. He once again showed off his skill in the open field. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)A slow shutter speed captures movement of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman who runs a pass route during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin watches quarterback Lamar Jackson pass during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Movement from a slow shutter speed captures Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews who runs a route during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Dennis Johnson talks with defensive lineman John Jenkins during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman C.J. Ravenell stretches during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout holds a football during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins practices with the help of defensive backs coach Donald D’Alesio during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr., right leans in to huddle with the defensive line during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr. dons his helmet during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Dennis Johnson emerges during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr. during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles hits the pads during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews sprints in front of the offensive line during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles kneels near John Jenkins during practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 36Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh talks following practice at Baltimore’s training facility for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders, with a number of players fighting for a position on the roster. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand View the full article

A private events group has been developed in partnership with the Ravens to be the exclusive partner for non-gameday event services at M&T Bank Stadium. As the private events arm of the Ravens, Relentless Events will oversee more than a dozen venues at the stadium, ranging from private suites to large-scale spaces capable of hosting thousands of guests. The organization promises to bring the energy and precision of Ravens gameday to everything from weddings and galas to corporate functions and concerts. “Our mission at Relentless Events is to deliver bold, dynamic and unforgettable experiences for our clients and their guests that mirror the energy of Ravens gameday,” Kimone Kocica, director of private events, said in a statement last week. The announcement follows an agreement between the Ravens and the Maryland Stadium Authority that gave the team control of marketing for exclusive areas and club-level spaces at M&T Bank Stadium. Approved earlier this month by the authority’s board, the deal shifts promotional responsibilities from the state to the team, which already manages corporate partnerships and premium branding. Under the agreement, the stadium authority will accept a flat annual fee of $431,085 for fiscal year 2025 from the Ravens, as opposed to a percentage-based system for event revenue in years past. The flat fee will rise 3% annually, a figure calculated by averaging 11 years of stadium revenues while excluding the lowest-performing years and the coronavirus pandemic period. 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. As the stadium’s private events arm, Relentless Events is offering clients access to spaces such as: The Raven, a field-level club inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s classic poem. Champions Club, which highlights team history with high-end food and beverage services. The Trust, which features a lounge modeled after early 20th-century Baltimore banks. Caesars Sportsbook Club, which can accommodate up to 8,000 guests. Miller Lite Gatehouse & Roof Deck, a dual-level venue with skyline views. Locker Room, an event space within the Ravens’ gameday locker room for up to 200 guests. Private and party suites, offering stadium views and amenities. Blackwing, presented by Sagamore Rye, a speakeasy-style venue, and the stadium’s playing field, which can host up to 4,000 guests. The Ravens’ senior vice president of stadium operations and guest experience, Rich Tamayo, said the goal is to extend the franchise’s brand into the events business. “This is more than a venue; it’s a platform for extraordinary experiences,” Tamayo said in the statement. Relentless Events will operate year-round, offering private access to the stadium’s spaces when the Ravens are not playing. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh joked on Monday that he finally decided rookie Tyler Loop would be the team’s starting kicker this season when he was asked about it following Saturday night’s preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys. In earnest, Baltimore knew months earlier after a 2 1/2-hour dinner at a Tucson, Arizona, restaurant that included an endless supply of Pepsi and a few tables being rearranged. That’s when Loop convinced senior special teams coach and soda junkie Randy Brown, who took three different west coast trips to meet with the Arizona standout, that he was the right man for the job. “He explained to me his process and it was intricate,” Brown said Monday, speaking with reporters for the first time since Baltimore used a sixth-round pick in April on Loop, the first kicker in the organization’s 30-year history to be drafted. Among the things that Brown — who is entering his 18th season with the Ravens and has worked with Justin Tucker, Billy Cundiff and Matt Stover, among others — was looking for was someone that has a strong leg, is tough mentally and kicks a straight ball. He also wanted to know the specifics of Loop’s process, from how he practices to how many kicks he tries a day to his lifting schedule to his sleeping and eating schedule, as well as his routine on game days. In more detail, he also needed to hear how Loop sees his target, how far back he stands and how many inches his plant foot is from the football. Small details matter significantly, especially with NFL footballs also being different than college footballs. In the NCAA, balls are between 10 1/2 and 11 1/2 inches long with a long circumference of 27.75 inches and short circumference of 20.75. NFL footballs are between 11 and 11 1/4 inches with a long circumference of 28 to 28 1/2 inches and a short circumference of 21 to 21 1/4 inches. That means each has a different sweet spot, different swing plane and different spot to plant. “There’s a spot on the football where you have to kick ball and he knew exactly where that spot was on your foot, and you do it by which lace you want to hit the football on,” Brown said. “The process is, ‘How am I gonna make sure that that spot on my foot hits one inch below the middle of the football, which is our sweet spot, depending on the different size of the football?'” There were other complications to navigate as well. Tucker, a Ravens legend and the most accurate kicker in NFL history, was being investigated by the NFL over allegations of sexual misconduct from more than 15 massage therapists from Baltimore-area spas and still on the team. Nine days after selecting Loop, however, Baltimore released Tucker, who was later suspended 10 weeks by the league for violating its personal conduct policy. A lengthy dinner convinced Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown that then-Arizona Wildcat Tyler Loop was the right kicker for the Ravens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens had also signed undrafted rookie free agent John Hoyland to compete with Loop. In one late July practice early in training camp, Hoyland converted on all nine of his field goal attempts. With Brown alternating kickers each day at that point, Loop showed up the next morning thinking he’d better not miss. He didn’t, converting all 10 of his tries, including ones from 63, 65 and 68 yards during individual work on a far field. Shortly after on Aug. 2, the Ravens cut Hoyland, leaving Loop as the lone kicker on the roster. The next day, Loop drilled a 60-yard field goal during a practice at M&T Bank Stadium, further solidifying his grip on the position. All the while, he continued to refine his technique. Related Articles Ravens observations: Injury updates on Emery Jones, Adisa Isaac; defense creating turnovers Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Browns naming Flacco starting QB: ‘Joe can sling it’ Joe Flacco named Browns starting QB for Week 1 READER POLL: Are the Orioles must-watch TV with Basallo and Beavers? Ravens 53-man roster projection: Tough decisions await at safety, OL The way Loop planted his foot, how he swung his leg and where he struck the all ball needed work. In the desert climate of Arizona, his apex was also towering — a trajectory that wouldn’t work so hot in AFC North cities Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati. There was a new battery to get in sync with as well between long snapper Nick Moore — whom Brown dubbed the Lamar Jackson of NFL long snappers — and his holder, punter Jordan Stout. That was a precise process, too, with a need for the ball to be placed “on a dime” and with the correct amount of “lean,” all in the 1.33 seconds between the snap and Loop’s right foot meeting leather. And despite what Brown said is “elite” leg strength, Ravens coaches needed to see Loop perform in a game to see how well he could put it all together. In Baltimore’s preseason opener at home earlier this month against the Indianapolis Colts, he made 1 of 2 field goal tries, knocking in a 52-yarder and missing from 46. Saturday against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, he was even more impressive, making 5 of 6 kicks, including ones from 53 and 51 with his lone miss from 50. Harbaugh had seen enough. “I thought he passed [the latest test] with flying colors,” he said Monday. “He’s earned it.” Loop had also emerged. In the beginning, Brown eyed about 10 college kickers. From there, he narrowed it to around a half-dozen before further whittling his list to two he thought were capable of being excellent outdoors. He also talked to Loop’s parents and coaches and watched game tape to figure out if he had the right process to hold up in pressure situations. “Too many kickers just look at the uprights, like, ‘I just gotta make it, somehow I just gotta make it,'” Brown said. “When you talk to a guy, you can tell. You can tell who’s a little flaky and who’s dialed in.” So after that lengthy dinner in Arizona, where Loop at one point moved some tables out of the way to demonstrate his process, Brown, who wasn’t event sure he’d get the chance to use a draft pick on a kicker, texted Harbaugh. The message was simple as it was definitive. It read: “I think we found our guy.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens returned to the practice field Monday for a quieter training camp session. Holding their first without fans in attendance created a more intimate atmosphere for players and coaches to get work done with next week’s roster cutdown day looming. Coach John Harbaugh revealed that outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, who suffered a dislocated elbow during Saturday’s preseason game against the Cowboys, sustained ligament damage that’ll force him to undergo surgery and miss the start of the season. Isaac’s injury opens the door for David Ojabo to solidify his spot on the depth chart behind Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, Tavius Robinson and rookie Mike Green. Harbaugh also confirmed rookie offensive tackle Emery Jones Jr. will not be healthy for the start of the season. Jones Jr. (shoulder), a third-round draft pick out of LSU, is expected to remain on the non-football-injury/illness list and miss Baltimore’s first four regular season games against Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City. “I would say the doctor, the surgeon, the best I can tell you is…he wants to be sure that [Jones’ shoulder] is fully right,” Harbaugh said. “And that’s the way it should be. We respect that. So it’s going to take a little longer…we won’t be counting on him early on in the season.” Running back Keaton Mitchell and safety Kyle Hamilton both participated in the early periods of practice before both players separated from the team and worked out individually. Mitchell, who recorded 68 rushing yards across nine carries in the preseason opener against Indianapolis, did not practice last week leading up to the Cowboys game. On Monday, Mitchell specifically worked on his cutting and agility, participating in a variety of individual drills before the third-year tailback and Hamilton went indoors. Joint practice ‘didn’t make sense’ The Ravens were set to have a joint practice with the Commanders this Thursday ahead of Saturday’s preseason finale. Both sides agreed to cancel based on scheduling, with Washington hosting their second preseason game Monday night against Cincinnati. “It wasn’t going to be the kind of practice possible that we would’ve needed this week for them, they’re on a short week. So we would’ve gone all the way down there and for what it would have had to have been it just didn’t make sense.” Harbaugh and Commanders coach Dan Quinn were both interested in finding a way to make the practice work, Harbaugh said. Instead, they’ll wait until Saturday to share the field at Northwest Stadium. Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci stands behind assistant linebackers coach Matt Pees during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive quality control coach Brendan Clark stands beside safety Kyle Hamilton as safety Malaki Starks runs during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman C.J. Okoye hits the pads during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith gives insight regarding coverage to defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens assistant special teams coach Anthony Levine Sr. gestures while speaking with defensive backs including Thomas Graham Jr. and safety Reuben Lowery III during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin catches the ball during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head certified athletic trainer Ron Medlin watches the team during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell holds his helmet during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman C.J. Okoye walks onto the field during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive back Thomas Graham Jr. participates shortly after signing with the squad during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive back Thomas Graham Jr. participates shortly after signing with the squad during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh talks with running back Derrick Henry during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh talks with running back Derrick Henry during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh walks off at the conclusion of practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head certified athletic trainer Ron Medlin, left talks with head football coach John Harbaugh during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head certified athletic trainer Ron Medlin, left talks with head football coach John Harbaugh during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 18Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci stands behind assistant linebackers coach Matt Pees during practice at Baltimore’s training facility, for the upcoming NFL preseason game hosted by the Washington Commanders. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand Flowers’ speed on display The highlight of the afternoon came from wideout Zay Flowers, who flashed his speed multiple times and continued to be Lamar Jackson’s go-to target. Flowers hauled in the deepest ball of the session, a 40-yard strike from Jackson on a crossing route where he slipped behind safeties Sanoussi Kane and Malaki Starks. Flowers also made a tough grab in tight coverage, securing a Jackson throw with Kane and Starks draped on him. Jackson later completed a sidearm throw threaded through traffic to fullback Lucas Scott over the middle, a play that drew expressive reactions from teammates and coaches. Ravens safety Beau Brade, shown tackling Cowboys tight end John Stephens Jr. during Saturday's preseason game, intercepted Cooper Rush during Monday's practice for his first takeaway of the preseason. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson) Defense forces multiple takeaways There has not been a bigger defensive emphasis than Zach Orr preaching the importance of takeaways. They managed a pair during Monday’s practice. In 11-on-11 drills at full speed, quarterback Cooper Rush slung the ball to Malik Cunningham, who cut back toward the ball about 15 yards upfield outside the right hashmark. Beau Brade, a second-year safety out of Maryland and a River Hill graduate, gained inside leverage and jumped the route, intercepting Rush for his first takeaway of training camp. Brade hasn’t starred much in training camp until that first pick. He’d been overshadowed by the August darling, undrafted rookie safety Reuben Lowery who is still fighting for a roster spot in the secondary. “Beau is good enough to make the team,” Harbaugh said Saturday night, “and he’s right there with those decisions we’re going to have to make. But, I think I would be very comfortable with Beau being out there playing football for us, playing special teams and playing defense. He’s only gotten better every single day, but he’s proven himself. He plays good football when he is out there.” Later, in a 7-on-7 situation, Lamar Jackson found Charlie Kolar running an out route toward the left sideline. Kolar caught the ball but just as he turned upfield, linebacker Trenton Simpson’s fist rattled it loose. Simpson, who figures to be second in command beside Roquan Smith but also hasn’t had a dazzling camp, stole the ball from Kolar and raced upfield for what would have been a forced-fumble-turned-touchdown. Related Articles Ravens’ John Harbaugh on Browns naming Flacco starting QB: ‘Joe can sling it’ Joe Flacco named Browns starting QB for Week 1 READER POLL: Are the Orioles must-watch TV with Basallo and Beavers? Ravens 53-man roster projection: Tough decisions await at safety, OL 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Cowboys Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan saw an uptick in snaps with the defense’s top unit as Orr experimented with different pieces. Buchanan and Trenton Simpson appeared to share reps alongside Roquan Smith. New addition Thomas Graham Jr., wearing No. 34, was spotted with the reserves as the fifth-year defensive back began his acclimation to Orr’s defense. Harbaugh spent the first few live periods observing practice alongside Orr from the defense’s sideline. Harbaugh later rejoined the offensive coaches, and on two occasions, paused practice to speak with Jackson and the rest of the team’s starters in the offensive huddle. Coach gets amped Assistant special teams coach Anthony Levine Sr. brought an edge to begin the day’s drills. He was spotted barking toward a group of wide receivers and defensive backs on how to win at the line of scrimmage with aggressive hands in order to get vertical. When did Harbaugh decide on Loop? After Saturday night’s preseason win in Dallas, Harbaugh was asked if by this point he felt comfortable with Tyler Loop being the Ravens kicker heading into this season. The sixth-round rookie had just made 5 of 6 attempts, including a pair from over 50 yards. Harbaugh answered with a resounding yes. He was asked on Monday when he came to that decision, whether it was before the game or if Loop’s big night helped sway the team’s thinking? “Pretty much when I stood up there and you [Baltimore Sun Ravens reporter Brian Wacker] were sitting there asking the question, that’s when I decided,” Harbaugh said. “It seemed like the right thing to do. I think it makes sense. He’s earned it. He’s ready. Have tremendous confidence in him.” Ravens practice playlist A curation of songs played by the coaching staff during practice at the Under Armour Performance Center: “at my purest” – Gunna feat. Offset “Colossal” – Future “Walk” – Kodak Black “She Ready” – Key Glock “Mind Your Manners” – Pearl Jam “PJ” – Bossman Dlow & Lil Baby “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi “Still Trappin’” – Lil Durk & King Von “BUSSIN” – Moneybagg Yo & Rob49 “Now Who” – YoungBoy Never Broke Again “sakpase” – Gunna “That’s the Way (I Like It)” – KC and the Sunshine Band “Codeine Dreaming” – Kodak Black feat. Lil Wayne “6th Sense” – Kodak Black “Hold On Loosely” – 38 Special “Whatever She Wants” – Bryson Tiller “Hall of Fame” – Young Dolph “What The Business Is” – Babyface Ray “Back In Blood” – Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk “Shake The Room” – Pop Smoke feat. Quavo Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Cleveland Browns officially named Joe Flacco their starting quarterback for Week 1, which means the man who piloted the Ravens to a Super Bowl in 2013 before being succeeded by Lamar Jackson five years later should take the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore’s home opener on Sept. 14. “It won’t be the focus right away,” coach John Harbaugh said, “but it’ll be in the back of our minds.” He noted that the preparation for playing Cleveland at this stage is the same as how the Ravens begin every season — with advance scouting on their first four games. They have to get through Buffalo first before dialing in on an AFC North rival. Still, it didn’t come as much of a surprise to Baltimore’s longtime coach that his former signal-caller would emerge as the top option in what is perhaps the strangest and most crowded quarterback situation in the NFL. The controversial Deshaun Watson would have been the incumbent and top option had he not re-torn his right Achilles tendon during rehab in April. Cleveland signed the 40-year-old Flacco to backfill for Watson’s injury. That room also includes Kenny Pickett, who backed up Jalen Hurts during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run last season. In April, the Browns drafted two quarterbacks, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Then they went out and added another former Ravens quarterback in Tyler Huntley at the start of training camp. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he expected Cleveland to carry four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, which would be an unconventional practice for any NFL team. Of the six quarterbacks who have been in contention this offseason, Cleveland landed on the veteran. “Joe Cool leading the way,” their team social media account wrote in a Monday afternoon post. Harbaugh said they had an idea that Cleveland would pick Flacco as their starter. “We know Joe can sling it,” he said. “We know he’s capable of doing it, but we also know what kind of team they are and how tough they are to play against.” The last time Flacco played in Baltimore was for the Ravens on Nov. 4, 2018, in a 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He threw for 206 yards without a touchdown and exited because of a hip injury that gave way to the eventual two-time Most Valuable Player. Related Articles Joe Flacco named Browns starting QB for Week 1 READER POLL: Are the Orioles must-watch TV with Basallo and Beavers? Ravens 53-man roster projection: Tough decisions await at safety, OL 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Cowboys It’s official: Ravens name Tyler Loop their new kicker after preseason show “Man, I did not want to let Lamar get out there, that’s for sure,” Flacco told reporters last season in Indianapolis. “That was my team. And that was very hard mentally for me. I pushed it as far as I could in terms of trying to let them convince me to go out there and play. But at the same time, you don’t want to put your future career in danger.” Following his 11 years in Baltimore, Flacco bounced from Denver to the New York Jets to Cleveland, Indianapolis and now back to the Browns. The last time he played against Baltimore was during his three-year stint in New York. It was Week 1 in 2022, a 24-9 loss in which Flacco threw the ball 59 times, completed 37 passes totaling 309 yards, one touchdown and an interception. “Obviously, his homecoming back here will be a big story,” Harbaugh said, “but just try to focus on playing the best game we can.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and coach John Harbaugh celebrate a road playoff win over the Patriots in 2013. (Staff file) View the full article

The Browns have their starting quarterback for Week 1. On Aug. 18, the team announced Coach Kevin Stefanski has named longtime veteran Joe Flacco the starter when Cleveland opens the season Sept. 7 at home against the Bengals. Flacco, 40, is entering his 18th season in the NFL, most with the Ravens. He is a Super Bowl champion and was named Super Bowl MVP when Baltimore beat the 49ers in 2013 and tied Joe Montana’s playoff record of 11 touchdowns in that postseason. For Browns fans, it was an instant love affair when in 2023 Flacco was signed late in the season to take over at QB and started five consecutive games, going 4-1, and leading Cleveland into the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Flacco was again signed in the offseason (after spending 2024 with the Colts) but the team also added Kenny Pickett via a trade and drafted two rookie QBs – Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders – to make a crowded QB room. During training camp, Flacco emerged as the leader while others were nursing injuries and didn’t give up the spot. Flacco recently told reporters he was getting about 90% of practice reps. “Yeah, that’s big,” Flacco told reporters before practice with the Eagles on Aug. 13. “It’s obviously advantageous to have a guy back there 90% of the time, and you get going with everybody. You get to hear the cadence, you get to see how he operates and see how he does through tough times and good times. “That’s all great, but in this league, the situation isn’t always just laid out for you perfectly. You’ve got to be able to adapt, and there’s no excuses. Once it all starts, it’s about winning football games no matter what, and that’s the way I approach it.” Cleveland’s final preseason game is Aug. 23 at home against the Rams at 1 p.m. It’s unclear if Flacco will play but it would not be a surprise if he’s slotted for a few series. The last time Flacco started a season opener was 2022 with the Jets. He brings a vast amount of experience to the Browns offense. “He’s the same guy every single day,” Stefanski said on Aug. 13 about Flacco. “I think that’s one of the things you admire about Joe is how he approaches his business. He’s done a really nice job in camp. He’s also done a really nice job just providing leadership to the quarterback room, to the offense and to the football team.” View the full article

The next wave of Orioles prospects is in Baltimore. The ballclub called up outfielder and its No. 3 prospect Dylan Beavers on Saturday before promoting catcher and top prospect Samuel Basallo on Sunday, adding an influx of exciting young talent to their lineup amid what has been a disappointing season. With those two prospects expected to play nearly every day, are the Orioles must-watch TV again? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

A week from Tuesday, the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster will be officially set. But in many ways, it already is. Coach John Harbaugh announced following Saturday night’s preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys that sixth-round rookie Tyler Loop will be the team’s kicker this season, thus ending the search for Justin Tucker’s replacement. He also said Baltimore will carry four running backs — a somewhat unusual move — with second-year fifth-round pick Rasheen Ali joining Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell. There have been injuries that will shape the roster, too. Second-year outside linebacker and fourth-round pick Adisa Isaac suffered a dislocated elbow against Dallas and will be out at least a few weeks. Rookie sixth-round cornerbacks Robert Kone and Bilhal Kone have already been placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn patellar tendon and torn knee ligaments, respectively, to end their seasons. Safety Ar’Darius Washington is also expected to miss most, if not all, of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon during offseason workouts. Still, some tough decisions will have to be made for what are very few openings on a roster replete with high-end talent and expected to contend for a Super Bowl. Harbaugh has been pleased with his rookie class and now will have to decide which ones make the team and which ones can be stashed on the practice squad without another team scooping them up before that can happen. He’ll also have to consider some roster gymnastics and how to juggle certain players and position groups. For example, with Isaiah Likely still recovering from surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot, does that mean the ascendant tight end will begin the year on injured reserve, resulting in him automatically missing at least the first four games of the season and clearing a roster spot elsewhere? Already, the decision to carry a fourth running back is having an impact. “It just makes it one less guy that you can take at some other spot, and that’ll be the challenge,” Harbaugh said. “Because there’s more than 53 guys that would be good enough to make the team.” Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ preseason win over the Cowboys It’s official: Ravens name Tyler Loop their new kicker after preseason show Instant analysis from Ravens’ 31-13 win over Cowboys in 2nd preseason game Risers and fallers: Ravens’ defense dominates in preseason win over Cowboys Inside the ropes: Ravens legend appears at BMW Championship at Caves Valley Here’s a look at who those 53 players are projected to be: Quarterbacks (2) Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush The competition for Lamar Jackson’s backup was never actually one. Veteran Cooper Rush was signed this past offseason for that role and has unsurprisingly easily outperformed second-year quarterback Devin Leary all summer. Saturday night, he found some rhythm, too, completing 20 of 30 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore’s win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also had two interceptions, but one of those was off Ali’s hands. “He’s just very good,” Harbaugh said of the former Cowboys backup. “He’s a very good player. He’s accurate, on time. He runs the offense, runs the show very well. I think he’s a good fit with our guys. Our guys like him.” Running backs (4) Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali In a somewhat surprising move, Harbaugh announced after the Cowboys game that he will carry four running backs on the roster, with Ali being the fourth member of a deep and talented group. That’ll take a spot away from another position, but given the injury history of Keaton Mitchell, who is currently dealing with a hamstring issue but is expected to be ready for Week 1, it provides Baltimore with some insurance. Ali has also looked good in camp and, aside from a couple of mistakes against the Cowboys, in the preseason. It doesn’t hurt that he also plays special teams. Wide receivers (6) Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester One of Harbaugh’s draft desires was to find a punt returner. Enter LaJohntay Wester, who already has a punt return for a touchdown in the preseason and has looked comfortable and fluid fielding kicks. He still needs some work as a receiver, but the sixth receiver has to contribute on special teams, and he’s certainly proven he is capable of doing that. Likewise, Tylan Wallace is a valuable special teams contributor, dependable receiver and popular within the locker room and organization. Second-year receiver Devontez Walker has also progressed to the point where he should be on the field more often this season. Tight ends/fullback (3) Mark Andrews, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely could be placed on the reserve/PUP list and miss the first four games of the season because of his foot injury. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) What the Ravens do here will impact the roster. Likely will be part of this unit once he returns, but given the likelihood that he’ll miss at least a game or two, he could start the year on the reserve/physically unable to perform list list (which would force him to miss four games), thus opening up a spot elsewhere on the roster. Whenever he does return, Baltimore will have to make room for him, but that’s something that could work itself out with the unfortunate reality of future injuries or simply through releasing a player the Ravens feel they could re-sign to the practice squad. Offensive linemen (10) Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joseph Noteboom, Corey Bullock, Ben Cleveland, Carson Vinson, Garrett Dellinger The starting offensive line is effectively set with Andrew Vorhees being the clear favorite at left guard and the rest of the group the same as last season. Joseph Noteboom checks the box for being a swing tackle, while Corey Bullock has moved ahead of Nick Samac for the backup center role. “Corey is fantastic,” Rush said after the Cowboys game, which was the second-year Maryland product’s second straight start in the preseason. “That guy; he runs the show. … He’s very smart, knows what’s going on, gets everyone going.” He can also play guard, another plus. Ben Cleveland, meanwhile, has cemented his place on the field goal unit and is a serviceable backup at guard. Carson Vinson is a “project,” Harbaugh said, but it seems unlikely the Ravens would be able to sneak the rookie tackle out of Alabama A&M onto their practice squad because tackles don’t grow on trees. But if Baltimore does not put Likely on the reserve/PUP list, that probably means keeping just nine offensive linemen, with seventh-round rookie Garrett Dillinger headed to the practice squad. Defensive linemen (5) Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Jon Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles The Ravens signed Jon Jenkins to be a run-stuffing nose tackle to fill the void created when Michael Pierce retired. Defensive line coach Dennis Johnson said that sixth-round rookie Aeneas Peebles has “elite” get off and, though he’s undersized, he has had a solid summer and is an intriguing player. Baltimore also brought back Brent Urban, but it seems more likely the 34-year-old would be bound for the practice squad. Second-year undrafted free agent C.J. Okoye has also made a nice push this summer, but the Ravens aren’t keeping six linemen. Outside linebackers (5) Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, David Ojabo Isaac suffering a dislocated elbow against the Cowboys on Saturday means the second-year linebacker out of Penn State will be “out for a few weeks, at least,” according to Harbaugh. That will almost certainly put him on the reserve/PUP list to open the season. It also means that David Ojabo’s spot is safe as the final linebacker in the group. Inside linebackers (4) Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jake Hummel Ravens linebacker Jake Hummel was brought in for his special teams ability. (Matt Patterson/AP) Rookie fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan got off to a nice start Saturday against the Cowboys, disappeared for a bit and struggled at times, but he looked much better in his second game than his first. Jake Hummel was signed for his special teams play. Undrafted rookie Jay Higgins IV has made a strong push to make the roster as well. Against the Cowboys, he had a splash play for the second week in a row with a strip sack of quarterback Will Grier after an interception against the Indianapolis Colts the week before. He very much looks to be the Ravens’ next undrafted gem at linebacker, but they also might feel comfortable about being able to sneak him onto the practice squad. Cornerbacks (6) Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chide Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis There’s no question who the top five cornerbacks are, though Jaire Alexander recently had fluid buildup in his knee and hasn’t practiced of late. Undrafted rookie Keyon Martin had a terrific game against the Cowboys, sacking Joe Milton III for a safety and playing well in coverage. But as pleased as Harbaugh was with him, he’s probably a long shot at best to make the roster and is more likely headed to the practice squad. Safeties (5) Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Reuben Lowery, Beau Brade “Beau [Brade] is good enough to make the team, and he's right there with those decisions we're going to have to make,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. (Gareth Patterson/AP)One of the more interesting developments from Saturday night was that undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery outsnapped second-year former Maryland standout Beau Brade, 34-19, on defense. The Ravens like Lowery’s intelligence, proclivity to always seem to have his nose around the ball and his versatility to also play cornerback. A few other teams have also taken notice of Lowery, so it’s unlikely Baltimore would be able to store him on the practice squad. The same could be said of Beau Brade, a former standout at River Hill and Maryland. “Beau is good enough to make the team, and he’s right there with those decisions we’re going to have to make,” Harbaugh said. “But, I think I would be very comfortable with Beau being out there playing football for us, playing special teams and playing defense. … He plays good football when he is out there.” Brade’s ability to play special teams is also a significant factor and probably gives him the advantage of making it over Higgins for one of the final spots. Specialists (3) Tyler Loop, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore Harbaugh announced after the Cowboys game that Loop had officially won the job to be the team’s next kicker, to which Loop responded with, “That’s fun.” In two preseason games, Loop has made 6 of 8 field goal attempts, which included boots from 51 and 53 yards against Dallas in front of about 30 friends and family, an hour away from where he starred in high school. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens improved to 2-0 with a 31-13 preseason win Saturday night against the Dallas Cowboys that put any leftover kicker concerns to rest and showcased young defensive depth. Here are five things we learned from the game: Tyler Loop ‘earned it’ A section of fans sitting in the upper deck at Jerry’s World stretched out homemade white and purple signs that read, “Loop there it is.” It made for worthy fodder on the broadcast. AT&T Stadium, a dome in Arlington, Texas, is less than an hour from where Tyler Loop grew up. He had plenty of family and friends there to support with their cheesy one-liner. He guessed maybe 30 people. This was as close to an authentic home game as the rookie kicker will have all winter — at least until he gets comfortable swinging his leg in Baltimore’s more unpredictable weather conditions. Loop delivered. He made 5 of 6 field goal attempts, making 2 of 3 from 50-plus yards. By himself, Loop outscored the Cowboys, 16-13. This, after his 1-for-2 showing in the preseason opener. But it wasn’t as if the coaching staff left that game scratching their heads about the lone miss. They could tell right away that Loop scraped his foot before striking the ball. That gets washed away when he made his next try from beyond 50 yards. Baltimore’s trust is evident by how willing the organization was to release his competitor, John Hoyland, and hold off on bringing in a veteran to force reporters to keep tracking every kick, every day in what would be the only true training camp positional battle. Loop’s preseason has quieted any of that discourse. He’s ready to be the starter. After splitting the uprights on a 50-plus yarder Saturday night, he looked confident as ever. Maybe more than that, he never showed signs of nerves while cameras zoomed in on the baby face with some stubble hiding behind that face mask. “He’ll be the kicker,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s earned it.” Loop didn’t even know that it became official. “That’s fun,” he exclaimed to reporters. Field goals are the money-making side of his job. He’s still responsible for booting the ball downfield on kickoffs. While preseason is the time to try throwing wrinkles in the operation, Loop did look frustrated after he opened the second half with a knuckleball that dribbled out of bounds. Per the NFL’s new kickoff rule, any ball that falls short of the landing zone puts the opposing offense at their own 40-yard line. Don’t read too far into that. What matters is that Loop is making field goals, and he’s got the leg to drive the ball like Bryson DeChambeau. Punter-holder Jordan Stout told The Baltimore Sun recently that Loop has “the biggest leg I’ve ever seen.” Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush completed 20 of 30 passes for 198 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions against his former team. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Cooper Rush takes a step forward In Harbaugh’s words, Cooper Rush’s 20 completions on 30 passing attempts for 198 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions is “what we expect from him. That’s what we’ve seen from him every day.” Rush handled first-half duties Saturday night. He wasn’t revelatory but, to Harbaugh’s point, he did what he would be called on to do should the Ravens need to go to their backup at any point this season: Not sink the ship and let the defense carry the brunt of the work. Give Rush some credit. His first interception appeared to be a forced throw with no help from his receiver, LaJohntay Wester, who got tied up and turned his head to the ball too late. It looks even worse on the stat sheet when you see that Dallas’ Andrew Booth took it back to the end zone for a pick 6. Rush’s second interception simply slipped through Rasheen Ali’s hands into those of a waiting defender. Beyond that, his coach thought that the 31-year-old veteran was “accurate” and “on time.” Related Articles It’s official: Ravens name Tyler Loop their new kicker after preseason show Instant analysis from Ravens’ 31-13 win over Cowboys in 2nd preseason game Risers and fallers: Ravens’ defense dominates in preseason win over Cowboys Inside the ropes: Ravens legend appears at BMW Championship at Caves Valley The 13 Ravens with most at stake in Saturday’s preseason game at Cowboys That was true for a while on throws only to Devontez Walker. After one quarter, Walker had five catches on seven targets for 47 yards (he finished with six for 61). No one else had more than a catch by that point. It wasn’t until later, settled into the flow of the offense, that Rush made the highlight of his Baltimore tenure thus far: a scramble drill touchdown to Keith Kirkwood in the back of the end zone. The Ravens thought that they might be getting an upgrade at backup quarterback when they signed Rush to a two-year, $6.2 million deal this offseason. It’s hard to stamp that as the truth. Saturday was at least a slight improvement from a 20.8 passer rating against the Colts to 68.5. Earlier this week, Rush was asked if a preseason game in Dallas might be an opportunity to show his former team he’s doing just fine without them. Rush let out a half-chuckle, “I’ve been really trying to show my current team I’m doing well.” That point of proving himself to his peers was reintroduced after the win. “I thought ball control, lot of completions, keeping the defense off the field, we were really good on third down. Then make the plays when they’re there,” he said. “Missed one scramble TD but had another one there. Bounced back after negative plays.” Who might back up center Tyler Linderbaum? It’s becoming clear. The mistakes are far louder on tape than the positive reps. Looking back on this game, it will be Corey Bullock’s false start in the red zone that pushed the Ravens into an unfriendly first-and-goal from the 16-yard line that yielded only three points that will be harped on in the offensive line room. It seemed that was Bullock’s only gaffe. The Prince George’s County native signed out of the University of Maryland is fighting for a roster spot after spending all of 2024 on the practice squad. Stacking a second solid outing as Baltimore’s starting center in both preseason games indicates that he’s the favorite to back up two-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. “He’s fantastic,” Rush said. “He runs the show. … Guys were going to the right places, that’s all Corey.” Added Ali: “Corey’s my dog. He communicates well. He’s real. He just lets me know everything that happens pre-snap just as far as protections, the IDs and everything. And even in the locker room, we just talk a lot. That’s my guy.” Bullock graded out well in run blocking against the Colts last week (75.5, according to Pro Football Focus) but struggled far more in pass protection. Saturday night was a similar tale. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said this week that he has been excited for what Bullock has shown through camp thus far. “He’s a very conscientious young man, and he’s playing a really high level right now,” Monken said. The alternative to back up Linderbaum would be Nick Samac, who replaced Bullock before halftime. Rookie guard Grant Dellinger is the other. Like Bullock, he brings an intriguing positional versatility. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Bullock was an offensive tackle in college, then spent this summer making himself an option at center. Bullock told the team website, “If I want to stick around, versatility is key.” Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III throws a pass under pressure from Ravens linebacker Jay Higgins IV. Higgins has a chance to make the team as an undrafted free agent. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez) Don’t overlook these young defenders Keyon Martin shoved Miles Sanders back 5 yards on Dallas’ second play from scrimmage. Moments later, Martin burst into the backfield on a designed blitz that left quarterback Joe Milton III crumbling to the ground in the back of the end zone for a safety. Before halftime, Milton unloaded on a deep ball looking for Jonathan Mingo. It was intercepted by another undrafted free agent who has turned heads all summer, Reuben Lowery. The versatile defensive back high-pointed the football in the end zone for an uncontested catch. Still, it was the kind he can’t afford to drop. It swung the pendulum back in Baltimore’s favor after an interception from Rush on the previous play. “I thought all the young DBs stepped up and played well,” Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of that whole group. You can mention any one of those names, those guys all played very well.” Then linebacker Jay Higgins IV joined the fun. The undrafted rookie from Iowa forced a fumble in the fourth quarter for his second turnover in as many preseason appearances. Baltimore has included at least one UDFA on its final 53-man roster in 20 of the past 21 seasons. Lowery is constructing the best case to make it 21 of 22, considering he can fit in at safety or cornerback. Higgins is a close second option if the roster construction allows for a fifth linebacker primarily playing special teams. After Saturday night, and as the secondary has thinned out with season-ending injuries for sixth-round picks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam, Martin won’t let anyone forget about him, either. Adisa Isaac vs. David Ojabo Harbaugh told reporters after the game that outside linebacker Adisa Isaac suffered a dislocated elbow that will keep him out for “at least” the next few weeks. It’s an unfortunate reality for a sophomore who missed most of last year because of injury and had been constructing a preseason camp worthy of roster contention. It stinks to see a positional battle tilt because of injury. Isaac and David Ojabo, both of whom entered the league as highly touted prospects, have flashed their moments this summer in a competition to be the team’s fifth pass rusher behind Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, Tavius Robinson and second-round pick Mike Green. Saturday night, Ojabo’s pass-rush win rate was fourth-best on the team (14.3%). Harbaugh thought that he “had a really good night from what I saw.” Isaac’s sample size was too small to judge, although he played well in the preseason opener. There’s a world in which the Ravens knock off a spot at another position to keep a sixth pass rusher. There’s room for roster Jenga, having seen the defensive back room thin out over the past week. It’s more likely that Isaac opens the year on the injured reserve and elevates Ojabo from bubble designation to a likely roster spot. Either way, it’s a shame if this gets decided in the short term by an unfortunate preseason injury. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

ARLINGTON, Texas — A handful of “Loop there it is” signs. About 30 family members in attendance. And now, officially, the Ravens’ kicker. John Harbaugh confirmed the obvious after Baltimore’s 31-13 preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, naming Tyler Loop as the team’s kicker this season. “He’s earned it,” Harbaugh said. “He had a good night, good night on kickoffs, too. “It was good to see.” Loop’s latest performance was good, too. The rookie sixth-round draft pick out of Arizona connected on 5 of 6 field goal attempts, including ones from 53 and 51 yards. His only miss was from 50 yards. He also made both of his extra point attempts, though he did have one kickoff that went out of bounds and another that fell short of the landing zone, each resulting in a penalty, as Baltimore experimented with some different types of kicks. Still, Loop didn’t know that he’d won the job until being informed by a reporter afterward. “Nice,” he said. “That’s fun.” Even more so with a slew of friends and family at the game cheering him on with each attempt. Loop, 24, grew up about 45 miles northeast of the stadium, in Lucas, where he starred at Lovejoy High School. Now, he’ll replace an embattled Ravens legend, Justin Tucker, who was released by the team earlier this year and then suspended 10 weeks by the NFL following sexual misconduct accusations from more than 15 massage therapists from Baltimore-area spas. Not that Loop was thinking about any of that, of course. He was just happy deliver on a night when those closest to him were able to be in the stands. His performance, both Saturday night and throughout the summer, also solidified his position as the Ravens’ next kicker. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 31-13 win over Cowboys in 2nd preseason game Risers and fallers: Ravens’ defense dominates in preseason win over Cowboys Inside the ropes: Ravens legend appears at BMW Championship at Caves Valley The 13 Ravens with most at stake in Saturday’s preseason game at Cowboys Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down heading into Dallas? So far, Loop has made 6 of 8 field goal attempts in the preseason, along with having made all but a handful of tries during training camp, where he was initially competing with undrafted free agent John Hoyland for the job before Baltimore released Hoyland in early August. A job that now officially belongs to Loop, the first kicker to be drafted by the Ravens in their 30 years of existence. “It’s special,” Loop said, adding that he planned to celebrate with his family on Saturday night. “Just really excited to be in Baltimore. “I’m excited to be here. Gotta earn it every day still.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 31-13 preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Brian Wacker, reporter: There’s little question that Ravens running back Rasheen Ali is a distant fourth in the pecking order of Baltimore’s backfield, but given Keaton Mitchell’s injury history, wouldn’t it be wise to keep him on the 53-man roster? Not only did he run well Saturday night, but he had a solid performance as a returner on special teams. Likewise, wide receiver Devontez Walker has continued to make strides and unsurprisingly Cooper Rush found him early and often after coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the passing game had to be better and that Rush would get more than four opportunities to sling it. More worrisome is Adisa Isaac, who left with an injury in the second quarter and did not appear to return. For a second-year player with an injury history already battling for a fifth outside linebacker spot, the timing was unfortunate. Mike Preston, columnist: Preseason games are basically a way for the NFL to soak up more money from fans. With that said, there were a couple of things to come out of Saturday night’s game. Backup quarterback Cooper Rush continues to get better and showed against his former team that he can make plays both in and outside the pocket. He doesn’t have great arm strength, but he’s showing more knowledge of the offense. The offensive line, with three starters in the game in guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees and right tackle Roger Rosengarten, played well with a good mixture of the run and play-action passing game, the staple of this offense. The Ravens have to find a way to keep wide receiver Devontez Walker on the roster in some capacity, since it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to hide him on the practice squad. The former North Carolina star can play, and there is a lot of video out there for other coaches to watch. Rookie fullback Lucas Scott, from Army, is a bruiser and has excellent technique. It was hard to evaluate the Ravens’ defense because the Cowboys were so inept, especially quarterback Joe Milton III. He appeared to lack timing with his receivers, and the Ravens blew up the Cowboys’ offense for the entire first half. Weak-side linebacker Trent Simpson played well early, taking on lead blockers and holding up in coverage, but he didn’t sustain it in the second quarter. Backup middle linebacker Teddye Buchanan had a solid game, but the rookie still has problems in coverage. Safety Reuben Lowery, an undrafted rookie, continues to make plays and is very good at making tackles in space in the open field. As for special teams, kicker Tyler Loop had a strong game in his home state and even kicked a 51-yarder in the first half. For Loop, a sixth-round draft pick out of Arizona, it now shifts to being accurate in a hostile environment, not on basically a neutral field in Dallas or at home at M&T Bank Stadium. Josh Tolentino, columnist: Linebacker Jay Higgins IV appears to be on the fast track to become the Ravens’ next undrafted gem. The rookie out of Iowa registered his second turnover in as many preseason games, generating a more-than-satisfactory reaction from defensive coordinator Zach Orr. After Higgins’ interception against the Colts last week, he strip-sacked Cowboys backup quarterback Will Grier to gift Baltimore possession in the fourth quarter. As the visitor’s bench erupted, Orr was shown on the broadcast streaking down the sideline in approval of Higgins’ latest highlight. Higgins didn’t test well at the NFL scouting combine, where he ran a 4.82-second 40-yard dash, but he continues to flash across the field. Higgins, who sits on the depth chart behind Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson and fellow rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan, entered training camp as a longshot to make the roster, but he’s capitalized on his opportunities by forcing key turnovers. The Ravens boast one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, which undoubtedly will force the front office into tough decisions as roster cutdown day (Aug. 26) approaches. Higgins continues to add to that puzzle in a positive way. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Andrew Booth (25) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown as Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (83) gives chase in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez)Baltimore Ravens' Keith Kirkwood (18), Rasheen Ali (26) and Dayton Wade (82) celebrate after Kirkwood caught a touchdown pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marquise Robinson (28), Keyon Martin (38) and Reuben Lowery (30) celebrate after Lowery intercepted a pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson laughs as he talks with teammates on the sideline in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (18) catches a touchdown pass in front of a Dallas Cowboys defender in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh watches play in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Baltimore Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop (33) kicks a field goal in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Ravens running back Rasheen Ali carries the ball as Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas attempts to make the stop during Saturday night's preseason game in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush (15) throws a pass under pressure from the Dallas Cowboys defense in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III is sacked for a safety as Baltimore Ravens' Mike Green, Aeneas Peebles and C.J. Ravenell (91) look on in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush throws a pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin (38) celebrates with Mike Green (45) and C.J. Ravenell (91) after Martin sacked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III for a safety in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson throws during team warmups before an NFL preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, right, before their team's preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs, center, and Micah Parsons, right, before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Show Caption1 of 16Dallas Cowboys cornerback Andrew Booth (25) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown as Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (83) gives chase in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez)Expand Sam Cohn, reporter: This was a win for the Ravens’ defense. Their depth made life tough for Dallas’ second- and third-stringers. By halftime, the Cowboys had only managed two first downs and 31 net yards — 11 through the air, 20 on the ground. They still finished with fewer than half of Baltimore’s total yardage. It took a befuddling pick-six from Cooper Rush for Dallas to get in the end zone. Baltimore’s collection of defenders fighting for roster spots had Zach Orr smiling ear to ear all night. Reuben Lowery picked off Joe Milton III. Keyon Martin and Malik Hamm each sacked Milton. And Jay Higgins IV logged his second takeaway in as many preseason game appearances, this one a forced fumble in the fourth quarter. Baltimore’s young defenders used this second preseason game to build on what has been an impressive summer. C.J. Doon, editor: It was against backup quarterback Joe Milton III and the Cowboys’ reserves, but the Ravens’ defense certainly played like it was the regular season. Undrafted rookie Keyon Martin made the most of his start by sacking Milton for a safety on a third-down blitz from coordinator Zach Orr. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan flashed his speed and instincts. First-round pick Malaki Starks made an aggressive play to break up a pass. Training camp darling Reuben Lowery made an end zone interception to take the ball right back after a sloppy Ravens turnover. Malik Hamm (remember him?) got a sack. Undrafted rookie linebacker Jay Higgins IV made another big play with a strip-sack. The Cowboys didn’t record a first down until midway through the second quarter and had just 32 total yards at halftime. As far as preseason games are concerned, it was a dominant performance. On offense, Cooper Rush bounced back from an unfortunate pick-six to at least look serviceable (his interception before halftime was running back Rasheen Ali’s fault). Devontez Walker showed that he might be a factor in the Ravens’ crowded receivers room with six catches for 61 yards in the first half. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop (4-for-4) looks ready for prime-time. On the injury front, seeing outside linebacker Adisa Isaac go down is disappointing for a player who needs the reps after losing nearly his entire rookie season. He wasn’t expected to be a major factor in the pass rush, but the former third-round draft pick is running out of chances to prove that he belongs on the roster. Related Articles Risers and fallers: Ravens’ defense dominates in preseason win over Cowboys Inside the ropes: Ravens legend appears at BMW Championship at Caves Valley The 13 Ravens with most at stake in Saturday’s preseason game at Cowboys Ravens stock report: Who’s trending up, down heading into Dallas? Mike Preston: Ravens weak spots under the microscope | COMMENTARY Bennett Conlin, editor: In a 2022 preseason game against the Cardinals, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely caught eight passes for 100 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. It felt like every passing play would feature Likely, who is on the verge of becoming an NFL star at tight end and could be the franchise’s heir apparent to soon-to-be free agent Mark Andrews. Could Devontez Walker be ready for a similar breakout in the coming years? The second-year wide receiver out of North Carolina caught six passes for 61 yards on eight targets, as backup quarterback Cooper Rush couldn’t stop looking his way. It was oddly reminiscent of the 2022 game, as Likely looked like he didn’t belong on the field with reserves. Does Walker? The Ravens are loaded at wide receiver, but Walker is destined for NFL playing time in the near future if he keeps performing like he has throughout this preseason. As for Rush and third-stringer Devin Leary, they looked iffy again. Leary doesn’t belong on the 53-man roster, and Rush needs to take a step forward for the Ravens to feel like he can reliably lead them to wins if Lamar Jackson goes down. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin raced in and dropped Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III in the end zone for a safety. Later, fellow defensive back Reuben Lowery fell backward in the end zone while hauling in an overthrown pass by Milton for an interception. Preseason games — particularly for teams like Baltimore with few open jobs across a highly talented roster — are about opportunity as much as anything. That was the case Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, where the Ravens, again resting almost all of their starters, easily defeated Dallas, 31-13. More important than the result, though, was how those on the margins of Baltimore’s roster performed. Here’s a look at the risers and fallers. Risers Rasheen Ali: The 2024 fifth-round draft pick had been making his case for the Ravens to at least consider keeping four running backs on the 53-man roster. After 62 yards on 19 carries against the Cowboys, it became official with coach John Harbaugh saying that he would, in fact, do just that. “Thought he was quick, explosive, very good vision,” Harbaugh said of Ali’s latest performance. That performance included four straight carries on Baltimore’s second possession, with a pair of 8-yard runs as bookends. He also had an 11-yard gain on a third-and-9 later in the drive, a 25-yard kick return and a catch in the second quarter that went for 10 yards (though he also had a pass from Cooper Rush go off his hands for an interception later that same quarter). Carrying an extra back might seem odd with Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell getting the lion’s share of touches, but with Mitchell currently dealing with a hamstring injury and given his injury history, it’s not a bad idea, even at the expense of depth at another position. As for Ali, he said that the experience of being around a deep and talented room of backs has been “amazing” and that he’s been able to pick parts from everyone’s game to add to his own. He also said last season was “rocky” and filled with “trials and tribulations,” but that he put in “a lot of work” in the offseason and came into this year with a “new mentality.” Devontez Walker: It was an active evening for the second-year wide receiver, who has had an up-and-down training camp but was trending the right direction against Dallas. He was the leading pass catcher with six receptions on eight targets for 61 yards, including one that went for 17 yards on the game’s first play. He also had a grab on a sideline out on third-and-9 in the opening quarter that went for 11 yards, hauling in the pass in front of a lunging Andrew Booth. At one point in the second quarter, Walker had more yards and first downs than the Cowboys, which was an indictment of Dallas but also a sign of Walker’s continued growth. Keyon Martin: First, the cornerback shot through untouched on a third-and-14 from the Cowboys’ own 3-yard line to drop Milton for a safety and the game’s first points. Later in the opening quarter, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound undrafted rookie made a nice open-field tackle on the bigger Jalen Tolbert to keep the receiver to a minimal gain. In all, Martin finished with three tackles, including two for loss and a sack. He likely won’t make the roster, but performances like the one he had against the Cowboys bode well for a practice squad spot. It’ll also present Baltimore a good problem to have, with Harbaugh saying that he will have some difficult roster decisions to make with more than 53 players having performed well enough to make the team. That is particularly true in the defensive backfield. Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop went 5-for-6 on field goal attempts against the Cowboys, including a 53-yarder. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Tyler Loop: The Ravens have their next kicker. Though it was pretty clear that the sixth-round rookie out of Arizona was already headed toward landing the job, Harbaugh made it official Saturday night after Loop converted on 5 of 6 attempts, which included makes from 53 and 51 yards. “He’s earned it,” Harbaugh said. “He had a good night, good night on kickoffs, too. “It was good to see.” Loop knocked in kicks of 29 and 51 yards in each of the first two quarters, then banged in a 42-yarder with nine seconds remaining in the first half. He added another from 32 yards in the third quarter and a 53-yarder late in the fourth. He also made both extra point attempts, with his lone field goal try missing wide left from 50 yards in the fourth quarter. Loop’s reaction once he found out from a reporter after the game? “Nice,” he said. “That’s fun.” Fallers LaJohntay Wester: On one punt return, Wester had a Cowboys defender so faked out (worried?), that the player hit him — even though the ball had already sailed over the rookie’s head and into the end zone for a touchback. Unfortunately, that was about the only highlight for the sixth-round pick, who was targeted four times in the passing game and didn’t make a single catch. That included juggling one pass that would have been good for a first down. Worse yet, he also turned too late on another pass from Rush that was a little off-target and intercepted by Booth and returned for a touchdown, with Wester doing little to try to disrupt him. Wester is a flashy returner but will need to sharpen his receiving skills. Cowboys cornerback Andrew Booth intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown in front of Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez) Anthony Miller: It was a bit of a rough stretch at one point for the veteran receiver who spent last season on the Ravens’ practice squad. First, he was flagged for being out of bounds on Baltimore’s first punt of the night, wiping out a fair catch at the Dallas 10-yard line. Later, he whiffed on an attempted tackle of Jalen Cropper during a kick return that resulted in a 19-yard gain. He did haul in a 25-yard catch on a third-and-5 from the Cowboys’ 29-yard line that help set up the Ravens’ first touchdown of the night, but he didn’t appear to complete the catch. Replay assist confirmed the call on the field, but it still looked at least questionable as cornerback Kemon Hall contested the play. Adisa Isaac: Zero tackles on defense and one on special teams is not the kind of line the second-year outside linebacker was looking for given a potentially tight battle with David Ojabo for the fifth (and possibly) final spot at the position. Worse yet, Isaac, whose rookie season was set back by a hamstring injury, went down in the second quarter with a dislocated shoulder, per Harbaugh, and did not return. He is expected to miss at least a few weeks. That’s obviously a blow to his chances of making the roster and means that he’s more likely headed to the injury list. It also means that Ojabo is all but certain to make the roster. Carson Vinson: One of the Ravens’ concerns this season could be their tackle depth. Vinson, a fifth-round rookie out of Alabama A&M, is viewed as a project but played plenty Saturday and struggled at times. On one play near the end of the first quarter, he was run over by Cowboys defensive end James Houston, with Rush getting popped just after he got rid of a pass. Harbaugh called Vinson over right after that. The play before that, Vinson was leading Ali on a run to the left and knocked a defender out of the way but didn’t do much in terms of blocking. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article