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Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is staying in Baltimore for the long term. Bateman, who posted career highs in yards (756) and touchdowns (nine) last season, has signed a contract extension, the team announced Thursday morning. The deal is for three years and $36.75 million with $20 million guaranteed, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Drafted 21st overall by Baltimore in 2021, Bateman had signed an extension last offseason that kept him with the Ravens through 2026. With the new deal, he’ll be in Baltimore through 2029. 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 Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s Maryland mansion to hit market Ravens WR Zay Flowers, healthy again, wants to unlock his game Ravens OTA observations: No Lamar Jackson means a sloppy day for offense Ravens see DeAndre Hopkins as more than just a third wide receiver How Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh added 20 pounds: ‘Goal for him is to be All-Pro’ View the full article

Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s 6,000-plus-square-foot home in Owings Mills is set to hit the market on Friday, with an asking price of $3.2 million. The house, a brick and stone colonial, features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, as well as an open floor plan, large windows, an exercise room and a three-car garage. The exterior includes a grilling area, an outdoor pool with multiple seating areas and a converted patio with an outdoor fireplace. The property HOA fees are $1,874 per year and real estate taxes of $18,152 per year, the listing said. The property was purchased for $1.8 million by a limited liability corporation in 2019. The resident agent of the corporation is listed as David Miller, founder and principal of Owings Mills-based Terrain Title & Escrow Company. Miller declined to provide information regarding the corporation and its connection to Tucker. The Baltimore Sun linked Tucker to the address through property records it reviewed, as well as cross-referencing images from the property listing with his Instagram posts of his home. The listing agent, Jeremy Batoff of The Batoff Group, did not respond to requests for comment by The Sun by publication. The longtime Ravens kicker was released from his contract in May after more than a dozen Baltimore-area massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct. The NFL’s internal investigation is ongoing and could lead to a possible suspension. Tucker has denied all allegations and has not been charged criminally. He also has not faced civil litigation. Got a news tip? Contact Stella Canino-Quinones at scanino-quinones@baltsun.com. Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has listed his Owings Mills mansion for sale at $3.2 million. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

In one video posted to social media, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson drops back and hits wide receiver Zay Flowers on a deep crossing route. In another, he connects with Baltimore’s leading receiver from last season on a deep corner. The scenes unfolded on South Florida fields last month and the sessions might seem, at least in the larger picture of where the Ravens are trying to ultimately get to, mostly inconsequential. They weren’t entirely without merit, though. “It just get our timing down,” Flowers said Tuesday in Owings Mills during voluntary organized team activities. “Talking about routes, detailing small things on routes.” Though Jackson, among others, was absent from Tuesday’s practice, the bond between the two has been obvious since Baltimore drafted Flowers 22nd overall out of Boston College in 2023. In just his second season, Flowers was selected to the Pro Bowl after posting 74 catches for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns. He was the first Ravens receiver in franchise history to be selected and the first with at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season since Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in 2021. The two clips could also perhaps be a harbinger of how the Ravens might look to deploy him this season. In 2024, Flowers had just eight catches on 21 targets at least 20 yards downfield, per Pro Football Focus. He put up nearly identical numbers (nine catches, 21 targets) his rookie year. But with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection who has spent a dozen years carving up defenses in the short and intermediate part of the field, along with the rise of Rashod Bateman in all parts of the field, it’s possible Flowers could have his biggest impact as a deep threat. Last season, Flowers, who was targeted 116 times, ranked 19th in average depth of target (10.40 yards), per FTN Fantasy, among wide receivers with at least 97 targets. For comparison, the leader of that group was Tennessee Titans standout Calvin Ridley with an average depth of target of 15.69 yards on his way to 64 catches for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those passes of 20 or more yards to Ridley went for touchdowns. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers envisions "a lot more explosive plays" for him, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins. (Nia Meyers/Staff) Flowers, meanwhile, had only one ball that traveled more than 20 yards through the air that went for a touchdown. That came in a Week 9 victory at home against the Denver Broncos in which he finished with five catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including one that traveled 22 yards through the air and went for 54 total yards for his longest score of the year. But even that was emblematic of his skill set after the ball is in his hands — 463 of Flowers’ 1,059 yards last season came after the catch. In fact, the majority of his targets and catches last year came in the 10-to-19-yard range and zero-to-10-yard range, followed by passes he caught behind the line of scrimmage. However Baltimore uses Flowers amid the addition of Hopkins — who, even at age 32, still possesses some of the best hands in the game along with the ability to get open — the rising star will be expected to carry a big load. “We just gotta get hm the ball more,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Tuesday. “He’s not only an outside receiver that has elite route running skills but he’s unbelievable with the ball in his hands, so you have a guy who fits two positions, plays two positions. “You can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. … I expect him to take another leap in terms of his consistency.” Related Articles Ravens OTA observations: No Lamar Jackson means a sloppy day for offense Ravens see DeAndre Hopkins as more than just a third wide receiver How Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh added 20 pounds: ‘Goal for him is to be All-Pro’ READER POLL: Are you happy with how the Ravens are renovating M&T Bank Stadium? All about fun: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely hosts charity softball game It helps that Flowers is again healthy after injuring his knee in the 2024 regular-season finale that resulted in him missing Baltimore’s wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and its divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills the following week. “My knee is great,” he said, adding that it was difficult to watch the playoffs from the sideline. “I feel 100%. I feel I’m ready to go. I’m ready for the season. No limits.” Now the only question is what, if any, limits there will be with unleashing him downfield, an area that Flowers excelled in during his college days and is eager to shine in once again. “It shows I can unlock a whole other level in my game,” Flowers said. “I haven’t unlocked it yet, so once we start hitting those downfield passes more I think we’re gonna be a lot more explosive plays between me and Rashod. And now we got ‘D-Hop,’ so it should be three times as much.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens led the NFL in penalties last season, and the problem was exacerbated early on in the year, as they committed 21 offensive infractions in the season’s first four games. At organized team activities on Tuesday, the issue reared its head again. Baltimore was flagged for at least five false start penalties during team periods, including multiple by the starting group. “That’s not very good,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “It’s disappointing. I watch it, I’m as disappointed as anyone, but we’re going to continue [using a hard count cadence], we’re going to continue to chart [penalties] and the guys that continue to get penalties will struggle to get on the field.” Monken said the coaching staff discussed during the offseason how the offense could become better at using multiple cadences, which are words or phrases the quarterback uses before the snap. More repetitions in the summer, despite the sloppiness, was seen as a possible solution. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson’s absence from Tuesday’s voluntary practice certainly did not help with the infractions. Jackson is one of the top signal-callers in the league and, in his third season under Monken, has complete command of the offense, so the unit was obviously uncomfortable without him. Still, it’s only the fourth OTA practice of the year and the playoff rematch against Buffalo is still 96 days away. That’s why Monken is comfortable working out the kinks when the only audience is coaches and reporters. “The reality is we can’t give in to just going to one cadence,” Monken said. “So we’ve got to work it now.” An emerging secondary piece Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis played less than 100 snaps and appeared in just four games last season. He started just one game, against Cleveland, and allowed six receptions on seven targets, according to Pro Football Focus. But the 2022 fourth-round draft pick earned a majority of the first-team corner reps on Tuesday alongside Nate Wiggins. Armour-Davis made a couple of nice plays, including a well-defended pass breakup against DeAndre Hopkins in the red zone. With safety and nickelback Ar’Darius Washington likely to miss the entire season because of an Achilles tendon injury, Armour-Davis could slot in as the third corner behind Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. Rush’s in No Jackson meant extended action for newly signed backup quarterback Cooper Rush. The former Cowboy went 9-5 as a starter in Dallas and signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Ravens this offseason. Rush completed 8 of 11 passes during the 11-on-11 period and 1 of 3 in the red zone drill. He threw to his checkdown often and rarely looked to push the ball downfield. “He’s a pro, it’s why he’s made it in the NFL as long as he has,” Monken said. “He’s not Lamar, so he’s got to know where to go with the ball, be on time. … And being able to get the ball out and get it to the checkdown.” Ravens tight end, Zaire Mitchell-Paden during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens tight end, Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens wide receiver, LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens wide receiver, LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens tight ends, Isaiah Likely, left and Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens tight end, Isaiah Likely during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens inside linebacker Trenton Simpson goes through a drill Tuesday. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens wide reciever, Zay Flowers during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens tight ends, Mark Andrews, left and Isaiah Likely during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens offensive coordinator, Todd Monken answers questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens wide receiver, Jahmal Banks during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens wide receiver, Zay Flowers after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Ravens wide receiver, Zay Flowers answers questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers speaks to the media after OTAs on Tuesday at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken speaks to reporters on Tuesday. He said "the guys that continue to get penalties will struggle to get on the field." (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers speaks to the media after OTAs on Tuesday at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers speaks to the media after OTAs on Tuesday at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers speaks to the media after OTAs on Tuesday at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, speaks after an OTAs open practice session on Tuesday at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight ends coach George Godsey works with Mark Andrews during Tuesday’s open OTA practice at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens linebacker William Kwenkeu takes part in a tackling drill during Tuesday's OTA at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester fields a punt during special teams drills at Tuesday’s OTA session at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci, left, addresses players during Tuesday’s open OTA practice at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci, left, addresses players during Tuesday’s open OTA practice at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens linebacker William Kwenkeu takes part in a tackling drill during Tuesday's OTA at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Jay Higgins participates in a pass-rushing drill during Tuesday’s OTA session at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Baltimore Ravens tight ends coach George Godsey works with Mark Andrews during Tuesday’s open OTA practice at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Show Caption1 of 27Ravens tight end, Zaire Mitchell-Paden during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Nia Meyers/Staff)Expand Flowers is healthy Perhaps no player could have felt more frustrated during last year’s playoff loss to the Bills than Zay Flowers. The wide receiver missed the contest because of a knee injury and was forced to watch from home. “I couldn’t really do nothing about [the loss],” Flowers said. Flowers said he’s fully healthy now, though, and coming off a Pro Bowl appearance, is regarded around the league as a true No. 1 option. With Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Hopkins, and tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews, the Ravens’ receiving corps seems poised for another strong year. “Top everything that I did last year, prove to everybody that say whatever I can’t do, I can do,” Flowers said. Related Articles Ravens WR Zay Flowers, healthy again, wants to unlock his game Ravens see DeAndre Hopkins as more than just a third wide receiver How Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh added 20 pounds: ‘Goal for him is to be All-Pro’ READER POLL: Are you happy with how the Ravens are renovating M&T Bank Stadium? All about fun: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely hosts charity softball game Defensive depth chart Two of the Ravens’ Pro Bowl players, safety Kyle Hamilton and defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, missed Tuesday’s optional practice, which opened up some playing time for reserves. The main pieces working with the defensive starters were as follows: Defensive line: Odafe Oweh, Broderick Washington Jr., Tavius Robinson, David Ojabo and Travis Jones Linebackers: Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson Secondary: Nate Wiggins, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Marlon Humphrey, Beau Brade and Malaki Starks Rookie edge rusher Mike Green mainly practiced with the second- and third-stringers. A strong kicking day Tyler Loop, a sixth-round draft pick who was hand-picked to succeed the recently cut Justin Tucker, made all of his field goal attempts, although none were from over 45 yards. Coach John Harbaugh said last week that Loop and John Hoyland, an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming, would alternate practice days. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Ravens inside linebacker Trenton Simpson goes through a drill Tuesday. (Nia Meyers/Staff) View the full article

Todd Monken shrugged at an inquiry about adding a 12-year veteran and former All-Pro to the most potent offense in the NFL, one that returns two solidified starting wide receivers and a pair of proven pass-catching tight ends. “We’ll see,” he said. “It’s Day 4.” The Ravens signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year, $6 million contract in March and he’s only been out on the field with his new team for four practices during organized team activities. But there’s a consensus among the early returns on how Hopkins can, at this stage of his career, contribute to a Super Bowl contender. Hopkins is the third veteran wide receiver in three years brought in to complement the young duo of Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Odell Beckham Jr. spent the 2023 season in Baltimore and Nelson Agholor played a similar mentor role each of the past two seasons. The former caught 35 passes for 565 yards and the latter, Monken said Tuesday, was viewed as the third receiver on the depth chart. “I don’t really see DHop as our third receiver,” Monken said. “I see it more as we have three starters.” The 32-year-old was traded after Week 7 last year from the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl runner-up Kansas City Chiefs. He was never a true difference-maker in that offense and finished the season with 56 catches for 610 yards and five touchdowns. But Hopkins is only one year removed from a 1,000-yard season and, in the tiniest of sample sizes from voluntary practices run less than full speed, Ravens decision-makers see signs of what he could be. “He’s going to be a big-body, contested-catch receiver for us, certainly,” coach John Harbaugh said last week. “He’s moving great.” That only sounds like coachspeak until looking at the players who clocked the top speeds from the team’s second OTA practice last week, which Hopkins posted to his Instagram story, accompanied by a jab at those who say he’s lost a step. Undrafted free agent cornerback Marquise Robinson was alone at the top of that leaderboard with 20.2 mph next to his name. Receivers Devontez Walker and Hopkins were right behind him, each notching 20.0. Flowers, who reached 19.6 that day, good for fourth fastest receiver on that list, was asked about those marks after Tuesday’s practice. “He was tryna expose all of us,” Flowers laughed. He was adamant that his new teammate “still plays fast.” Flowers has been most impressed by how patient and intentional Hopkins is in everything he does. He said “it’s easy to just follow” Hopkins’ lead and “he’ll be great for our group.” “I don’t really see DHop as our third receiver,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “I see it more as we have three starters.” (Kevin Richardson/Staff) The difference between Hopkins’ relatively quiet tenure in Kansas City and his projections for a year in Baltimore is the full offseason of preparation. Hopkins was traded to the Chiefs in late October and was catching live passes three days later. Baltimore has the flexibility of a whole summer to, as Monken said, “integrate him into the offense” led by two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, who was absent Tuesday. Still, there was plenty of praise for the new guy after his first couple of practices. “I think he’s going to be great for our offense,” tight end Mark Andrews said, “just being versatile, having a guy that catches the ball extremely well, runs really fluid routes and knows the game well. When he’s out here, he’s flying around.” Related Articles Ravens WR Zay Flowers, healthy again, wants to unlock his game Ravens OTA observations: No Lamar Jackson means a sloppy day for offense How Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh added 20 pounds: ‘Goal for him is to be All-Pro’ READER POLL: Are you happy with how the Ravens are renovating M&T Bank Stadium? All about fun: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely hosts charity softball game Added tight end Isaiah Likely: “I feel like he’s just going to be him. We have a bunch of playmakers on the field at all times where everybody can go distance, so I feel like when the plays are there to be made, whether the ball is in his hands, whether he’s blocking down the field, whether it’s those crucial situations on third down, whenever, in the red zone, he’s going to be there to make those plays.” For now, that’s all distant dreaming. OTAs are a chance to see Hopkins run around in a purple jersey and to hear the wisdom he’s able to impart on the young guys. Training camp starts near the end of July. That should provide more clarity on how Hopkins assimilates into Monken’s offense. “Can’t wait to go full speed and get the pads on and really see it,” Monken said. “We’re not there yet, he’s not there yet, so can’t wait to get there and really see what we got.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

When the Ravens’ season ended in a dismaying divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in January, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh did what a lot of NFL players do once there are no more games to play: He went to Miami. With warm weather, no state income tax and an endless buffet of entertainment and scenery, South Florida has become a natural hibernation destination for professional athletes across all sports. Oweh, coming off a career-high 10 sacks in his fourth season but none in the loss to the Bills, and entering a contract year, also had a bitter taste he was looking cleanse from his palate. “We didn’t have the outing, at least I didn’t have the outing I wanted, so I thought a lot of that had to do with my weight and being able to be stout in certain positions,” he said last week during voluntary organized team activities in Owings Mills. “So, as soon as the season was done, I went to Miami, started eating, lifting and then gaining weight.” Despite being one of the world’s best food cities, it wasn’t quite as appetizing as it sounds. “It actually wasn’t good food,” Oweh continued. “It was a lot of nasty meal prep — dry chicken, Brussels sprouts, asparagus — but it did the job.” Indeed. Between a new diet and new workout routine, the 26-year-old went from 245 pounds during last season to what he says is about 265 pounds this spring. The goal was simple: bulk up and get stronger without losing the speed that had become a hallmark of his game. So through his manager, Oweh enlisted the services of Jordan Collins of DBC Fitness. Collins, a 20-year veteran of the fitness industry who ran track at Auburn and also has a football background, specializes in strength training, linear speed development, deceleration and landing mechanics as well as returning to play from injury. “He had done group sessions his whole career,” Collins said of the company’s individual program. “He really wanted to change things up and really dedicate himself fully.” To Oweh, the relationship was exactly what he was looking for. Despite career highs in sacks and pressures (28, per Pro Football Reference) as well as ranking 17th among edge rushers in pass rush win-rate, per ESPN analytics, a review of game film by Collins revealed a lack of power from the 6-foot-5 specimen. That was evident during the regular season as well as the playoffs. Though Oweh had a sack and three hits on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in a wild-card win in Baltimore, he was held to zero sacks and hits on Josh Allen when facing the Bills, who had one of the league’s best offensive lines last season. Enter Collins, who first put Oweh through an orthopedic assessment with DBC performance coach Chaney Knowlton, before drawing up an intense schedule. “The first session we had, he went through five to six bottles of water in 90 minutes with puddles of sweat everywhere. I was like dude,” Collins said. “He was talking to me and said he’d lose maybe 10 pounds a practice and about 15 pounds a game and that it’s hard for him to hold his weight during the season.” So, Collins force fed him, with a nutritional shake after every workout followed by a full meal — one of six or seven during Oweh’s day — before he was allowed to leave the facility following tissue work. The plan was next-level for Oweh, too. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the first half of the sessions focused entirely on a lower body combo of movement patterning, speed and plyometrics, while the second half would entail heavy lower body weightlifting. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the focus was upper body lifting with Oweh pushing as much weight and volume as he could. There was also 10 to 20 minutes of stretching daily, preceded by a daily wellness questionnaire to gauge his soreness, energy level and the amount and quality of sleep from the night before. The routine carried on for six weeks — save for OTAs and other duties for the Ravens — and he’ll return to Miami for a few more weeks once OTAs and mandatory minicamp later this month conclude. “He didn’t have the strength to bulldoze an offensive tackle and hunker down in some of the run game,” Collins said. “Especially from the upper body perspective.” The workouts had to account for prior injuries that included at least two past shoulder surgeries, including one for what Collins said was a torn labrum following the 2023 season. “His goals were be healthy, stronger at the point of attack and move around offensive linemen and be able to rush from anywhere,” Collins said. “It was real simple at that point. Get him as strong as humanly possible, get him as mobile as humanly possible and let the athlete be an athlete.” Being athletic has, of course, never been an issue for Oweh, whom Baltimore drafted 31st overall out of Penn State in 2021. Production, however, has been more mixed. Over his first three seasons, Oweh had just 11 sacks total and never more than five in a season. He also struggled to be consistent and finish plays. His results took a big step forward last season, though, and the progression with his new powerful frame puts the salary-cap-strapped Ravens in an interesting position. Though they appear interested in signing him to a contract extension, there’s no indication the two sides are close on a long-term deal. Baltimore also used a second-round draft pick this year on highly-touted edge rusher Mike Green, despite off-field character concerns over two sexual assault allegations that some teams had over the former Marshall standout. And while fellow outside linebacker and veteran Kyle Van Noy is also in a contract year, along with David Ojabo, the Ravens have hopes for 2023 fourth-round pick Tavius Robinson and 2024 third-round pick Adisa Isaac to continue to develop into every-down players. Another strong year for Oweh could also price him out of Baltimore. Related Articles READER POLL: Are you happy with how the Ravens are renovating M&T Bank Stadium? All about fun: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely hosts charity softball game Mike Preston: Ravens LB Trenton Simpson must take next step | COMMENTARY Ravens offer peek at latest stadium renovations, including premium seating M&T Bank Stadium plans new dining venues ahead of Ravens season “I would be crazy to say that’s not something a little bit in the back of my mind,” he said of his contract. “But every year I try to get better, try to be better than I was last year. So to be honest, that’s really what I’m focused on. I know if I do that, it’s going to take care of itself.” While OTAs — where contact isn’t allowed — don’t offer much in terms of how Oweh’s bulk will translate on the field, coach John Harbaugh has been pleased so far. “I’m just really happy with Odafe right now, in terms of what he’s done in the last three months,” he said. “He’s worked really hard. He’s just very determined to be really great. Again, my goal for him is to be All-Pro. Go be the best, be the best in the business, and that’s tough, because there’s a lot of good players playing his position, but that’s the way he sees himself, and let’s go for it. “I can see him being — if you want to call it that — a more direct rusher. Use his power, use [the] bull [rush] a little bit more.” Could Oweh’s new bulk slow him down, though, and impact his repertoire? “I wouldn’t say change, maybe sharpen it,” he said. “Obviously, I’m kind of a power-savvy, too, with my rush, so I could build off that more. And then, like I said, when I try to dip and bring the rip up, I’ll be more solid and stout in that.” Still, losing speed was one of the reasons why Oweh was hesitant to add more weight in the past, Collins said. Now that he has, however, he has set another goal: more sacks than last season. “Just try to be more than that,” he said. “I’ve got a number in my head though, but I’ll keep that to myself.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens on Thursday unveiled the progress of their latest round of renovations to M&T Bank Stadium, which includes a 6,600-square-foot retail space with a second-floor hospitality area and plenty of premium options for the highest paying customers. We want to know your thoughts about how the team is utilizing $489 million that is being spent on the alterations, almost all of which is public money. We want to know what you think. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely ended the home run derby in style, tossing his bat emphatically for all to see on his final swing. The fourth-year tight end swapped out his helmet and shoulder pads for a glove and bat alongside many of his teammates Sunday afternoon at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Likely hosted the first Isaiah Likely Charity Softball Slam, which benefited Special Olympics Maryland. Fourteen of Likely’s teammates, including Trenton Simpson, Jordan Stout, Tavius Robinson, Devin Leary, Devontez Walker and Charlie Kolar, participated in the event. The afternoon began with a home run derby followed by a six-inning game that pitted the offense against the defense, which ended in an 11-5 victory for the offense. “I want to inspire hope, inspire a smile,” Likely said. “Having the fans watch us every Sunday, Monday, Thursday on the field with our helmets on, to finally get to take the helmet off and show them us outside of our comfort zone, playing another sport. Another sport we get to inspire. The youth really just coming up, letting them know you can make a change, you can do something.” Throughout the six innings, the players and fans soaked in every moment with persistent trash talk on both sides. Likely’s voice echoed loudly above the rest in that aspect, waving bye and encouraging the defensive team to return to the dugout after each out. The offense couldn’t contain their laughter after each defensive team miscue as their lead continued to grow. Meanwhile, early on, Likely flashed the leather with a rangy catch in center field that brought lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd. At one point, Likely and his fellow offensive outfielders were so unimpressed by the defense’s hitting that they lied down in the outfield for several hitters. Offensively, though, Leary and wide receiver Tylan Wallace were the stars with a combined three home runs. Wallace, the fifth-year wideout and return specialist, returned to his baseball roots. Wallace hit a pair of no-doubt home runs. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens LB Trenton Simpson must take next step | COMMENTARY Ravens offer peek at latest stadium renovations, including premium seating M&T Bank Stadium plans new dining venues ahead of Ravens season Joe Flacco enters Browns competition as favorite to be starting QB Ravens TE Mark Andrews reflects on Bills playoff loss, addresses contract “It was a lot of fun,” he said. “Being able to just come out here, bond with your teammates, see the guys run around a little bit and being able to interact with the fans. It means the most. Being able to just be around here with the fans, sign some autographs and just really bond with your teammates, I enjoyed it. Not all teams do stuff like this. I’m happy Isaiah put it on, and I appreciate him doing this for the community.” Throughout the afternoon, Ravens players gathered along the first and third-base line for autographs and interacted with fans. At one point, Stout accepted a generous offer from a fan in left field for french fries, the type of unique opportunity for fans to see some of their favorite players and their relationships as teammates in a different light. Likely ended the afternoon by issuing a heartfelt thanks to those in attendance as he and his teammates lined up one final time to sign as many autographs as possible. “I can’t tell you how much I love the city of Baltimore,” Likely said. “I appreciate you all coming out. I appreciate Special Olympics Maryland for having me. I appreciate the Baltimore boys, my brothers coming out here with me and having fun in front of you all. Next stop is the season.” Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Steinberg at jsteinberg@baltsun.com, 443-442-9445 and x.com/jacobstein23. Ravens long snapper Nick Moore reacts after winning the home run derby. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

For Ravens weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson, the sequel has to be better than the original. In his second NFL season, the 2023 third-round draft pick out of Clemson finished with 73 tackles. That might be good for a reserve, but not a starter. Since they are mostly uncovered, weakside linebackers generally finish second or third on their team in tackles, right up there with a safety. But after Week 13, the Ravens benched Simpson, and Chris Board and Malik Harrison shared starting duties for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs. Board then signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the New York Giants on March 12, and a day later Harrison finalized a two-year agreement for $10 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Guess who is the Ravens’ starting weakside linebacker going into training camp next month? It’s Simpson, based more on design than the lack of available talent. “Most definitely, I expect to start,” said Simpson, who started with the first group in base defense Wednesday in the first voluntary practice of organized team activities that was open to the media. “That was my goal all through the offseason, just to improve and earn the trust of my teammates and coaches. I expect a big year for myself.” So do the Ravens. Last year, Simpson was benched in what coach John Harbaugh termed a “reset period.” He was right. The reviews were mixed on the 23-year-old Simpson. There were times when he looked lost and couldn’t find a running back or tight end in coverage even with the aid of a navigation system. That was strange because he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds with a 1.55-second 10-yard split at the 2023 NFL scouting combine, both elite marks for the linebacker position. There are some running backs who don’t run that fast. Simpson’s development, though, wasn’t about his great athleticism, but more about film study and recognizing down and distance. Then there is reaction time. A step slow in the NFL can lead to touchdowns. Many touchdowns. “I’m blessed to be playing the same defense going into my third year,” said Simpson, who is entering his second season with defensive coordinator and former inside linebackers coach Zach Orr after playing his rookie year under Mike Macdonald. “Just going into this year, I have more understanding of what to expect from an offense, being ahead of the play. I learned so much last year; grew a lot from what I went through and am so excited.” The effort to learn and grow is sincere because of Simpson’s sense of humility. Also, the Ravens have him as a starter with William Kwenkeu and rookies Teddye Buchanan and Chandler Martin behind him. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, right, beats Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson, left, for a catch in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season. The Ravens are counting on Simpson taking a step forward in 2025, his third NFL season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Simpson, from Charlotte, North Carolina, reported to offseason workouts weeks before most other Ravens. Last year, he played at 235 pounds but has added 6-8 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-2 frame. He is chiseled because of a diet that has helped increase his strength. He now squats over 500 pounds. “I’m just competing with myself,” Simpson said. “Honestly, just being sharp myself, focusing on coming in every day, making sure I know the game plan, communicating at a high level and playing fast. I truly feel like this year is just me versus me, and I want to go out there and make plays. “I mean, going back, I just did a lot of self-evaluation and looking at myself in the mirror and I knew that I wanted to gain a little bit more weight so I can be more stout against the run. I mean, I can run fast regardless of whatever weight I’m at. God gave me speed, so yeah, the weight was something I wanted to improve on myself.” There will be some missing parts. Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith will be in the middle again, and Simpson counted on him for advice. But he also was tutored by Harrison and Board, who are now playing elsewhere. Once considered a youngster, Simpson has become a veteran. “We always had a solid room,” Simpson said. “One thing I took away from in my rookie year is both [Smith] and Patrick [Queen] both playing relentlessly, playing like a Raven. What I learned from them is something that I know will benefit me.” Related Articles Ravens offer peek at latest stadium renovations, including premium seating M&T Bank Stadium plans new dining venues ahead of Ravens season Joe Flacco enters Browns competition as favorite to be starting QB Ravens TE Mark Andrews reflects on Bills playoff loss, addresses contract Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘ready to get back to work’ at OTAs Simpson still remains in frequent contact with Queen, the player he replaced at the start of last season. Despite the Steelers being Baltimore’s top nemesis, Pittsburgh now has Queen and Harrison. But Simpson wants to focus only on himself. This season has to be a big one. “Truthfully, you just have to know how important the details are at this level,” Simpson said. “Just knowing concepts and tendencies, just understanding that it’s a battle, it’s a long season. You just got to be able to stick it through, continue to perform. I need to be in the right spots so my teammates can depend on me.” One person who will keep an eye on Simpson is Harbaugh. There cannot be another “reset” period. Those ground rules were set after last season. “Trenton Simpson is a young player for sure, so there’s not any one thing I think [that] any one player needs to work on, but for Trenton, it’s going to be just processing the game at the position,” Harbaugh said. “That’s a function of study, for sure, but just also reps and confidence and learning the defense, understanding what the offense is trying to do. Then, when you get out there, processing the game, reacting, and I guess putting that physical ability — which is so prolific — putting it to good use.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

As Ravens players line up to take the field this season at M&T Bank Stadium, some fans will be able to get closer than ever before, with only a glass wall separating them from quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and his teammates. The same will hold true after games, with some fans also able to view postgame news conferences taking place inside the team’s interview room through a two-way mirror as coach John Harbaugh, Jackson and other players field questions from reporters in the fishbowl setting. Those are just two of the elements in the second of three phases of renovations that will debut this fall and which were on display during a tour for reporters Thursday afternoon. Along with other accoutrements, they will help bring the 27-year-old structure up to par with many other stadiums around the league that already offer such experiences and more. They also come at a premium. Only fans who pay top dollar for a membership to “The Trust” — one of three new exclusive clubs being offered this year, along with the “The Raven” and the “Champions Club” — will be able to access the space, which will include decorative touches such as the words to Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” upon entering. Its addition follows last season’s unveiling of the bespoke “Blackwing” suites, which are outfitted with marble counters, huge televisions, plush seating and high-end dining options. It also follows a trend in today’s stadium world, where keeping up with the Joneses with posh and pricey upgrades that cater to just a small but well-paying crowd has become part and parcel with an eye on attracting a broader spectrum of events and fans to the 71,008-seat venue. “Just one correction, we are at the premier stadium in the Mid-Atlantic already,” Ravens president Sashi Brown said Thursday when he was asked about the organization’s desire to be the top stadium in the region. “We wanted to make sure we invested to ensure that moving forward.” Indeed. The state had already earmarked $434 million in public money for the renovations, which are expected to be completed in 2026. But because the project ran over budget, the Ravens will kick in another $55 million, with the Maryland Stadium Authority reimbursing them up to $35 million, as announced earlier this year. That would bring the total price tag to about $489 million, with most of the money made available through a 2022 state law that allowed the stadium authority to borrow up to $1.2 billion in bonds to improve M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards ($600 million for each). By agreeing in January 2023 to a lease until at least 2037, the Ravens unlocked their share of those state funds. Other luxurious upgrades scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2025 season include the “Legends Suites” in the west end zone. There, high-paying customers will have access to a private suite area as well as members-only bar and food service, along with two rows of seats — 160 in total — on the field level. . From the "Legends Suites," fans who pay for premium access can watch the game from on-field seats in the west end zone ay M&T Bank Stadium. (Kim Hairston/Staff) But the sumptuous enhancements aren’t just for Ravens games, of which there will be nine at home this season. “The nice thing about these renovations is the ability to activate the stadium in more dynamic ways,” Brown said. “We think this makes the stadium more attractive for third-party events — soccer matches, concerts.” While Baltimore lost out on its bid to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Brown added that he has been in contact with the organization, as well as the Premier League and other soccer organizations, to ensure that the stadium would meet their myriad needs. Those talks have extended to the NFL as well, with a desire to be a host city for the NFL draft. Currently, Pittsburgh and Washington are scheduled to hold the draft in 2026 and 2027, respectively, after Green Bay, Wisconsin, was the site of this year’s three-day festivities. It’s a multi-layered process that will likely take at least a few more years, however. “We think this renovation positions us really well to have the stadium be a complementary piece of that,” Brown said. “NFL drafts take over the better part of a city, not just a stadium.” Not all of the latest round of renovations will cater to an exclusive crowd. The north plaza’s east structure will include a 6,600-square foot retail space with a second-floor hospitality area. The store will be open year-round and include the ability for fans to have a customized jersey created on the spot. Ravens team president Sashi Brown said renovations at M&T Bank Stadium "positions us to be one of the best stadiums if not the best stadium in the NFL for a long time." (Kim Hairston/Staff) The plaza’s west structure, which is expected to be completed in 2026, will include a three-level, open-air tailgate and concert venue as well as an indoor sports bar. Other venues open to all in 2025 include a new and larger roughly 5,000-square foot retail space on the west side of the stadium, where the team’s ticket office previously stood. A retail store at Gate A, meanwhile, is being converted into a walk-through “Ravenous Chicken” venue. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens LB Trenton Simpson must take next step | COMMENTARY M&T Bank Stadium plans new dining venues ahead of Ravens season Joe Flacco enters Browns competition as favorite to be starting QB Ravens TE Mark Andrews reflects on Bills playoff loss, addresses contract Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘ready to get back to work’ at OTAs “It’s been a team effort,” Brown said, citing the work senior vice president of stadium operations and guest experience Rich Tamayo and senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs have done in the lead-up. “We are real excited where M&T Bank Stadium sits today, and with these additional elements that are provided by the renovation in a joint venture between us and the state, we think it positions us to be one of the best stadiums if not the best stadium in the NFL for a long time.” He also, however, acknowledged the push for more elevated experiences in today’s landscape. “From concessions to just the everyday fan experience, certainly what’s happened over the last 20 years in sports venues, professional sports venues, college sports venues, has been to bring more offerings and what’s called premium or club spaces,” Brown said. “But a lot of our investment here is going to really touch every fan who comes in the building.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Nearly two months before M&T Bank Stadium welcomes fans back for its first preseason game, the Ravens are preparing to serve up several new venues for food and beverages, including a walk-through dining concept and a “hospitality village” on a rooftop setting. In 2023, the Ravens announced a three-year renovation project to level up stadium infrastructure and offerings. With the upgrades come new dining spaces. Here are the highlights. The most stadium-accessible of these developments will be a repurposed team retail store at Section 153, which will transform into a food hub featuring the preexisting “Ravenous Chicken” fried-chicken-centric concessions, as well as offerings from other to-be-announced vendors. “Ravenous Chicken has been a great concept for us,” said Brad Downs, senior vice president of marketing for the Ravens. Its newest space will boast self-serve food slides and reach-in beverage coolers to maximize efficiency. The North Plaza "Hospitality Village" is currently under construction at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jane Godiner/Staff) Fans will also be able to make their way to North Plaza to try bites and sips from an under-construction “Hospitality Village,” which will sit atop of a new retail plaza with a jersey customization shop. The upstairs hospitality space will feature a full-service bar and two built-in food and beverage areas, as well as a seating area for upwards of 300 guests. During non-game days, the area will serve as an event space. “We love our rooftops here in Baltimore,” Downs said. Richard Tamayo, senior vice president of stadium operations, added that he doesn’t foresee this upstairs area becoming overly packed. “It’ll be a very comfortable, very good social experience,” he said. Aside from these public dining venues, the stadium will also add three field-level premium clubs, which have for-purchase memberships available exclusively to Personal Seat License owners: The Raven: Near the 50-yard line and complete with nods to Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” Champions Club: Behind the west end zone and with bars that pay homage to the Ravens’ two Super Bowl victories. The Trust: On the south side of the stadium, themed after 1900s Baltimore banks. Related Articles Baltimore mussels restaurant Bertha’s sells for $1.2M at auction Tangy cherry preserves bring balance to this ancient ricotta tart Charlsie’s Bakehouse owner plans next gig after Catonsville bakery closure Recipes: Use blackberries to make a pie, tiny cakes and even a salad Catonsville bakery to shutter with ‘Grand Closing’ celebration At each of these clubs, as well as the under-construction Legend Suites, members can expect a range of food and drink options — from all-inclusive premium cocktails to a sushi bar. More information about concessions and dining at M&T Bank Stadium, said Downs and Tamayo, will be announced in the weeks leading up to opening day. Have a news tip? Contact Jane Godiner at jgodiner@baltsun.com or on Instagram as @JaneCraves. View the full article

BEREA, Ohio — Kenny Pickett realizes that almost all the offseason attention devoted to the Cleveland Browns is on the quarterback competition. Pickett wants to make one thing abundantly clear, though — even though it is a competition, things haven’t gotten heated inside the quarterback room. “I think the outside world makes it a lot bigger than it is. Of course, we’re all competing, but you become friends with everybody,” Pickett said on Wednesday after the Browns completed their second day of organized team activities. “I think it’s a great media headline, but when you get in the building in a quarterback room and at least all the ones I’ve been in, you really become friends with these guys, and we’re just pushing each other.” Pickett and former Ravens star Joe Flacco got the majority of the snaps with the veterans. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel got one series of 11-on-11 drills on the main field, while fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders had none. Gabriel and Sanders got most of their work with the other rookies on the adjacent field. Even though he is 40 years old, Flacco is the slight favorite to be under center when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7 in the season opener. “It’s funny, it’s like every time I go out here in the offseason, I’ve done it a million times, but it’s like there’s a little piece of you that’s like, ‘All right, let’s see if I still know how to read it and let it go and do all those things.’ So it’s good to get back out there and start doing it again,” said Flacco, the AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2023, after he went 4-1 as a starter and led the Browns to the playoffs for only the third time since their return in 1999. Even though Flacco said this is the first quarterback competition of this magnitude he has experienced since being a sophomore in high school in Audubon, New Jersey, he isn’t focused too much on it at this stage of the offseason. “I’m just going out there and doing what I do, and everything else is kind of out of my control. So all I can do is go out there and play football and that’s what I’m doing,” Flacco said. The Browns acquired Pickett in a trade with Philadelphia when the league year opened in March. Pickett started one game last season for the Super Bowl champion Eagles while backing up Jalen Hurts. He was 14-10 as a starter in two years with Pittsburgh after being the Steelers first-round pick in 2022. Pickett admitted that there are more similarities between the Eagles’ and Browns’ offenses than most people realize. The biggest thing he has focused on is getting up to speed with the terminology. “I think it has gone well. They’re doing a great job of getting everyone reps to get experience with the offense and get a feel for everybody,” he said. In 2023, Joe Flacco went 4-1 as the starter and led the Browns to the playoffs. (AP Photo/Phil Long) Pickett and Flacco both have developed a good rapport with Jerry Jeudy. The sixth-year wide receiver had one of the day’s best catches on a deep route from Flacco on one of the first plays during 11-on-11 drills. “It’s been good. I don’t think there were many dropped balls,” Jeudy said. “So quarterbacks were putting balls right on the money and receivers were making plays. We’re going to keep doing that.” Gabriel had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage and picked off by first-round pick Mason Graham. Both Gabriel and Sanders fared well in 7-on-7 drills against rookies. Coach Kevin Stefanski said all of the rookies’ snaps remain valuable, whether they are on or off the field. “They’re being graded on every play. And there’s a variety of things that they’re being graded on, but for the quarterback, decision-making, technique, accuracy, those type of things,” he said. “We love the opportunity being out here on the practice field and have two drills where we can maximize all the time that we’re out here.” Garrett’s absence There were two notable absences at Wednesday’s voluntary practice. Defensive end Myles Garrett is in Japan and accompanied Olympic snowboard gold medalist Chloe Kim at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Stefanski said he didn’t know if Garrett would be back with the team before the mandatory minicamp begins on June 10. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who signed with the team on May 5, might be the bigger no-show since the Browns are his fourth team in less than a year. “I’m worried about day to day, but let me reiterate, this is a voluntary program across the NFL guys,″ Stefanski said. “That’s their right, whether they’re here or not. The guys that are here, we coach ’em up. The guys that aren’t here, that is totally their decision to make.” View the full article

A little more than four months removed from his infamous dropped 2-point conversion in the Ravens’ divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills last season, Mark Andrews called the ignominious if not vexing moment “motivation” for the season ahead. “It’s tough,” he said at voluntary organized team activities Wednesday in Owings Mills in what were his first comments to reporters since the 27-25 defeat at a snowy Highmark Stadium that ended Baltimore’s bid for a Super Bowl title in January. “This is my life. I’ve put a lot of work into this and everything I do is focused on that, everything I think about is focused on that, and so it wasn’t the way that I had planned it, but that’s all part of the story. “I’ve been using it, and I’ve had an incredible offseason, and I’m excited just to show what I can continue to do and continue to prove myself and step up in big moments. And that’s the thing about sports is that it doesn’t always fall your way. It doesn’t always go your way, but it’s how you bounce back.” That story was a stunning moment, for the veteran and star tight end and the Ravens. In the defeat to Buffalo, Andrews also lost a fumble midway through the fourth quarter shortly after crossing midfield that the Bills turned into what ended up being the decisive field goal. Still, the Ravens had a chance to tie the game after Lamar Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely on a 24-yard touchdown with 1:44 remaining. But as Jackson rolled right on the 2-point attempt and Andrews came open at the goal line, Andrews bobbled and dropped the ball as he fell backward into the end zone on the slick turf. After the game — one in which Baltimore had three turnovers, including two by Jackson — Andrews was not made available to reporters. He also didn’t appear at locker cleanout at the team’s facility the next afternoon. Later that week, Andrews posted a statement on Instagram, saying he was “absolutely gutted” by what happened and that he was “devastated” for his teammates. Meanwhile, trade speculation swirled almost immediately once the loss set in. Andrews, who will turn 30 in September, is entering the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract. Likely, 25, is also in the final year of his rookie contract, as is fellow tight end Charlie Kolar, 26, and being able to extend all three players is unfeasible, particularly with the need to address other extensions, including one for Jackson. General manager Eric DeCosta finally put Andrews trade speculation to bed when he said during the draft that he fully expected him to be on the team this season, but Andrews’ future beyond 2025 remains uncertain at best. Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews, left, and Isaiah Likely practice on Wednesday at voluntary OTAs. Likely called Andrews a "big brother" to him during his NFL career. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Andrews is coming off a year in which he became the franchise leader in career touchdowns, but he averaged just 39.6 receiving yards per game, his lowest mark since his rookie year in 2018. He also counts $16.9 million against the salary cap, the third-highest mark on the team behind only Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith, and there have yet to be discussions about an extension. Asked about whether he expected to be back this season or whether he expects an extension, Andrews demurred, saying he’s just focused on helping the team and that the cards will fall where they may. “It’s not for me to deal with that,” he said. “I thought Eric had a great way to say it — he’s in the business of keeping great players and, for me, I’m a great player. “I think I’ve been able to do it at the highest level, the best of the best for a long time and I’m not slowing down.” Unsurprisingly, Likely was just one player glad to see Andrews back on the field for what was a well-attended two-hour practice on Wednesday. “That’s big brother,” Likely said of Andrews. “I’m glad everybody’s speculation died down.” It also wasn’t the first time since that defeat to the Bills that the two tight ends had spoken. After the game, Likely said he texted Andrews. He wanted to let him know that one moment does not define a career. Related Articles Joe Flacco enters Browns competition as favorite to be starting QB Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘ready to get back to work’ at OTAs Renderings of renovations to Ravens stadium | PHOTOS Ravens hit the field again this week. Here are 5 things to watch. READER POLL: How should the Orioles approach the MLB trade deadline? “I said don’t let one play really let you forget that you’re an All-Pro,” Likely said. “Everybody knows how fantastic Mark’s been, making plays since before I even got here. “Him being him, he’s gonna take it all in, let the moment happen and just be a pro.” That includes moving beyond the loss to the Bills. “As a professional, it’s all about being able to move past it but storing that in the memory bank and understanding that this is not the end,” Andrews said. “This is something I’m going to work with, and get better and improve and move on.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews warms up during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews warms up during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins and wide receiver Malik Cunningham Ravens during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens offensive line backer Odafe Owen takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens head coach John Harbaugh takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely makes a catch during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews, left, and Isaiah Likely practice on Wednesday at voluntary OTAs. Likely called Andrews a "big brother" to him during his NFL career. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely gestures during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and ..Cooper Rush participate in OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum and quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Show Caption1 of 22Ravens tight end Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Expand View the full article

As Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely put it, a strong attendance for the first open practice of organized team activities is a credit to the sour taste leftover from their playoff loss in Buffalo and the joy that comes with getting back on the field. But having quarterback Lamar Jackson taking reps at the Owings Mills facility on Wednesday heightened that May football energy to a new level. “Having one of your leaders — really your top dog — out there showing that he’s ready to get back to work,” Likely said of the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. It’s a heel turn from this time last year, when Jackson was absent for a majority of the offseason’s voluntary practices. That reportedly cost Baltimore’s franchise quarterback his summer workout bonus of $750,000. NBC Sports reported that Jackson must complete at least 80% of the team’s optional workouts for the bonus to kick in, which is inked into his contract through 2027. Jackson was not made available to speak with reporters after Wednesday’s practice, but his coach was impressed with what he saw. “He works hard at it. It means a lot to him,” John Harbaugh said. “He’s been studying. He’s been training. You can tell what kind of shape he’s in right now, you can see by the way he threw the ball today. He’s on point with the offense. He’s ready. He’s ready to get going. Had a heck of a day today. I think what you saw today with him is probably indicative of everybody.” Added tight end Mark Andrews: “There’s no one more hungry than Lamar. … Just being around him, it’s infectious. How driven he is and how focused he is on the end goal.” The Ravens had a surprisingly strong showing at the first open OTA session. Baltimore has eight more scheduled practices over the next two weeks before holding mandatory minicamp in June and training camp in July. Safety Ar’Darius Washington (torn Achilles tendon) and rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. (labrum) were expected injury-related absences. A pair of offseason additions did not participate: Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and linebacker Jake Hummel. Veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and right guard Daniel Faalele were also missing. Harbaugh said that Faalele is “working on some physical things” but should be back on the field soon. Around the horn • Washington, who suffered a clean Achilles tear earlier this month, told Harbaugh that he intends to be back on the field by November. “He’s always been a quick healer,” Harbaugh said. “I’m looking at November [or] December, in my mind.” Washington, 25, last month signed the less expensive, $3.3 million one-year tender to stay in Baltimore. Related Articles Joe Flacco enters Browns competition as favorite to be starting QB Ravens TE Mark Andrews reflects on Bills playoff loss, addresses contract Renderings of renovations to Ravens stadium | PHOTOS Ravens hit the field again this week. Here are 5 things to watch. READER POLL: How should the Orioles approach the MLB trade deadline? • Rookie Tyler Loop did not kick on Wednesday as part of an alternating day off with undrafted free agent John Hoyland. Harbaugh reiterated that the organization’s decision to release veteran Justin Tucker was a “many-layered decision” and a “football decision.” Tucker was accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen Baltimore-area massage therapists and is currently under investigation by the NFL. • Edge rusher Odafe Oweh said a “nasty” offseason diet of dry chicken, Brussels sprouts and asparagus helped bulk up from 245 pounds last season to now around 265. The 2021 first-round draft pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract. • The Ravens are working to schedule joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders, two of three opponents on their preseason schedule. Baltimore announced that its preseason finale at Washington will be Saturday, Aug. 23, at noon. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins and wide receiver Malik Cunningham Ravens during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens offensive line backer Odafe Owen takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens head coach John Harbaugh takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews takes questions after OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely makes a catch during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)From left, Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Cooper Rush participate in OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center on Wednesday. Jackson's presence increased the energy of the workouts, according to tight end Isaiah Likely. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum and quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely gestures during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews warms up during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Ravens tight end Mark Andrews warms up during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Show Caption1 of 22Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Expand View the full article

Renderings of phase 2 of the M&T Bank Stadium renovations. Champions Club is located behind the west end zone, the Champions Club will be home to two featured bars celebrating each of the Ravens' Super Bowl victories. Club membership offers a premium bar experience with all-inclusive food and beverage options and access to private restrooms throughout the game. Renderings of the Legends Suites in the West End Zone as part of the phase 2 renovations to M&T Bank Stadium. Suite holders can take in the game from two rows of seating directly on the field in the west end zone of M&T Bank Stadium. Guests will have access to both a private suite area and to a members-only social area outfitted with bar and food service stations before, during and after the game. The space will also feature a sushi bar. (Scheduled Completion: 2025) Renderings of phase 2 of the M&T Bank Stadium renovations. Champions Club is located behind the west end zone, the Champions Club will be home to two featured bars celebrating each of the Ravens' Super Bowl victories. Club membership offers a premium bar experience with all-inclusive food and beverage options and access to private restrooms throughout the game. Rendering of The Trust, presented by M&T Bank. The Trust, one of the three new club memberships being offered to PSL owners is located on the south side of M&T Bank Stadium, is an ultra-premium, lower concourse club that offers unique team access, including views of the Ravens' player tunnel at the 50-yard line and the post-game press conference room. The space encapsulates a lounge-like atmosphere with design elements reminiscent of early 1900s Baltimore banks. Renderings of phase 2 of the M&T Bank Stadium renovations. Champions Club is located behind the west end zone, the Champions Club will be home to two featured bars celebrating each of the Ravens' Super Bowl victories. Club membership offers a premium bar experience with all-inclusive food and beverage options and access to private restrooms throughout the game. The Raven, one of the three new club memberships being offered to PSL owners. Situated near the 50-yard line and underneath the lower level, The Raven is located on the north side of M&T Bank Stadium and provides an elevated club experience. The space will feature thematic touches related to the team's namesake, the poem "The Raven." Rendering of The Trust, presented by M&T Bank. The Trust, one of the three new club memberships being offered to PSL owners is located on the south side of M&T Bank Stadium, is an ultra-premium, lower concourse club that offers unique team access, including views of the Ravens' player tunnel at the 50-yard line and the post-game press conference room. The space encapsulates a lounge-like atmosphere with design elements reminiscent of early 1900s Baltimore banks. Renderings of the Northeast Retail & Hospitality Village at M&T Bank Stadium. The east structure will feature a 6,600 square foot retail space with a second-floor hospitality area. The store will be an immersive shopping experience for Ravens fans on both gameday and non-gamedays. Open year-round, the store will feature RFID self-checkout, a unique Nike feature display and a jersey customization shop. (Scheduled Completion: 2025) Rendering of The Raven, one of the three new club memberships being offered to PSL owners. Situated near the 50-yard line and underneath the lower level, The Raven is located on the north side of M&T Bank Stadium and provides an elevated club experience. The space will feature thematic touches related to the team's namesake, the poem "The Raven." Renderings of the Legends Suites in the West End Zone. Suite holders can take in the game from two rows of seating directly on the field in the west end zone of M&T Bank Stadium. Guests will have access to both a private suite area and to a members-only social area outfitted with bar and food service stations before, during and after the game. The space will also feature a sushi bar. (Scheduled Completion: 2025) Renderings of phase 2 of the M&T Bank Stadium renovations. Champions Club is located behind the west end zone, the Champions Club will be home to two featured bars celebrating each of the Ravens' Super Bowl victories. Club membership offers a premium bar experience with all-inclusive food and beverage options and access to private restrooms throughout the game. Renderings of new stadium video displays highlighted by a 216-foot video display at Gate A, wider than RavensVision, M&T Bank Stadium will add 29 new displays totaling over 6,500 square feet and more than 75 million pixels. (Additional upgrades scheduled for 2026 will increase the display totals to 12,000 square feet and 111 million total pixels.) Over 100 televisions will also be replaced with larger screens. (Scheduled Completion: 2025) Renderings of phase 2 of the M&T Bank Stadium renovations. Champions Club is located behind the west end zone, the Champions Club will be home to two featured bars celebrating each of the Ravens' Super Bowl victories. Club membership offers a premium bar experience with all-inclusive food and beverage options and access to private restrooms throughout the game. Renderings of new stadium video displays highlighted by a 216-foot video display at Gate A, wider than RavensVision. M&T Bank Stadium will add 29 new displays totaling over 6,500 square feet and more than 75 million pixels.nOver 100 televisions will also be replaced with larger screens. (Scheduled Completion: 2025) Renderings of the Northeast Retail & Hospitality Village at M&T Bank Stadium. The east structure will feature a 6,600 square foot retail space with a second-floor hospitality area. The store will be an immersive shopping experience for Ravens fans on both gameday and non-gamedays. Open year-round, the store will feature RFID self-checkout, a unique Nike feature display and a jersey customization shop. (Scheduled Completion: 2025) View the full article

The Ravens are back to work this week with the start of voluntary organized team activities, though that work never fully stopped. After the draft in the end of April, there was rookie minicamp. Then, Baltimore decided not to wait for the NFL’s investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against kicker Justin Tucker to conclude and released the 35-year-old potential Hall of Famer with nary a mention of said allegations in its statement. The team’s offseason workout program, meanwhile, has been ongoing, which included the news that safety Ar’Darius Washington suffered a torn Achilles tendon, an injury that will cost him most if not all of the season. And last week, Derrick Henry officially signed his two-year, $30 million extension, a move that keeps him, quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Justice Hill, receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten in Baltimore through at least the 2026 season. Now comes OTAs, which will kick off Tuesday and run through Thursday in Owings Mills, with only Wednesday’s session open to reporters. A similar schedule will play out in the two weeks that follow before a two-day mandatory minicamp June 17-18 — interestingly shortened from three days in recent years — in which all players are typically expected to report. There is no contact allowed, but seven-on-seven and full-team work is. Here are the biggest things to watch for this spring: Will Lamar Jackson be in attendance? The last time Jackson spoke with reporters, his frustration was in full throat following Baltimore’s divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills in January. In that game, the Ravens turned the ball over three times — with two of them coming via an interception by Jackson and then a fumble by the quarterback. As for whether he’ll be at OTAs, that’s still to be determined, though he has typically showed up for at least some of the voluntary sessions in the past. But his attendance — or lack thereof — could be worth watching for another reason. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is in line for a contract extension. Though Jackson’s current deal runs through the 2027 season, there’s an impetus for general manager Eric DeCosta to sign him to an extension sometime in the next roughly 10 months with Jackson’s salary cap number ballooning from $43.5 million this year to a prohibitive $74.5 million each of the next two. The Ravens said they have begun internal discussions about said extension, but what, if any, talks they’ve had with Jackson is still unclear, and both sides usually like to keep those conversations private. In 2022, a year before Jackson signed his current contract, he skipped OTAs, though he later said the decision was not contract-related. In the meantime, Jackson has been working out with Flowers in South Florida. The extent of those throwing sessions isn’t known, but a few clips have been posted to social media in recent days. The only question that remains is whether Jackson will be throwing to the rest of his receivers in Owings Mills during OTAs. Ravens kicker Tyler Loop practices during rookie minicamp. The sixth-round pick is tasked with replacing veteran Justin Tucker. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Kicking competition For the first time since 2012, the Ravens will have a new kicker. Sixth-round rookie Tyler Loop out of Arizona and undrafted free agent John Hoyland from Wyoming are expected to compete for the job. Loop is the favorite as the first kicker Baltimore has ever used a draft pick on, but it’s worth remembering that Tucker was an undrafted free agent when the Ravens signed him a few months after Billy Cundiff missed a potential game-tying 32-yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds of the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots in 2012. Related Articles READER POLL: How should the Orioles approach the MLB trade deadline? Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65 Olympic flag football: Which Ravens might consider going for gold? Ravens RB Derrick Henry ‘fell in love’ with franchise, wants Super Bowl Ravens add needed bulk to defensive line with veteran nose tackle Both Loop and Hoyland were on display during the team’s rookie minicamp earlier this month, and each missed some kicks on the day that was open to the media. But that’s also probably to be expected early on. As Tucker said after winning the job more than a decade ago, “To the naked eye, it doesn’t look like I’ve made a lot of changes, but I’ve made a complete transformation from the kicker I was in college to the kicker I am today.” Either way, expect the competition between Loop and Hoyland (and possibly a veteran free agent) to be one of the bigger stories of OTAs and training camp with Baltimore having to worry about a position that was a no-brainer for a dozen years. What will Mark Andrews have to say? While Jackson hasn’t spoken to reporters since after the Bills loss, Andrews hasn’t done so since dropping a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:33 remaining in that game. Andrews was not made available following the game and he did not appear at locker cleanout the next day. His only comments since came in an Instagram post a few days later and in an interview with ESPN as part of a promotional tour for a name, image and likeness program for college athletes with diabetes. In that interview, Andrews said his gloves were “soaked,” but that he still should have caught the pass. He also addressed the trade speculation that has swirled, saying his relationship with the Ravens and DeCosta is strong. Andrews is entering the final year of his contract, while fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, who at age 25 is five years younger and on the rise, is also in the final year of his rookie deal, thus fueling questions about Andrews’ future. The only certainty — for now — is that Andrews will be playing for the Ravens this season, with DeCosta having said as much during the draft. But a veteran as accomplished as Andrews, who still has a few productive seasons left playing on the final year of his deal, does present some questions. Most notably, does Andrews want to be extended before the season starts, and would he ask to be traded should the Ravens extend Likely? For a team with a roster fit for a Super Bowl run, it’s a delicate dance. Ravens safety Malaki Starks will take on an even bigger role after Ar'Darius Washington suffered a torn Achilles tendon. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) It’s Malaki Starks’ time The rookie safety and first-round pick playing early and often for Baltimore was always a possibility if not likelihood — everyone from DeCosta to coach John Harbaugh to others around the league have praised the former Georgia standout for his talent, maturity and football IQ. Now, with Washington out and the Ravens a little thinner at the position that possibility becomes a certainty. Even if Baltimore adds a veteran safety — there are plenty of affordable options on the market — Starks should get a chance to show off his medley of skills, and it will be interesting to see the development of second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade as well. “I just want to be a sponge,” Starks said earlier this month when asked about what he can learn from Washington and All-Pro and two-time All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. It’ll be interesting to watch how the Ravens deploy him without Washington in the fold. Either way, he’ll need to soak things up quickly. Cooper Rush is Lamar Jackson's new backup. (Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News/TNS) A new backup quarterback For the first time in a long time, the Ravens have made a notable investment in their No. 2 quarterback, signing veteran and former Dallas Cowboys backup Cooper Rush to a two-year, $6.2 million deal in March. It was a fascinating move after Baltimore spent little on the position in recent years, with 38-year-old Josh Johnson and 2020 undrafted free agent Tyler Huntley before that. It also gives the Ravens a much better option should Jackson miss any time because of injury, with Rush, 31, having appeared in 38 games, including 14 as a starter. Dallas was 9-5 in those games Rush started, which included the final eight of last season, and he’s coming off a year in which he completed 60.7% of his passes, threw for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions. With Jackson unlikely to be at every voluntary practice the next few weeks and the only other quarterback on the roster (for now) being project and last year’s sixth-round pick Devin Leary, Rush should get a healthy dose of snaps in a new offense over the next few weeks. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

History is not on the Orioles’ side. Teams this far below .500 at this point in the season have very rarely turned things around and made the postseason. And with the trade deadline looming later this season and Baltimore having plenty of capital to potentially trade away, it could make for an interesting summer. How should Baltimore approach the MLB trade deadline? We want to know your thoughts. 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

Jim Irsay, the Indianapolis Colts’ owner who leveraged the popularity of Peyton Manning into a new stadium and a Super Bowl title, died Wednesday at age 65. Pete Ward, Irsay’s longtime right-hand man and the teams chief operating officer, made the announcement in a statement from the team. He said Irsay died peacefully in his sleep. “Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed,” Ward said. “Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them.” After his father moved the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984, Irsay had a profound impact on the franchise. With Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian, Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy and Manning, Irsay helped turn the Colts from a laughingstock into a perennial title contender. But Irsay had battled health problems in recent years and became less visible following a fall at his home. Police officers from Carmel, Indiana, a northern suburb of Indy, responded to a 911 call from Irsay’s home Dec. 8. According to the police report, the officers found Irsay breathing but unresponsive and with a bluish skin tone. Ward, the report said, told officers he was worried Irsay was suffering from congestive heart failure and that Irsay’s nurse had said Irsay’s oxygen level was low, his breathing was labored and he was “mostly” unconscious. A month later, he was diagnosed with a respiratory illness. During his annual training camp news conference last summer, Irsay told reporters he was continuing to rehab from two subsequent surgeries — though he remained seated in his golf cart. Irsay did not speak during the recent NFL draft as he typically did. He had also battled addictions to alcohol and painkillers. Irsay began his football life as a ball boy after his late father, Robert, acquired the team in a trade with the late Carroll Rosenbloom, who took over the Los Angeles Rams. The younger Irsay then worked his way up, becoming the youngest general manager in NFL history at age 24. He succeeded his father as owner in early 1997. He also collected guitars, befriended musicians and often found inspiration in rock ’n’ roll lyrics. This article will be updated. View the full article

NFL players in the Olympics? It might be happening. At the spring meetings Tuesday, NFL owners unanimously approved allowing players to participate in flag football for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. While it’s not a done deal yet, the vote authorized the league to negotiate safety provisions and scheduling logistics with the NFL Players Association and relevant international and national team governing bodies. As part of the basic structure that will continue to be negotiated before teams suit up in three years, no more than one player per NFL team would be permitted and Olympic rosters will be selected by the national committee for each country. A quick rules overview: Olympic flag football will be played five-on-five on a 70-by-25-yard field with two 20-minute halves. There are no linemen, and jumping and diving as the ball carrier is illegal. Teams have four downs to reach midfield and four downs to score a touchdown, so there’s no punting or kicking. There are also no run plays allowed within 5 yards of the end zone. Could the Ravens get in on the fun? Here’s a look at some notable players and why they might or might not participate: Lamar Jackson Why he might play: Jackson is a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and one of the game’s most popular players, both on and off the field. The NFL has been steadily increasing its global footprint in recent years with more international games and expanding marketing rights for teams, including the Ravens. What better way to grow the game than having one of its biggest stars be the face of Team USA? Jackson has also been business savvy throughout his career, holding firm in his prolonged negotiations for a five-year, $260 million contract extension in 2023, creating Era 8 Apparel and opening up a restaurant in South Florida. He wasn’t afraid to file a trademark opposition against NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. either. The NFL is already a hugely popular draw domestically, but this would be a chance to reach a lot more fans around the world and land some big-time endorsements. Being the star quarterback for the first flag football competition in Olympics history could also be part of Jackson’s growing legacy. It might not be in the first paragraph of his career resume when it’s all said and done, but it could be a memorable part of his journey. Why he might not: There’s a lot of red tape that could prevent Jackson from taking part in such an endeavor. For starters, there’s the injury risk that comes with any serious competition that takes place outside the normal preparation and performance of a strictly regimented NFL season. When asked about the potential of NFL players in the Olympics during the owners meetings in late March, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was less than thrilled. “I’m afraid I have a quarterback that’d probably be pretty good at it, so no, I’m not that excited about that in all honesty,” he said. “I believe in America. I want gold medals, but [there’s a limit.]” The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 30, so training camp schedules could be a factor, though players are typically off during that period. Jackson has also missed offseason workouts at times for various reasons throughout his career and still played at a high level, perhaps giving him some leeway to participate. Ravens running back Derrick Henry, shown racing around the edge against the Bengals in 2024, might not have the best playing style for flag football. Still, the bruising running back has enough speed to warrant consideration for the U.S. Olympic team in 2028, if he's interested. (Staff file) Derrick Henry Why he might play: Henry recently signed a two-year extension that will guarantee him $25 million and keep him in Baltimore through the 2027 season. The star running back will turn 34 at the tail end of that campaign, and whether he wants to keep playing at that point will surely be a topic of discussion. Even if he does plan to retire, there’s no doubt he’ll be in top shape. There are few humans on the planet who take care of their body as well as Henry does, Olympic athletes included. Why he might not: Henry’s bruising, downhill style might not be best suited for flag football, which is more about lateral agility. He can’t run someone over the way he does now. Still, there are few 6-foot-2, 247-pound humans who move as fast as he does. Since the NFL’s Next Gen Stats tracking began in 2018, only Tyreek Hill has hit 20 mph more often than Henry. Zay Flowers Why he might play: Nicknamed “Joystick” as a rookie by Jackson for his ability to make defenders miss, Flowers is a natural playmaker with the ball in his hands who could thrive in a wide-open flag football environment. He’ll also be just 27 in the summer of 2028. Why he might not: The same injury risks apply, as Flowers is only 5-9, 175 pounds and coming off a knee sprain that kept him out of the playoffs. Wide receiver is also a competitive spot, with Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and many others ahead in the pecking order if they decide to play. Kyle Hamilton Why he might play: Hamilton is proud of his Korean and Black ethnicity and was born in Greece before his family moved to Atlanta. That cultural diversity could attract him to the Olympics as a way to celebrate his heritage in the United States or perhaps represent a different country. Hamilton tweeted an emoji of the national flag of South Korea soon after the news was announced Tuesday. The star safety’s play on the field speaks for itself. The 2022 first-round draft pick is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and considered one of the most versatile defenders in the league. He’d be a natural fit at any position in flag football. Why he might not: Hamilton is heading into his fourth NFL season, making him eligible for a long-term contract extension. His next deal could put him near the top of the market for all defenders, making the injury risk that much harder to stomach. Ravens rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins, shown intercepting a pass against the Browns, is one of the fastest cornerbacks in the NFL. His athleticism could lead to success as a flag football player. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Nate Wiggins Why he might play: Speed is the name of the game, and Wiggins has plenty of it. He ran a blistering 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL scouting combine before being selected in the first round by the Ravens and showed flashes of being a potential star as a rookie. Why he might not: Defensive back might be one of the toughest positions to crack on the U.S. roster. Even if Wiggins reaches his full potential, there are several big-name players who could beat him out for a spot. Daniel Faalele Why he might play: Faalele played basketball and rugby in Australia before transitioning to football, so although he plays the less glamorous position of offensive line, he’s certainly athletic. His home country could be willing to embrace an NFL player’s stardom. Why he might not: Blocking is not allowed in flag football, removing the best part of Faalele’s game. There is a center position, but unlike in tackle football, he becomes a receiver after snapping the ball. It would be a real thrill to see the 6-8, 380-pound Faalele catching passes and motoring down the field, but he’d have to prove he can do it consistently. Related Articles Ravens RB Derrick Henry ‘fell in love’ with franchise, wants Super Bowl Ravens add needed bulk to defensive line with veteran nose tackle Ravens favored in 15 of their 17 games in 2025 season, oddsmaker says Mike Preston: Ravens’ 2025 schedule demands inward focus | COMMENTARY Ravens 2025 schedule: Way-too-early predictions and analysis for every game Odafe Oweh Why he might play: Flag football defenses can have a maximum of two blitzers who can rush the quarterback so long as they are 7 yards from the line of scrimmage before the snap. Oweh is one of the fastest edge rushers in the league, recording a 4.36-second 40-yard dash that would have tied the NFL scouting combine record for his position. After being known by his middle name Jayson at Penn State, he started going by Odafe once he reached the NFL to honor his Nigerian heritage. Representing his roots could be his path to the Olympics. Why he might not: Perhaps the only thing that would stop Oweh from playing is the risk of injury or a pre-existing one. He’s only 26 entering his fifth season in the league. David Ojabo Why he might play: Oweh and Ojabo lined up on the same defense at Blair Academy in New Jersey and could do so again for the Nigerian national team. Before coming to the U.S. at age 15, Ojabo was also an elite basketball player in Scotland, so he could have options. Why he might not: After suffering a torn Achilles tendon before being picked in the second round of the 2022 draft and later having surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in 2023, Ojabo has struggled to stay on the field with the Ravens. He’s played just 18 games over three seasons while recording four sacks. He’s only 25, but it’s an open question whether he’ll be in top form in 2028. Tavius Robinson Why he might play: Robinson and former Ravens defensive lineman Brent Urban are both Canadian, giving them a path to make an Olympic roster. Robinson, a 2023 fourth-round pick, has come on strong in recent seasons at outside linebacker and could be a regular contributor by the time the 2028 Games roll around. Why he might not: Team Canada could have a highly competitive tryout process. Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard, Giants safety Jevon Holland, Bills wide receiver Josh Palmer, Bengals running back Chase Brown and Chargers cornerback Benjamin St-Juste are some of the most notable Canadians in the NFL, though Robinson looks like one of the best options on defense. 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

Derrick Henry is a patient runner. When it comes to trying to accomplish his goal of getting to — and winning — a Super Bowl, not so much. A week after the Ravens’ season ended with a familiarly dismaying 27-25 divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills, the 31-year-old was already back in the gym working out. “My mind was going crazy,” Henry said Monday, speaking with reporters for the first time since signing a two-year, $30 million extension last week that will keep him in Baltimore through the 2027 season. “I couldn’t wait no more. I couldn’t hold off.” That was true earlier in the day, too. Because of a flight delay out of Texas, Henry didn’t land in Baltimore until around 4:45 a.m. on Monday. Despite just 30 minutes of sleep, he arrived at the team’s facility in Owings Mills for a workout around 6 a.m. before officially signing his extension later in the morning, which perhaps explains the bulging biceps and sleeveless workout hoodie he donned for the photo op on the team’s social media channels. That contract makes Henry, who was set to enter the final year of his deal after signing with Baltimore last year following eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, the highest paid running back over age 30 in history and third-highest paid back in the league in terms of average annual value behind only Saquon Barkley, who led the league in rushing and helped the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super bowl title, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey. It was a priority as well, as much for the team as it was for the player. Last season, Henry finished second in the league with 1,921 yards rushing, posted career highs in yards per carry (5.9) and total touchdowns (18) and helped Baltimore become the first team in league history to top 3,000 yards rushing and 4,000 passing in the same season. Baltimore finished 12-5 and won the AFC North, and Henry said earlier this offseason that he wants to finish his career with the Ravens. “I just fell in love with everything, with the brotherhood, by the way they work, how they approach everything,” he said Monday. “I know we came up short, but it was a lot of fun.” With Henry returning alongside quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson — whose current contract also runs through 2027 — to form perhaps the most electrifying and potent backfield in the sport, keeping the two together as long as possible was also as much a no-brainer as it was inevitable. “I think he fits our identity as an organization,” assistant head coach/running backs Willie Taggart, right, said of Derrick Henry. “I think he fits Baltimore as a city and what the city stands for." (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Ravens running back Derrick Henry, left, and assistant head coach/running backs Willie Taggart speaks with media during a press conference at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Ravens running back Derrick Henry, left, and assistant head coach/running backs Willie Taggart speaks with media during a press conference at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Show Caption1 of 3“I think he fits our identity as an organization,” assistant head coach/running backs Willie Taggart, right, said of Derrick Henry. “I think he fits Baltimore as a city and what the city stands for." (Kevin Richardson/Staff)Expand “I think he fits our identity as an organization,” running backs coach Willie Taggart said of Henry. “I think he fits Baltimore as a city and what the city stands for. “When you watch the Ravens play, it was always dominating and physical, and when you watch Derrick run, it’s dominating and physical. You think about our city, it’s dominating and physical.” That domination has Henry within reach of the top 10 of the NFL’s all-time leading rushers. With 11,423 career yards, he currently ranks 19th and is just 1,316 yards shy of 10th-ranked Tony Dorsett. Only once in the past six years when Henry has played a full schedule has he not eclipsed that total. The historical context is not lost on him. “When you say something like that, it’s a surreal moment to be able to have that opportunity and be in that conversation,” he said. “God has blessed me tremendously, and since I was 5 years old, I fell in love with this game. Playing this position, I always looked up to the great running backs who played this game at a high level, who are legends of the game, dreaming of my game being mentioned with them one day.” Henry’s impact has also permeated the Ravens’ locker room. “You take a guy like Derrick who’s played at a high level his entire career, and to come in, and the way he practices, the way he takes meetings and for those younger guys to see that, I mean, it sets an example for them,” Taggart said. “They’re all young. They all want to have a career like Derrick’s, and to see that he’s this deep into his career, and he’s still taking it as if he was a rookie. It has changed our room dramatically.” Related Articles Ravens add needed bulk to defensive line with veteran nose tackle Ravens favored in 15 of their 17 games in 2025 season, oddsmaker says Mike Preston: Ravens’ 2025 schedule demands inward focus | COMMENTARY Ravens 2025 schedule: Way-too-early predictions and analysis for every game Ravens parody streaming hit ‘Severance’ in schedule release video The only question that remains now is whether the end result will be the Ravens’ first Super Bowl title since the 2012 season. Despite Henry’s age — a time when a running back’s production has often fallen off steeply — there is clearly little concern over his ability dropping off. If there was, Baltimore likely would not have agreed to such a pricey extension, particularly with several other priorities, including Jackson’s contract, needing to be addressed soon. But the extension ratchets up expectations, too. With a team that returns largely intact from a season ago, it will again be Super Bowl-or-bust for the Ravens. “I’m not going to get into any expectations,” Henry said. “Everything looks good on paper until you go out there and actually do it. We know what we’re capable of and what we can do, but we know the work we’ve got to put in to do those things and get where we want to go and be one of the top offenses in the league. It’s a lot of work we’ve still got to put in. We’ve got a lot of great players around the offense, and you’ve got to put the work in individually, and then we all get together collectively to do those things to be a top team, top offense and do things special that we want to do to get to where we want to go.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. “I think he fits our identity as an organization,” assistant head coach/running backs Willie Taggart, right, said of Derrick Henry. “I think he fits Baltimore as a city and what the city stands for." (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

One of the biggest holes on the Ravens’ roster is filled. Baltimore on Friday agreed to a one-year deal with nose tackle John Jenkins, adding a veteran run stuffer to a defensive line that lacked bulk after the retirement of 355-pound Michael Pierce. The 6-foot-3, 327-pound Jenkins spent the past two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, recording a career-high 61 tackles in 2023 and adding 46 tackles in 2024 while starting every game. The 35-year-old played a career-high 609 defensive snaps last season, which represented 55% of the Raiders’ total snaps, and totaled 21 run stops. Jenkins figures to join a rotation with Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones and Broderick Washington in Baltimore, which also drafted Virginia Tech defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles in the sixth round. But Peebles is listed at just 282 pounds and is projected to be more of a backfield penetrator than a run stuffer who takes on double teams. Adding a big-bodied lineman was one of the last boxes to check this offseason for the Ravens, who also did not re-sign lineman Brent Urban after he played 17.3% of the defensive snaps last season. In addition to the Raiders, Jenkins has played for the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins in his previous 12 NFL seasons. The 2013 third-round draft pick out of Georgia has 319 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and 15 quarterback hits in his career. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles Ravens favored in 15 of their 17 games in 2025 season, oddsmaker says Mike Preston: Ravens’ 2025 schedule demands inward focus | COMMENTARY Ravens 2025 schedule: Way-too-early predictions and analysis for every game Ravens parody streaming hit ‘Severance’ in schedule release video Ravens 2025 schedule: Prime-time opener, Thanksgiving night highlight slate View the full article

The Ravens are one of the NFL’s best teams, at least on paper. A backfield duo of Lamar Jackson and the recently extended Derrick Henry leads one of the league’s best offenses. The defense came on strong to end the 2025 season, and even with safety Ar’Darius Washington tearing his Achilles tendon this offseason, rookie Malaki Starks joins a defense with star power (linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton) at multiple positions. Even the defensive front, which was slightly above average last year, could take a major step forward with rookie pass rusher Mike Green joining the mix. It’s no surprise that sports betting oddsmakers view Baltimore favorably entering the 2025 season. The Ravens’ have the second-shortest odds (+700) to win the Super Bowl on DraftKings, as they’re tied with the Bills and only trailing the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles (+650) in that department. With the 2025 schedule now officially announced, the Ravens have a gantlet to open the season before a more manageable path the rest of the way. DraftKings released odds for every single 2025 NFL game, and the Ravens are currently favored in 15 of their 17 contests, including 13 straight to end the season. Here’s a look at the betting odds for Baltimore’s upcoming season: Week 1 at Bills, 1.5-point underdog Week 2 vs. Browns, 12.5-point favorite Week 3 vs. Lions, 3.5-point favorite Week 4 at Chiefs, 1.5-point underdog Week 5 vs. Texans, 7.5-point underdog Week 6 vs. Rams, 5.5-point favorite Week 7 BYE Week 8 vs Bears, 7-point favorite Week 9 at Dolphins, 5.5-point favorite Week 10 at Vikings, 3.5-point favorite Week 11 at Browns, 8.5-point favorite Week 12 vs. Jets, 11.5-point favorite Week 13 vs. Bengals, 5.5-point favorite Week 14 vs. Steelers, 8.5-point favorite Week 15 at Bengals, 2.5-point favorite Week 16 vs. Patriots, 8.5-point favorite Week 17 at Packers, 1.5-point favorite Week 18 at Steelers, 4.5-point favorite DraftKings gives Baltimore +10000 odds to go 17-0 in the regular season. Those odds are among the shortest in the NFL, with the Eagles (+5000), Bills (+8000), and Chiefs (+8000) holding slightly shorter odds. No team has finished a regular season undefeated since the league expanded to 17 regular-season games in 2021. Last season, Baltimore was 10-6-1 against the spread in the regular season. The Ravens were favored in each of their final 16 regular-season games after opening as a short favorite against the Chiefs in the 2024 NFL season opener in Kansas City, a game Baltimore lost, 27-20. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens’ 2025 schedule demands inward focus | COMMENTARY Ravens 2025 schedule: Way-too-early predictions and analysis for every game Ravens parody streaming hit ‘Severance’ in schedule release video Ravens 2025 schedule: Prime-time opener, Thanksgiving night highlight slate Ravens, RB Derrick Henry agree on lucrative contract extension View the full article

The NFL released its 272-game schedule Wednesday night in its highly anticipated annual event, but it has very little to do with how the 2025 season will unfold. In this town, the Ravens will either finally make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2012 season, or they will find another way to lose in the playoffs. Go ahead, use the C-word: choke. For two years now, the Ravens have had one of the best teams in the NFL. They had the best roster before losing to Kansas City in Baltimore in the 2023 AFC championship game. They were loaded again last year but couldn’t get past quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills. In February, Philadelphia had the most complete team in the league and proved it by crushing the Chiefs, 40-22, in the Super Bowl. With the Ravens, it’s not about talent. They have plenty. It’s about turnovers. Against the Chiefs two years ago, the Ravens had three in their 17-10 loss. In a 27-25 season-ending road playoff loss to Buffalo in January, the Ravens did it again, turning it over three times, but still had a chance to tie the game late. That is, until tight end Mark Andrews dropped a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion. But that’s in the past. The good news for Ravens fans is that the team is loaded once again in 2025 and poised to make another run. They have the best offensive playmaker in the league in quarterback Lamar Jackson, flanked by superstar running back Derrick Henry, who just agreed to a two-year, $30 million contract extension on Wednesday. They have receivers Zay Flowers, newly acquired veteran DeAndre Hopkins and Rashod Bateman, and a plethora of tight ends in Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. Baltimore has a solid defense and filled some holes last month by drafting Georgia safety Malaki Starks in the first round and Marshall edge rusher Mike Green in the second. So, the announcement of the schedule was nothing more than a formality. Unless Jackson goes down with a significant injury and misses substantial playing time, this franchise is poised to have another shot at a deep postseason run. They just need to get rid of their own hiccups. The first third of the 2025 schedule is attractive. Five of the Ravens’ first six opponents made the playoffs last season — Buffalo (Week 1), Detroit (Week 3), Kansas City (Week 4), Houston (Week 5) and the Los Angeles Rams (Week 6). The Ravens open the year on the road in prime time against the Bills on Sept. 7, a rematch of the playoff loss that features Jackson against Allen, who rightfully edged out Jackson for his first NFL Most Valuable Player Award last season. The Ravens played the second-toughest schedule (based on opponent 2023 win percentage) last year, and this year it’s ranked ninth. That’s a great thing because they earned this schedule. No organization wants to be the Tennessee Titans or New England Patriots or Las Vegas Raiders of a year ago. It’s like selecting late in every round of the draft; it’s a badge of honor and says you had a successful season. Plus, don’t get too hyped about schedules. Because of injuries, some teams fade during the season and others become success stories — just look at the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6 record last season), Denver Broncos (10-7) and Washington Commanders (12-5). The Ravens have a nice blend of contenders on the schedule. Besides the first half of the season, they also face Cincinnati and quarterback Joe Burrow twice in the second half, the Minnesota Vikings, and they close out on the road against Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Related Articles Ravens favored in 15 of their 17 games in 2025 season, oddsmaker says Ravens 2025 schedule: Way-too-early predictions and analysis for every game Ravens parody streaming hit ‘Severance’ in schedule release video Ravens 2025 schedule: Prime-time opener, Thanksgiving night highlight slate Ravens, RB Derrick Henry agree on lucrative contract extension Some fans might want to go to Green Bay to feel the nostalgia of Lambeau Field, but more entertaining is the thought of Packers quarterback Jordan Love versus Jackson, or running back Josh Jacobs against Henry. Jacobs had 1,329 yards on 301 carries last season while Henry had 1,921 yards and averaged 5.9 per carry. The potential for frigid conditions promotes this type of game. As for the Steelers, Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh. It’s a rivalry, even though the Steelers don’t have a legitimate starting quarterback. Yet, they always make the playoffs. Is Mason Rudolph a starting quarterback? Yikes. There has been no sighting of Aaron Rodgers in black and gold anywhere. Not yet, anyway. There are questions for every team. With Baltimore, will coach John Harbaugh change his approach after extremely disappointing postseason failures two straight years? Why does Jackson struggle in big games in the postseason, where he’s 3-5 with 10 touchdown passes, seven interceptions and six lost fumbles? How does second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr gear up for next season? How does the addition of senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano change things? Overall, the schedule isn’t strange. The Ravens are hosting the Bengals on Thanksgiving night after playing on Christmas the past two years. They aren’t playing three games in 12 days, as they did last year. They aren’t crossing an ocean, as they did in 2023 to play in London. For the Ravens, it’s an inward focus, not outward. It’s all about themselves. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens won’t get a chance to ease into their 2025 schedule. Five of their first six games will be against teams that made the playoffs last season. That includes the team that memorably (or perhaps forgettably for Ravens fans) ended their Super Bowl hopes, with the Buffalo Bills hosting Baltimore in their season opener on Sept. 7 in a “Sunday Night Football” showdown in Orchard Park, New York, as well as another glamour game against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Ravens will also play on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2013 when they hosted (and beat) the Pittsburgh Steelers. This time, they’ll play another AFC North rival at home, the Bengals, before traveling to Cincinnati two weeks later. And the end of the schedule could be just as tough as the beginning of it, with road games against the Green Bay Packers and the Steelers. Here’s a way-too-early prediction of how Baltimore’s season will play out. Week 1 (Sunday, Sept. 7): at Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m., NBC Loss: This one is dripping with storylines and a heck of a way to open the season for a pair of AFC contenders with Super Bowl aspirations. The Ravens blew out the Bills in Baltimore on a Sunday night in Week 4 of the regular season last year, but Buffalo got revenge in last season’s divisional round playoff game at Highmark Stadium, where the Ravens turned the ball over three times and Mark Andrews dropped a game-tying 2-point conversion attempt with 1:33 remaining. Allen then went on to edge out Jackson for NFL Most Valuable Player honors. The rematch comes right away, but it could have major implications later in the season. And with Baltimore typically not its sharpest at the beginning of the year, that will spell trouble here. Week 2 (Sunday, Sept. 14): vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. Win: The Browns winning in Baltimore happens about as often as a presidential election. At least that’s been the case since 2015, with Cleveland’s only other victories at M&T Bank Stadium coming in 2019 and 2023. That trend isn’t changing this year in the home opener with uncertainty about who will even be Cleveland’s quarterback between former Ravens star Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The Ravens have averaged 27.6 points to the Browns’ 19.3 over their past 10 games at M&T Bank Stadium against Cleveland with a few blowouts along the way, including last year’s 35-10 victory to close out the regular season and capture the AFC North. 2023 NFL Football, Detroit Lions at Baltimore RavensKarl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike closes in on Lions quarterback Jared Goff during a 2023 game. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Week 3 (Monday, Sept. 22): vs. Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m. Win: The Ravens crushed the Lions, 38-6, two years ago in Baltimore. But Detroit has much improved its defense since that lopsided affair, while its offense remains one of the best in the league. This will also figures to be a measuring stick game for new offensive coordinator John Morton, who was previously the Denver Broncos’ passing coordinator before being hired to replace Johnson. Still, the Ravens are a tough out at home under the lights, and they’ll come out on top here. Week 4 (Sunday, Sept. 28): at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. Loss: Last year, the Ravens were an Isaiah Likely big toe away from potentially tying (or possibly beating) the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the NFL’s season opener. This time, they make the tip to Kansas City a month into the season but on a short week in what will be one of the league’s marquee games of the year. Jackson is just 1-5 against Patrick Mahomes and has never beaten the Chiefs in Kansas City. Week 5 (Sunday, Oct. 5): vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m. Win: On paper, this should be a terrific matchup between star quarterbacks (Jackson and C.J. Stroud) and strong defenses. In reality, the Ravens have dominated the Texans in their three games over the past two seasons, winning 31-2 last Christmas after beating them 34-10 in the divisional round in 2024 and 25-9 to open the 2023 season. This one could be different with a Houston defense that includes pass rushers Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry and defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins along with a solid secondary. But with Houston losing receivers Stefon Diggs to free agency and Tank Dell to injury and trading away tackle Laremy Tunsil, the offense could struggle to put up the necessary points. Week 6 (Sunday, Oct. 12): vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m. Loss: The last time the Rams came to M&T Bank Stadium in 2023, the Ravens won a wild one on a walk-off punt return for a touchdown by Tylan Wallace in overtime. This one figures to be just as thrilling with wide receiver Davante Adams now catching passes from Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles having nearly derailed the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl run in last season’s playoffs. The Rams have questions about their linebackers and secondary, but the defensive line could cause problems. Week 7: (Sunday, Oct. 19): Bye After having bye weeks late in the season each of the past two seasons, the Ravens get one of the league’s earliest bye weeks. The last time they had one this early was in 2020, and while a mid- or late-season week off is more preferable, this one comes after facing five 2024 playoff teams in the first six weeks. Week 8 (Sunday, Oct. 26): vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. Win: The addition of new Chicago coach Ben Johnson — along with a revamped offensive line — should lead to a more prolific offense under quarterback Caleb Williams to go with a defense that’s on the upswing. It also marks the first time Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith will face the team that drafted him, as well as Jackson’s first game against the Bears after he missed a 2021 contest because of illness. Still, Chicago doesn’t have the offensive weapons to keep pace with the Ravens. Baltimore off a bye with an extra week to prepare should give the Bears fits. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will return to his native South Florida when the Ravens play the Dolphins this season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Week 9 (Thursday, Oct. 30): at Miami Dolphins, 8:15 p.m. Win: Four years ago, the Dolphins blitzed their way to a stunning upset of the Ravens, sacking Jackson four times en route to the 22-10 victory at Hard Rock Stadium. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Jackson has become very effective against the blitz, while Miami has trended the other direction with coach Mike McDaniel (who wasn’t the coach then) now on the hot seat. Week 10 (Sunday, Nov. 9): at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. Win: While Baltimore hasn’t played at U.S. Bank Stadium since 2017, there is a more recent connection between the teams: Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores was the Dolphins coach when Miami knocked off the Ravens in 2021. Minnesota is also coming off a 14-3 season and should again be one of the NFC’s better teams. But with what amounts to a rookie quarterback after J.J. McCarthy missed all of last year because of injury and a few extra days to prepare, the Ravens should win a tough road game. Week 11 (Sunday, Nov. 16): at Browns, 4:25 p.m. Win: Simply put, the Browns don’t have enough offense to keep up with the Ravens, no matter who’s playing quarterback this time of year. Their defense can be pesky, though, and that could keep this one closer than it should be. Week 12 (Sunday, Nov. 23): vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m. Win: New coach Aaron Glenn should have an immediate impact on what has been an unserious Jets team for a long time. New York also added former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens, safety Andre Cisco, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and quarterback Justin Fields in the offseason. And as bad as the Jets were last year, they still ranked fifth in yards allowed per game and have some playmakers on defense, but not enough to pull off the upset. Week 13 (Thursday, Nov. 27): vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. Win: The only time a Jackson-led Ravens team lost at home to the Bengals was in 2021, when Ja’Marr Chase, then a rookie, went for 201 yards and a touchdown and Cincinnati outscored Baltimore 28-7 in the second half en route to a 41-17 win. Last year at M&T Bank Stadium, Chase memorably went off again with 264 yards and three scores, but the Bengals, despite 470 yards of offense, came up short when they opted to go for a go-ahead 2-point conversion with under a minute to play and failed. Translation: Expect another indelible contest to cap off Thanksgiving night. Week 14 (Sunday, Dec. 7): vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. Win: At a glance, the Steelers have had plenty of success in Baltimore, including lately with five victories in seven regular-season trips to M&T Bank Stadium since 2018. But it’s worth noting that Jackson played in just two of those games, missing the others because of injury, illness or rest. In the two games he did start, the Ravens lost in 2020 and last year blew out Pittsburgh, 34-17. Adding Aaron Rodgers to the fold would present a potentially intriguing subplot to one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries, but at age 41 he doesn’t scare teams like he used to and has never faced Jackson. Baltimore coming off a few extra days rest doesn’t hurt either. Week 15 (Sunday, Dec. 14): at Bengals, 1 p.m. Loss: Last year in Cincinnati, the Ravens rallied from a pair of 10-point deficits before winning, 41-38, in overtime. The teams combined for 962 yards with Jackson throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns and Joe Burrow for 392 yards and five scores along with one interception. This one probably won’t be as high scoring, but expect it to be close as usual. Each of the past two times the Ravens have traveled to Paycor Stadium, they’ve won by three points. Week 16 (Sunday, Dec. 21): vs. New England Patriots, 1 p.m. Win: The Patriots are coming off back-to-back four-win seasons but should be much improved on defense with the additions of defensive linemen Milton Williams and Harold Landry III along with linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Carlton Davis III. Their offensive line should be better, too, with first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle and former Raven Morgan Moses at right tackle. Still, quarterback Drake Maye doesn’t have enough talent on offense, even with the addition of Diggs to the receiving corps. Related Articles Ravens parody streaming hit ‘Severance’ in schedule release video Ravens 2025 schedule: Prime-time opener, Thanksgiving night highlight slate Ravens, RB Derrick Henry agree on lucrative contract extension Ravens schedule reset: How 2025 opponents changed in offseason Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington suffers torn Achilles tendon Week 17 (TBD)*: at Green Bay Packers, TBD Loss: This will be Jackson’s first trip to Lambeau Field, with the Ravens having last played in Green Bay during the regular season in 2017. It will also be a reunion of sorts with his former Louisville teammate, Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander — if Alexander hasn’t been traded by then. Either way, closing out the season at a frigid Lambeau should be good playoff preparation, and the game could have major postseason implications for both teams. Week 18 (TBD)*: at Steelers, TBD Win: The Ravens made plenty of mistakes in each of their last two trips to Pittsburgh, losing in frustrating, bewildering fashion both times. Needing to close out the season with a win in their house of horrors with playoff seeding at stake would be a potential nightmare scenario, but Jackson and a much deeper Ravens roster have enough to hold on. Final record: 12-5, No. 3 seed in AFC Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens are getting in on the schedule release fun. In following a growing trend around the NFL, Baltimore announced its 2025 schedule on Wednesday night with a highly produced video in which the games take a backseat to the team’s personalities. In a parody of the Apple TV hit “Severance,” a sci-fi mystery thriller starring Adam Scott and Britt Lower, several Ravens players, coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta make cameos as the team takes a playful spin on the show’s premise of going to drastic measures to separate your personal life from your work life — with dangerous consequences. Tight end Charlie Kolar begins the video introducing himself as “Charlie K.” with a narrative voiceover as the iconic score from the show begins to play. “I give consent to sever my memories between my professional football life and my personal life,” he says, before meeting punter Jordan Stout and center Tyler Linderbaum at cubicles on the Ravens’ indoor practice field in Owings Mills. Linebackers Trenton Simpson, Tavius Robinson, Roquan Smith and Kyle Van Noy, rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks, fellow safeties Ar’Darius Washington and Kyle Hamilton, running back Keaton Mitchell, wide receivers Tylan Wallace and Zay Flowers, right tackle Roger Rosengarten, long snapper Nick Moore and a digital version of Lamar Jackson are the players who appear in the video, while defensive coordinator Zach Orr and mascot Poe also get some screen time. The absence of the real Jackson is notable, although maybe his rate has gone up now that he’s made an appearance on the Starz show “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” to much fanfare. In perhaps the most humorous segment, Hamilton is told that his “outie” — meaning, his personal self outside of work — is a cat person, watches TV without subtitles, is fond of music and “thinks Kendrick Lamar is the best artist ever,” prompting a visible disagreement from the silent Hamilton. Lastly, the former Notre Dame star is told that his “outie” is a USC football fan, forcing Hamilton to get up and leave the room. DeCosta might have the most memorable cameo of all. The seventh-year general manager who has been working for the Ravens since the franchise started in Baltimore in 1996 is seen in a conference room feeding baby goats in a mysterious homage to the show. After the full schedule is finally shown on a retro computer monitor (which is really besides the point in these videos), DeCosta declares that “it isn’t time. We’re not ready.” “Oh, they’ll be ready,” Harbaugh says. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles Ravens 2025 schedule: Prime-time opener, Thanksgiving night highlight slate Ravens, RB Derrick Henry agree on lucrative contract extension Ravens schedule reset: How 2025 opponents changed in offseason Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington suffers torn Achilles tendon Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley sheds light on past injuries, near-fatal crash as teen View the full article