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Sweltering July afternoons in the South Florida heat provided Devontez Walker a moment to reflect. The rookie wide receiver spent a week this offseason training with Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers and more of his teammates in the weeks leading up to Ravens training camp. Walker, like he was in college, wants to be his new quarterback’s most trusted deep threat. Jackson pushed Walker’s limits, heaving balls as far as he could to see just how long the new tandem’s connection could reach. “He was putting it out there to see if I could go get it, even while I was tired,” Walker told The Baltimore Sun. “Him seeing that is why he trusts me.” Each completed throw brought him closer to that goal. It was also the first time Walker felt he belonged with his new squad. Belonging has mostly eluded the 23-year-old in his football journey. He spent time at three colleges and became the face of transfer portal disputes during a fierce fight for eligibility with the NCAA. Along with injuries and family challenges, he sometimes felt he took on his toughest challenges alone. That chapter of Walker’s life, full of twists and uncertainty, is closed. He’ll begin a new one when his rookie season with the Ravens starts next month. When that comes, he’ll finally just play football. “I’ve been playing my whole life. Now, I’m able to just do it freely,” Walker said. “I’m living my dream now.” Fighting for a spot Walker’s path to playing time in Baltimore will be difficult. He’s behind Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and potentially others in a crowded wide receiver room. The Ravens broke camp last season with six receivers. They’ve signed two veterans since the start of camp, and they’ve waived one of their draft picks each of the past three seasons. Walker’s spot won’t be guaranteed, a reality he understands and one that pushed him to find other ways onto the field. Walker is playing more special teams than he ever did in college. He recalls taking only one snap as a gunner on Kent State’s punt coverage unit, whereas now he devotes a large portion of practices to perfecting kickoff coverage responsibilities. “I feel like I’m doing pretty good, adjusting well,” Walker said. “[Special teams] is kinda new to me. If you’re not that second or third guy at your position, you’re gonna be on special teams. If that’s my way of getting on the field, then that’s what it is.” Devontez Walker’s summer has been imperfect. That’s a circumstance he’s familiar with. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Walker has been limited with a rib injury as of late, coach John Harbaugh said this week. The receiver was targeted just once, an uncatchable pass from rookie Devin Leary, in Baltimore’s preseason opener, and Walker has worked with the first- or second-team offense sparingly in recent practices. Harbaugh expects his opportunities to ramp up soon. “I’d like to see him go out there and take a lot more reps and see what he can do,” the coach said. The 6-foot-3 receiver averaged 17 yards per reception with North Carolina last season. That would have led the Ravens — the next closest returning receiver was Bateman at 11.5 yards per catch. Although training camp hasn’t been as clear as Walker hoped, occasional highlight completions show flashes of the deep threat he can be. He still has time to get acclimated, put his minor injury behind him, and impress as he did in Florida last month. Those extra days with Jackson are an advantage he has over most other receivers fighting for the same roster spots. Walker’s summer has been imperfect. That’s a circumstance he’s familiar with. ‘I thought it was over’ Walker tore his ACL the day after he signed with East Tennessee State as a high school senior. Then, one week before he was set to move onto campus in July 2019, the school rescinded his scholarship offer. ETSU first called West Charlotte coach Josh Harris hoping he’d break the news to Walker. Harris refused, then received an emotional call from Walker five minutes later. “That hurt,” Harris told The Baltimore Sun in a phone interview. “That hurt all of us.” Walker is the first player Harris has ever coached to reach the NFL. Harris, now an assistant athletic director at another Charlotte-area school, was at M&T Bank Stadium on Friday for Walker’s preseason debut — five years after that trajectory-altering injury. Harris offered his usual feedback over dinner Saturday night at Nick’s Fish House in South Baltimore, but both are quick to note their relationship extends beyond football. “We’re family,” Harris said. “It started out as just coaching, but now we’re literally family.” Walker’s ACL tear kicked off a lengthy recovery process. He worked at Bojangles, a fast-food restaurant, to pay for the surgery and rehabilitation. Whenever doubts crept in, Harris reminded Walker of a conversation they had after a practice. The coach asked his player what his goals were. They were, of course, the NFL. If that was true, Harris said, Walker’s chase had to be unrelenting. “If your goal is to go to the NFL, I shouldn’t have to question your work ethic and how you move from this point on,” Harris recalled telling Walker. “And I never had to question it.” The receiver ultimately landed at North Carolina Central, which canceled what would have been his freshman season in 2020. That pushed Walker to Kent State, 500 miles from home in North Carolina, where he posted 921 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore and blossomed into one of the best at his position in the nation. Everything went Walker’s way on the field. Off it, there was a hole he failed to fill. His grandmother couldn’t watch him play. Loretta Black has had multiple knee and hip surgeries and battles severe scoliosis, making long flights and car rides difficult. Walker was her caretaker before he left for college. Being without her for the first time weighed heavily while he flourished on the field, so much that it pulled him back home. That decision threw Walker into a months-long battle to play against the NCAA, which initially deemed him ineligible as a two-time transfer. “After they denied it, I just thought it was over,” he said. Walker hired a legal team that threatened to sue as public pressure mounted. The NCAA reversed its decision five weeks into last season. Walker led the Atlantic Coast Conference in touchdowns from that point on. His grandmother saw each one. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Harbaugh on Mark Andrews car accident | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 14, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on up-and-down offense, big plays from young players and good signs from secondary Baltimore Ravens | Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris hospitalized, to miss ‘significant amount of time’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews involved in car accident with ‘heavy damage’ but no injuries, police say Black will be in Baltimore for the Ravens’ home opener Sept. 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Walker relied on her for guidance throughout his life. That’ll continue even as a professional. Reaching the NFL was just as much her dream as it is his. “She’s the one I’ve leaned on, cried on,” Walker said. “She was one of the only ones who was there for me. That’s why I go so hard for her.” His winding journey continued — and largely still is. Walker spent a night in a hospital after a crushing hit from a Georgia Tech defensive back later that season. He dropped three balls and finished with zero catches on eight targets at the Senior Bowl, a showcase game for NFL draft entrants. He finally impressed at the scouting combine, where he ran the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash among the 30 receivers present. In April, the Ravens made Walker their fourth-round pick to pair his speed with their two-time Most Valuable Player at quarterback. Walker finally arrived at his desired destination, however bumpy the path there might have been. He faces new tests this preseason. He’s prepared. “Everybody’s story is different,” Harris said. “He could write a great book right now.” View the full article

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Baltimore Ravens cornerback T.J. Tampa focuses on the ball held by defensive back Brandon Stephens while practicing ball-stripping skills during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams catches the ball during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dayton Wade runs during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A slow shutter captures Baltimore Ravens defensive back Daryl Worley with a football being thrown during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens long snapper Nick Moore during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker stretches during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson twirls the football during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington catches the ball during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A Baltimore Ravens defender sprints past safety Marcus Williams who is blurred by the use of a slow shutter during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Isaiah Washington sprints during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens special teams coach Randy Brown gestures between running back John Kelly, left and cornerback Damarion Williams during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout catches the ball during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back John Kelly during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson passes during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson receives the snap during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during training camp at the Ravens’ training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Before practice even began, Wednesday proved to be an eventful day for those inside the Ravens’ facility. Just after noon, the team announced that tight end Mark Andrews was involved in a car accident while on his way to practice. Andrews was evaluated by team doctors, and coach John Harbaugh said after practice that the three-time Pro Bowl selection came out of the crash with “nothing at all, not a scrape.” Shortly after that announcement came news that offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris was hospitalized over the weekend with an “acute illness” that will keep the 70-year-old assistant out for an extended period. The Ravens have since hired longtime offensive line coach George Warhop to step in. Warhop, 62, has 40 years of coaching experience, with 27 seasons of work with NFL offensive lines. “[He’s] a guy that we’ve known for many years, and respected,” Harbaugh said. “[He’s] someone who [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken] has worked with in the past, in Tampa Bay. Other coaches have known him and worked with him on our staff. He doesn’t know our system per se in terms of our terminology, but he can learn that very quickly.” On the field Wednesday, it was an intense, full-padded practice featuring an inconsistent offense, an energetic and heat-seeking defense, and some young players taking advantage of valuable, but scarce reps as the second preseason game approaches. Here are some observations from Wednesday’s practice: Offense flashes potential despite sloppy, inconsistent day Quarterback Lamar Jackson could be heard yelling in frustration several times after some miscommunications with his receivers. For example, he missed Rashod Bateman on a screen pass during the first drive of team drills. Jackson then threw his hands in the air after failing to connect with newly signed target Anthony Miller. But the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s worst throw might have been an off-target pass to Tylan Wallace, which landed in the hands of a waiting Kyle Hamilton for an interception. Jackson quickly bounced back, though, shaking off some bad throws — and being stepped on by one of his linemen — to find tight end Isaiah Likely several times for big gains across the middle. Second-year receiver Zay Flowers also got involved, making some nice catches down the sideline. When the offense stays on track and, most importantly, stays consistent, its big-play ability is clear. Jackson, however, will not play Saturday against the Atlanta Falcons, Harbaugh said. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Josh Johnson smile during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker stretches during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens special teams coach Randy Brown gestures between running back John Kelly, left and cornerback Damarion Williams during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens long snapper Nick Moore during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson receives the snap during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson passes during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back John Kelly during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout catches the ball during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Isaiah Washington sprints during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A Baltimore Ravens defender sprints past safety Marcus Williams who is blurred by the use of a slow shutter during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington catches the ball during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson twirls the football during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens safety Beau Brade reaches from behind to swipe at the ball held by safety Ar'Darius Washington during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams catches the ball during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa focuses on the ball held by defensive back Brandon Stephens during training camp practice Wednesday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dayton Wade runs during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A slow shutter captures Baltimore Ravens defensive back Daryl Worley with a football being thrown during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh speaks about the crash of a vehicle driven by tight end Mark Andrews during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, right, and Josh Johnson at the Ravens' training camp in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, left, and Josh Johnson at the Ravens' training camp in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson passing at the Ravens' training camp in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson passing at the Ravens' training camp in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Show Caption1 of 28Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passes during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Expand Good signs from a banged-up secondary Hamilton’s interception was a welcome sign as the All-Pro safety went through a full day of practice after limping off the field Sunday with an apparent left leg injury. With no knee brace or extra padding, Hamilton looks to be back to his normal, play-making self. The rookie defensive back duo of Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa also made an appearance. Tampa, the fourth-round draft pick who has been working his way back from offseason sports hernia surgery, was fully dressed, participating in position drills and looking good before leaving practice during the team period. Wiggins wasn’t in pads, but he worked off to the side with a trainer before also going inside the facility during team drills. The first-round draft pick, who suffered a shoulder injury during his impressive preseason debut last week, was just as spry and active, with his signature speed still on display. Let the kids play Whenever Jackson takes a step back and quarterbacks Josh Johnson, Emory Jones and Devin Leary take the reins, the deep shots and sidearm throws across the middle take a backseat to coverage sacks and checkdowns. But when the young players at the bottom of the depth chart are given a chance to make a play, they sure take advantage. Undrafted rookie receiver Isaiah Washington might have had the play of the day, rising over Hamilton to make a catch on a deep pass from Johnson that got the crowd buzzing. Rookie tight end Qadir Ismail also made a play when he was finally targeted down the field, securing a nice catch over the middle. Even the young players on defense took advantage, with rookie safety Beau Brade picking off Jackson. The interception was the highlight of camp so far for the former Maryland and River Hill star, even though it was nullified by an offside penalty. A big loss For the foreseeable future, the Ravens will be without the man affectionately known as “Joe D.” Under D’Alessandris, the Ravens have earned top-10 pass- and run-blocking rates in each of the past four seasons. The Ravens finished ninth in pass blocking and fifth in run blocking last season, according to ESPN. Already tasked with replacing three starters on the offensive line, the architect behind one of the league’s more successful units is now out as well for what is expected to be a “significant amount of time.” Translation: A tough task just got tougher for perhaps the team’s most important position group heading into the season opener Sept. 5 in Kansas City. View the full article

Longtime Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris will be absent from the team for a “significant amount of time” after being hospitalized over the weekend for what the team said is an acute illness. The 70-year-old assistant, who was hired in 2017 after a long coaching career in college and the NFL, underwent surgery over the summer, coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. D’Alessandris is suffering from complications stemming from the procedure and remains hospitalized, with his daughters Anna, Kelly and Emily having also joined him, according to Harbaugh. “We love Joe D,” Harbaugh said following practice in Owings Mills. “It’s a blow, because he’s a great football coach. He’s beloved by the players, by the coaches. He’s a top game planner. He’s a top coach. He’s a huge part of our offense. “He’s going to be missed very much, but we’re going to be much more concerned about his health and his welfare and his well-being going forward.” In the meantime, the Ravens have hired George Warhop to coach the offensive line. Warhop, 62, has been an offensive line coach for several teams around the league since 1996, including the then-St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and most recently the Houston Texans in 2022. He spent just one season in Houston. There is also at least some familiarity with some of the Ravens’ coaching staff. In addition to having played against Harbaugh when the two were in college at Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio), respectively, Warhop’s career overlapped with Baltimore offense coordinator Todd Monken when the two were assistants for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other members of the Ravens’ coaching staff have worked with Warhop as well. “It’s an interesting dilemma for sure,” Harbaugh said of needing to make the change. “He doesn’t know our system per se in terms of our terminology, but he can learn that very quickly. But he knows our techniques. He knows the style, the way we’re running the plays, the principles of the plays. He knows all that stuff. “He’s an experienced coach who knows that stuff inside and out, so he’ll step right in and he’ll start working with those guys right away.” George Warhop, pictured in 2021, has been an offensive line coach for several teams around the NFL since 1996. (AP Photo) Before the NFL, Warhop was an assistant for 11 years at the college level for Boston College, SMU, New Mexico, Vanderbilt, Kansas and Cincinnati. He also spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator for NFL Europe’s London Monarchs. This offseason, the Ravens also hired Travelle Warton as an assistant offensive line coach. He spent last year as the Washington Commanders’ offensive line coach. Being without D’Alessandris, however, is a loss. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews involved in car accident with ‘heavy damage’ but no injuries, police say Baltimore Ravens | Ravens stock watch: Three rookies up, backup QBs down and the emergence of a surprise WR Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Lamar Jackson lighting it up, Anthony Miller making his case and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 13, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023. Doing it again will be a challenge. One of the league’s most respected position coaches, he has worked with several Pro Bowl linemen during his tenure in Baltimore, including Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, Orlando Brown Jr. and Tyler Linderbaum. The Ravens also have three starting positions up for grabs up front between both guard spots and right tackle. It’s been a difficult two years for D’Alessandris, whose wife of 42 years, Toni, died in May 2022 because of a rare form of Parkinson’s disease. “I don’t have that person to just talk to,” D’Alessandris told The Athletic last season. “I miss that.” Under D’Alessandris, the Ravens have had top-10 pass-blocking and run-blocking win rates each of the past four years, per ESPN, and last season allowed the fifth-fewest total pressures (160), according to Pro Football Focus. View the full article

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was involved in a car accident while driving to the team’s facility in Owings Mills early Wednesday morning, the team said shortly before practice. The three-time Pro Bowl selection was evaluated by medical staff at the Ravens’ facility and did not suffer any apparent injuries, according to a statement from the team. He later joined the team for morning meetings. “He’s feeling good,” coach John Harbaugh said after practice, noting that the accident, which took place about 1 1/2 miles from the team’s facility, was “significant” and that Andrews was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. “He came out of it with nothing at all. Not a scrape.” According to a Baltimore County Police spokesperson, officers responded to the 9700 block of Lyons Mill Road in Owings Mills at approximately 9:45 a.m. about a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles that sustained “heavy damage.” No injuries were reported, and the case remains open. The Ravens also said that Andrews, 28, was originally scheduled to have the day off from practice Wednesday and is expected to return to the field in “the coming days.” “I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and well wishes,” Andrews said in a statement. “This is a great reminder about the importance of wearing seatbelts and remaining alert while driving a car.” When exactly Andrews will return to the field is unknown. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris hospitalized, to miss ‘significant amount of time’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens stock watch: Three rookies up, backup QBs down and the emergence of a surprise WR Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Lamar Jackson lighting it up, Anthony Miller making his case and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 13, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023. Doing it again will be a challenge. The Ravens will practice again Thursday before a walk-through Friday and will play their second preseason game Saturday afternoon against the Atlanta Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium. The team then heads to Green Bay for a joint practice with the Packers next Thursday before their preseason finale two days later at Lambeau Field. Andrews is coming off a season in which he appeared in just 10 games during the regular season because of an ankle injury he suffered in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. He finished with 45 catches for 544 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns before returning for the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs with two catches for 15 yards in the 17-10 loss. Baltimore will open the regular season Sept. 5 against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. View the full article

There are still two more Ravens preseason games, including one Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium against the Atlanta Falcons, and 22 days until the season opener against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. But the end is near. Baltimore held its 18th practice of training camp Tuesday, with another roughly eight to come before the roster must be trimmed from 90 players to 53, with up to an additional 16 designated for the practice squad. In other words, for those on the bubble and others looking to ascend toward peak performance in preparation for a Super Bowl or bust season, time is relatively short. With a healthy dose of practices and one preseason game behind them, here is a look at the Ravens who have been on the rise and those who have slid the other direction. Stock up Cornerback Nate Wiggins The Ravens’ first-round draft pick has lived up to his billing. In practice, he’s been fast, aggressive (sometimes overly so) and made multiple interceptions. In last Friday’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, he shined from the start, successfully defending three passes on the game’s opening series, including one on fourth down. He continued his stellar play in the second half until suffering a shoulder injury, which was not deemed serious. Wiggins looks to have the ability — and swagger — of a shutdown corner who the Ravens can count on for years to come. Safety Ar’Darius Washington After losing two straight seasons to injuries, the third one has been the charm for the former undrafted free agent. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Washington has been all over the field for Baltimore, playing both safety positions as well as the nickel and making plays on the ball daily. “He can play either corner outside, if he had to, to get you out of a game, and he can go in a dime [six defensive backs formation] if he had to — he knows the defense that well,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s fulfilling what we’ve always hoped he would do, and I really expect him to have a big year, and I think he’s going to play good football for us. It’s a big deal.” Especially with slot corner Arthur Maulet out with a knee injury at least into the early part of the regular season and the possibility of the Ravens playing more dime this season. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten There were questions about whether Rosengarten, the Ravens’ second-round draft pick this year out of Washington, was strong enough to handle the bull rush, particularly in an AFC North that is loaded with pass rushers. But he held his own over 18 snaps against the Eagles, earning what will be an uptick in playing time this week against the Falcons. He’s continued to look the part in practice, too, showing stability, good hands and quick feet. With the Ravens’ preference is to continue to use veteran Patrick Mekari as a swing tackle and their best sixth-man option, Rosengarten seems to be the clear favorite to land the starting role. Wide receiver Anthony Miller The former Chicago Bears second-round pick hasn’t played in a game since the 2021 season and bounced around a few different practice squads since. He has only been with the Ravens since Sunday, but has already made his presence felt with several catches. That included Tuesday, when he got by cornerback Marlon Humphrey during one-on-one drills and hauled in a long touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson. Then Jackson hit the receiver again during a 7-on-7 period with a perfectly thrown deep ball down the sideline that Miller caught between Washington and cornerback Ka’dar Hollman. Given the lack of production from the back end of the Ravens’ receiving corps, Miller could possibly make a push for a roster spot or more likely the practice squad. Ravens rookie Qadir Ismail is skinny for a tight end, but he plays physical. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Tight end Qadir Ismail The son of former Ravens receiver Qadry Ismail, the undrafted free agent out of Samford has been making at least one nice catch every practice and often more than that. But what has surprised Harbaugh, he said, is Ismail’s ability as a blocker. At 6-6 and 215 pounds, Ismail is skinny for a tight end, but he plays physical. While he won’t make the 53-man roster given Baltimore’s talent and depth at the position, he seems almost assured of a spot on the practice squad. Pretty remarkable for a player who had just 16 catches in 14 games over two seasons with the Bulldogs. “He’s definitely an NFL player’s and coach’s kid,” Harbaugh said. “He’s tough, he’s not afraid. He throws it in there and plays bigger than his size. I think he’s doing a good job.” Stock down Quarterbacks Josh Johnson, Devin Leary, Emory Jones The biggest problem the Ravens have when it comes to backing up Jackson is not so much the men behind him, but the lack of affordability for the role. No matter who’s on the roster, the drop-off from Jackson is so significant that it’s largely not worth investing the capital, save for drafting a player every year. This year, that was Leary, whom the Ravens took in the sixth-round and has looked every bit of a fringe NFL quarterback at best. At 38 years old, Johnson provides vast experience, though he hasn’t played in a game since 2022 and has appeared in just 39 since 2009. Jones, meanwhile, was thrust into the end of the Eagles game cold and was strip-sacked in his first and only snap, resulting in the game-winning field goal as time expired. Johnson will remain the backup out of necessity and familiarity, but none of the three have impressed. Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali suffered a stinger against the Eagles, making his bid for a roster spot for difficult. Running back Rasheen Ali With the No. 3 running back job up for grabs behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, the competition has centered around the fifth-round rookie Ali and second-year player Owen Wright. While neither has stood out the way, say, Keaton Mitchell did last year, Wright outperformed Ali in the preseason opener, much the way he has throughout camp. Making matters worse for Ali was that he suffered a stinger in the game and through Tuesday has yet to practice since. That won’t help him win the job. Offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu A year ago, Aumavae-Laulu took first-team reps at left guard during the first two weeks of training camp, was talked about as a potential starter, then didn’t play a snap during the regular season. Now in his second year, he’s made progress but has been largely an afterthought in the offensive line competition and has not been getting first-team reps. He’ll probably make the roster, but his showing against the Eagles did not stand out as he earned a dismal 31.5 grade from Pro Football Focus. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Lamar Jackson lighting it up, Anthony Miller making his case and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 13, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023. Doing it again will be a challenge. Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens’ Patrick Ricard is helping lead ‘resurgence’ of NFL fullbacks Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Rashod Bateman and T.J. Tampa returning, Tavius Robinson’s potential and more | COMMENTARY Wide receiver Devontez Walker The fourth-round rookie was thought to be something of an answer to the Ravens’ deep ball woes. That hasn’t been the case. Against the Eagles, Walker got 19 snaps and had zero catches on just one target. Some of that could be pinned to the rocky quarterback play, and Harbaugh noted that Walker has been dealing with a rib issue. Still, other receivers have outperformed him in camp thus far, with the former North Carolina star only very occasionally making a notable play. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman Speaking of players dealing with injuries, Bateman has been hampered again with some sort of lower body issue that kept him out of practice for a week. After returning this week, he still doesn’t look quite right, though he did fully participate Tuesday. Earlier this summer, he and Jackson found a nice but brief rhythm. That’s yet to re-materialize. Perhaps it will once the season begins, which is all that really matters. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had the type of performance Tuesday that he needs to have in the postseason. In the past, opposing teams have been able to shut down the Ravens’ running game and force Jackson to beat them by throwing outside the numbers or down the field. It didn’t help that Jackson hasn’t had a legitimate No. 1 receiver over the previous six years. On Tuesday’s practice in Owings Mills, Jackson lit up the secondary with the long ball. He connected with tight end Mark Andrews on a roughly 50-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline and then threw another long touchdown pass to newly signed wide receiver Anthony Miller on the next play. Seconds later, the Ravens scored again on the long pass, this one to receiver Nelson Agholor straight down the middle. These passes weren’t toss-ups or jump balls — Jackson hit receivers perfectly in stride. We’ve seen this type of accuracy on occasion from the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player in previous years, but not as consistently as Tuesday. This isn’t to say that Jackson is now more accurate, but at least there is potential for him to excel in the postseason. Opposing teams are going to stack the line of scrimmage to shut down running back Derrick Henry, and Jackson will have to make these types of plays if the Ravens want to get to the Super Bowl. Miller making his case Receiver Rashod Bateman was in on a lot of team drills Tuesday, which was much different than Monday when he only participated in individual matchups. At this point, the Ravens are just glad that Bateman is back on the field after he missed time with an injury that coach John Harbaugh described as not serious. But Bateman better get into shape quickly. Miller, a fifth-year veteran who joined the team this week, has come up with big catches the past two days and took some repetitions with the first group Tuesday. The 2018 second-round draft pick has good explosion, goes in and out of breaks well and has no fear going up to make the big catch. If the Ravens decide to keep Miller, he gives the team depth and might challenge Bateman and Agholor for playing time during the regular season. Injury updates Safety Kyle Hamilton participated in a full workout after suffering a “sprain” in Sunday’s practice. Hamilton gets slighted because he is a big safety at 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds, but he has good speed and it showed when the Ravens played him over the top and he had to cover a receiver to the opposite side of the field. Those long legs can make up ground quickly. Cornerback T.J. Tampa practiced but left the field early before the first 11-on-11 session. The rookie fourth-round pick was just cleared Monday to return from the physically unable to perform list because of a sports hernia, and Harbaugh said the team was trying to rev him up Monday. Drop and give me 20 There was more of the old-school element at practice. When safety Marcus Williams dropped a deep pass that he easily should have intercepted, he dropped to the ground and quickly knocked off about 20 push-ups. It reminds me of the offensive linemen running a lap around the practice field if they jump offside. Accountability is a good thing and needs to be incorporated into more practices on the recreation and high school levels. He’s hungry There was another Miller sighting. On a 40-yard pass from backup quarterback Josh Johnson, he wrestled the ball away from cornerback Ka’dar Hollman. Miller isn’t playing around. He’s hungry to make this team. Offensive line updates Second-year left guard Andrew Vorhees might be the best trap blocker on the team. He had a great one against the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason opener, and he knows how to get low and explode through an opponent. The best thing is that he puts his head on the outside and forces his opponent to run around him, which basically takes the defender out of the play. That doesn’t happen a lot in the NFL anymore. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 13, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023. Doing it again will be a challenge. Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens’ Patrick Ricard is helping lead ‘resurgence’ of NFL fullbacks Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Rashod Bateman and T.J. Tampa returning, Tavius Robinson’s potential and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 12, 2024 | PHOTOS As for Josh Jones, I thought he would challenge for the starting job at right tackle when the Ravens signed him to a one-year deal in March, but the 27-year-old hasn’t been overly impressive. In fact, it’s easy to understand why the Ravens might start rookie Roger Rosengarten at that position over Jones despite the gap in experience. As for starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley, he had a tough day against outside linebacker Odafe Oweh. Oweh didn’t just eat his lunch, but his dinner, too. Getting back to business It looks like receiver-return specialist Deonte Harty is back to normal after missing some time with a soft-tissue injury in his lower leg. The Ravens worked him in as a receiver and he did field some kickoff returns. The former Middle River resident and Archbishop Curley graduate is expected to be the team’s top return specialist this year. When asked if Harty would play in the last two preseason games, special teams coach Chris Horton said: “Do I have a chance of putting him out there? I think we’ll get him out there at some point and just see where he is. [We] haven’t decided how much we want to get him out there because I know what he can do as a returner, but I definitely think we will see him at some point.” View the full article

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Aug 13, 2024: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens QB Josh Johnson during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Isaiah Washington catches a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker catches a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens QB Josh Johnson during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dayton Wade catches a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Aug 13, 2024: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Deonte Harty catches a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. (Kim Hairston/Staff) View the full article

Chuck Smith’s eyebrows furrowed behind tinted sunglasses. The Ravens outside linebackers coach stood behind the podium after Monday’s training camp practice, facing a fair preseason question: Is his defensive group challenging themselves to repeat the team’s NFL-leading 60-sack performance from a year ago? Smith let out a sincere giggle. “Everybody wants to be the best pass rusher in the league,” he said. “I don’t even think about that. I could [not] care less. My goal is to impact quarterbacks by beating them up. Simple as that.” If opposing quarterbacks don’t end plays the way they want, the second-year pass rush guru is happy. The numbers will follow, Smith declared. That said, someone has to be responsible for beating up the quarterback. And with a front seven that looks a little different from last year, who makes up for lost production remains to be seen. “Everybody on the front can be a threat at some point,” Smith said. “Mike [Pierce] was rushing last year. [Broderick Washington] got sacks, Travis [Jones] got sacks. [Brent Urban] had three sacks. You want everyone to be able to do that, and that’s kind of the good thing, we want everyone to be a threat.” The 2023 Ravens defense was among the best in football and a key reason they earned the No. 1 seed and reached the AFC championship game. They were the first unit in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 ppg), sacks (60, tying 2006 for a franchise record) and takeaways (31, tied with the New York Giants). Sixteen Ravens registered at least one sack. And three — Justin Madubuike, Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney — recorded at least nine sacks, making the Ravens one of two teams to do so. The offseason brought change, however. Clowney signed a lucrative two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. And Patrick Queen, who had 3 1/2 sacks, fled for the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Madubuike leads the returners. The All-Pro is expected to repeat similarly dominant numbers — 13 sacks — in 2024. Van Noy, now 33, has the advantage of timing this year. He signed with the Ravens in late September and spent the early stages of the season adjusting to defensive schematics and new relationships. “Now, he’s one of the guys,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Everybody knows him, respects him.” Outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith says the Ravens’ goal is to beat up opposing quarterbacks. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) As an 11-year veteran linebacker, Van Noy said this will be only the third season he’s been able to focus solely on playing on the ball. In other words, “not as much communication, just focusing on my task and opportunity to win a one-on-one.” That could be a bonus toward his sack total. One significant draw in Van Noy coming to Baltimore was playing for Smith, who has a unique approach to coaching the position. “A lot of places worry about scheme,” Van Noy said. “This place worries about scheme and technique, and he’s a pass rush technician, and he’s very good. He’s helped me a lot in my career, and he’s helped other players, and I’m excited to get back to work with him again.” There’s still time for Baltimore to potentially bring in another pass rusher before the start of the season, but if nothing changes, after Madubuike and Van Noy, who might fill the gaps — literally and figuratively — to replicate such a lucrative defensive front? Fourth-year outside linebacker Odafe Oweh is the front-runner who, as Smith said, “came out smoking” in camp. The 2021 first-round draft pick played 13 games last season and recorded five sacks with meager reps behind Clowney and Van Noy. A strong camp has made him a common talking point among teammates. Harbaugh said Oweh’s unique skill set makes him particularly disruptive. “I always hear the little jokes sometimes about him missing sacks,” Smith said. “He did miss seven, eight, nine sacks in a season. So again, he’s getting there. He’s going to be an A-list rusher, and I’m just excited for him. He’s buying in as he always has, he’s a good dude, and no one deserves to finally reach that pinnacle [more] than Odafe, and I think he’s going to go 100% to reach that goal.” Third-year outside linebacker David Ojabo, a former second-round draft pick, would be another candidate, despite recording only one sack in three games after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in November. He and Oweh accompanied Madubuike this offseason on a training trip to Atlanta. The ever-hopeful Smith said Oweh just needs the opportunity — and health — to execute the skill set he’s already flashed. Jones and Pierce combined for three sacks a year ago. As two returning pieces of the Ravens defensive front, they’ll be counted on to fill lost production. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens’ Patrick Ricard is helping lead ‘resurgence’ of NFL fullbacks Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Rashod Bateman and T.J. Tampa returning, Tavius Robinson’s potential and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 12, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 53-man roster projection: Here’s where things stand after preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on adding WR Anthony Miller, the offensive line battle and more Defensive coordinator Zach Orr anticipates a noticeable third-year jump from Jones in the run and pass games behind a greater familiarity with schematics. Orr added, “When [Pierce] speaks, everybody listens, and he’s still playing at a very high level. So, I’m glad he’s here with us. I’m glad he’s on our team, on our defense.” Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is another one to monitor. He played in every game as a rookie last year, although he produced only one sack. Smith called him a “glass eater.” Baltimore’s 60 sacks tied its franchise record, so meeting that total would certainly be an uphill battle. But as Smith said, as long as his group can consistently beat up the quarterback, he’ll be happy. “They love learning from [Smith],” Harbaugh said. “So let’s see where it takes us. It was good last year.” View the full article

On the first play of last Wednesday afternoon’s Ravens practice in Owings Mills, Patrick Ricard cleared a path for running back Derrick Henry. Two hours later, he slipped out of the backfield and caught a short pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson. In between, he did just about everything else, lining up in several spots across various formations. Such is life for Baltimore’s versatile fullback, who’s down to about 290 pounds this season from his typical weight of roughly 305. “When I first got asked to play fullback, I didn’t play offense in college, so for me, it was just like, ‘Take it step by step and really be a sponge [and] really ask a lot of questions,’” said Ricard, who’s now entering his eighth season with the Ravens and the final year of his contract. “I had to meet a lot with coaches and players.” For most of the existence of professional football, the fullback’s role was as simplistic as it was barbaric: find a hole in the offensive line, locate man, hit man, repeat. Those days are, of course, long gone, though today’s fullbacks are having something of a renaissance. While only a dozen teams used a fullback on offense last season and only 10 played more than 10% of the offensive snaps, three of the four teams from the AFC and NFC championship games — the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions — fielded offenses that featured the use of a fullback. The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs did not for the first time in coach Andy Reid’s tenure, but he hasn’t ruled out bringing one back into the fold this season. And the upward trend appears to be growing still. After the Pittsburgh Steelers went without a fullback on the roster last season, they have Jack Colletto, a former college quarterback who switched to linebacker and also played fullback at Oregon State in 2021 and 2022, after adding him to their practice squad last October. The Los Angeles Chargers, meanwhile, spent a fifth-round draft pick on 6-foot-2, 303-pound offensive lineman Jordan McFadden out of Clemson, who has also been getting work at fullback and jumbo tight end under new offensive coordinator (and former Ravens coordinator) Greg Roman during training camp. And The Associated Press added last season a designated spot on its annual All-Pro team for a fullback for the first time since 2015. What’s behind the rebirth? While defenses have gotten smaller and faster to combat offenses that have become smaller and faster with the rise of the passing game over the past two decades, fullbacks now have a chance to use their size to their advantage. “Football is a very cyclic game,” former New England Patriots fullback James Develin said in a recent interview with Not For Long Media. “The fullback position isn’t dead … now there’s an opportunity to exploit defenses in these smaller packages and put 500 pounds in the backfield, put two tight ends on the field and run out of 22 [two tight ends, two running backs] and just smash mouth football again.” “You have to be a hybrid player,” Patrick Ricard said of his role as the Ravens’ fullback. “You need to be able to catch, block in the run game, block in pass protection, move around, be in a bunch of different spots, be a smart player.” (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Ravens have long operated with a fullback — before Ricard signed with Baltimore as an undrafted defensive end out of Maine in 2017, they had Kyle Juszczyk, now an All-Pro with the 49ers. But when the team changed offensive coordinators last offseason from the run-heavy scheme of Roman to the more spread-out, pass-friendly attack of Todd Monken, there were questions about where — or if — Ricard would fit in. It didn’t help that his return to the field was slowed by offseason hip surgery. “When Monken got hired there were a lot of questions of, ‘Is he gonna use a fullback? Is he gonna use me? How’s he gonna use me? How much is he gonna use me?’” Ricard told The Baltimore Sun in a recent interview. “Because I had hip surgery, I couldn’t show him anything. I already knew a lot of tight end stuff, so I thought why not meet with the offensive line and see what they do and if that’s an opportunity to extend my career? It helped being in that room in terms of pass blocking and run blocking.” Yet, Ricard, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, saw a decrease in his playing time last season, lining up for 39% of the Ravens’ offensive snaps compared with 64% in 2022. His five catches were also his fewest since his rookie season. Per Pro Football Focus, he logged 317 snaps at inline tight end, 65 in the backfield, 45 in the slot, 10 out wide and six as an offensive lineman. He also logged 66 snaps on kick returns and 20 against field goal and extra point tries. That raises the question of whether Ricard’s role will continue to decrease or trend in the opposite direction now that the 30-year-old is healthy, leaner and thus quicker. “There’s always going to be a requirement for a guy like Pat — if you have a guy like Pat,” coach John Harbaugh said. “The questions last year were pretty much kind of debunked. He played a lot, and I think it’s going to be the same thing this year. “He’ll be out there playing, and we’ll find a lot of great roles for him to do. The nice thing is, he can actually run routes and catch the ball, and that’s something that people kind of take for granted that he wouldn’t be able to do.” That was evident in last December’s blowout win over the Miami Dolphins when, with Baltimore on Miami’s goal line, Ricard chip-blocked before leaking out across the formation into a vacant area to make a one-handed touchdown catch. Earlier in the season, in a Week 7 rout of the Detroit Lions, Ricard similarly found himself with no one in sight and rumbled for a 28-yard gain after another short completion from Jackson. And while the bulk of Ricard’s snaps last season came from an inline position, that wasn’t always the case. In Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, he had a dozen snaps in the backfield compared with just five at inline. Other weeks, he logged just one or two snaps in the backfield, and in others he had as many as five from the slot and three lining up out wide. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard is a four-time Pro Bowl selection. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) His versatility wasn’t just week to week, but often play to play as he lined up at fullback, as a blocking tight end or extra offensive linemen, or motioned across the formation or to the outside for the Ravens, who had the sixth-highest pre-snap motion rate of any team in the league at 28.2% last season. “You have to be a hybrid player,” Ricard told The Sun. “You need to be able to catch, block in the run game, block in pass protection, move around, be in a bunch of different spots, be a smart player. “It’s hard to find guys like that.” And it’s difficult to learn to be one. “Last year was kind of [for me to] learn as much as I can, and I missed most of the offseason with my hip surgery last year,” Ricard said. “But now, having the same offensive coordinator [and] a lot of the same guys in the offense, I was able to really have just a big foundation from last season and kind of just grow from that and kind of just keep learning different things [and] keep refining things I’m good at.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023. Doing it again will be a challenge. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on Rashod Bateman and T.J. Tampa returning, Tavius Robinson’s potential and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 12, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 53-man roster projection: Here’s where things stand after preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on adding WR Anthony Miller, the offensive line battle and more Still, some of those things trace back to his roots coming out of Maine, where he was a defensive end. Ricard said his favorite thing to do within the Ravens’ offense and his myriad tasks is to hit people. Specifically, anytime there’s a downhill run, he relishes the opportunity to block a defensive lineman then proceed to crack the linebacker on the next level of the defense. The player that gives him the most trouble in that regard is Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt. Ricard said the four-time All-Pro and 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is technically sound, works the edges well and punishes mistakes. “You take one bad step against him, he’s gonna capitalize on it,” he said. The same could be said of Ricard, and he should get plenty of opportunities to clear the way playing alongside Jackson and now Henry, the Ravens’ best running back since Ray Rice. He also said he doesn’t care whether he gets 5,000 snaps or five snaps, and that the fullback isn’t going away. “You kind of are seeing a resurgence,” he said. “Once fullbacks started getting taken out of the game, teams started using tight ends, but they’re not as good of blockers as fullbacks. So fullbacks have to evolve with the offense.” That evolution doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. View the full article

Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman and rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa returned to practice on Monday, albeit in limited capacities. Both participated in one-on-one drills but did not take part in team sessions, including seven-on-seven or 11-on-11. Tampa, whom the Ravens drafted in the fourth round out of Iowa State, was a full participant in offseason workouts this spring but was placed on the physically unable to perform list and had missed all of training camp while recovering from sports hernia surgery. It’s still not clear what has been ailing Bateman, who left practice last Monday after a hard fall. “They always have sort of a ramp-up plan that we try to abide by and follow, and those guys are on that path, but it was good to see them back out there,” coach John Harbaugh said. Tampa was taken off the PUP list before Monday’s practice and might suit up for the final preseason game Aug. 24 against the Packers in Green Bay. “I would love to see, it’s just going to depend on his ability to do it with the recovery from bilateral sports hernia surgery,” Harbaugh said of Tampa. “I think he’s got a good shot; we just have to see how it comes along in the next week or so.” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton was also on a practice field doing some light running and stretching after he suffered an apparent left leg injury late in Sunday’s practice. “He will be kind of ramping back up a little bit,” the coach said. “He’s good. It’s kind of a minor, I’d say, a sprain, and so he got out there and moved around a little bit today, and [he’ll] just kind of progress each day a little more [and] get going.” Who stood out? Fullback Patrick Ricard and tight end Qadir Ismail stood out during a one-on-one session going against outside linebackers on Monday. Ricard, at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, is a technician and attacks his opponent instead of waiting to be attacked. His form is excellent; he’s always square and with a nice, wide base. Once he locks on, it’s hard to get him off an opponent’s body. Ismail, the 6-6 and 232-pound undrafted rookie, is in the middle of transitioning from wide receiver to tight end and was used in both positions Monday. It was surprising to see how well he pass blocked considering his limited repetitions at a new position. Besides his form, Ismail showed some toughness. New look on offensive line The Ravens were working with a new starting combination on the offensive line. Veteran Patrick Mekari was starting at center for the injured Tyler Linderbaum (soft tissue injury) while rookie Roger Rosengarten worked with the first unit at right tackle. Fourth-year player Ben Cleveland, who started at center all last week, worked with the second unit. The first group turned in an average performance in a 16-13 preseason loss to the Eagles on Friday with Rosengarten getting most of his playing time in the second half. Because of experience, Mekari will probably start the season at right tackle once Linderbaum returns. Defensive line woes? The defensive line needs to improve after allowing the Eagles to run for 146 yards on 38 carries. A lot of attention was focused on the offensive line, but defensive tackles Broderick Washington and Travis Jones got pushed around. Yes, the Ravens were without end Justin Madubuike, middle linebacker Roquan Smith and several other front-line players, but first-year offensive coordinator Zach Orr couldn’t have been happy with the performance regardless. Speed kills Rookie running back Chris Collier, a free agent out of Lock Haven, took a toss around the right end and went untouched for about 20 more yards. Collier is listed at 5-11 and 210 pounds, but I haven’t seen that type of speed in a Ravens running back since Keaton Mitchell had a strong rookie season a year ago with 386 yards rushing on 47 carries with two rushing touchdowns. Mitchell, of course, is still sidelined as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered in December. Searching for consistency Second-year outside linebacker Tavius Robinson had a strong showing Monday, and perhaps he can work his way into the rotation as a pass rusher. He has a great frame at 6-6 and 232 pounds but needs to be more consistent. If he can work into a rotation with fellow outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy, It would be a major plus for the Ravens in the regular season if Robinson can work in with fellow outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy as the pass rush is without Jadeveon Clowney’s 9 1/2 sacks from a year ago. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews had a highlight-reel one-handed catch during practice Monday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Making plays Tight end Mark Andrews had a great one-handed 30- to 40-yard reception from quarterback Lamar Jackson, but the best catch of the day belonged to newly signed receiver Anthony Miller, who simply snatched the ball away from cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis for a 37-yard catch late in practice. Andrews’s catch was in an unlikely situation because Jackson held the ball for nearly 10 seconds. That would never happen in a game and Jackson most likely would have run it. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023. Doing it again will be a challenge. Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens’ Patrick Ricard is helping lead ‘resurgence’ of NFL fullbacks Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 12, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 53-man roster projection: Here’s where things stand after preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on adding WR Anthony Miller, the offensive line battle and more Miller just ran stride for stride with Armour-Davis down the left sideline before pulling the ball away at the last second. The Ravens made sound decisions in adding Miller and Russell Gage because Bateman is still unproven as a consistent playmaker. Cornerbacks update It’s interesting watching cornerback Damarion Williams play. He appears to recover and attack better going forward instead of being able to backpedal, turn and run. Williams, at 5-10 and 180 pounds, doesn’t have ideal size but he might be better as a safety, especially with the defensive backs being so interchangeable in the Ravens’ defense. Speaking of cornerbacks, it was not a good day for starter Brandon Stephens. He seemed a little slow and was caught out of position several times. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practices during Ravens training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, center, throws during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, and his back-up Josh Johnson take part in Ravens training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens back-up quarterback Josh Johnson, right, hands off the ball to running-back Justice Hill during training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens back-up quarterback Josh Johnson practices during training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practices hand-off with running-back Derrick Henry during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, right, speaks with coaches during Ravens training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard practices during training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard, left, practices with tight ends during training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard, center, practices with tight ends during training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens back-up quarterback Devin Leary practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens back-up quarterback Emory Jones practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practices during Ravens training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens OLB Kyle Van Noy, right, takes part in training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens OLB Kyle Van Noy takes part in training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens tight end Mark Andrews practices during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens wide -receiver Rashod Bateman walks onto the field for training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith starts practice during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Young fans welcome Ravens back-up quarterbacks Josh Johnson, from left, Emory Jones, and Devin Leary to practice during training at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens OLB Kyle Van Noy speaks with media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks with media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith speaks with media after training camp practice at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

No longer are we talking about just practice. The Ravens played their first preseason game Friday night — falling to the Philadelphia Eagles, 16-13, in dramatic if not stupefying fashion — and thus provided the best look to date of position battles, rookies in action for the first time, and potentially key reserves. It was revealing on multiple fronts. “I did think the offensive line played well, from a run blocking standpoint and a pass blocking standpoint,” coach John Harbaugh said Sunday of a group that has three starting jobs up for grabs at both guard spots as well as right tackle. “There’s nobody in that group of guys that you’re talking about that didn’t look like they could play.” The passing attack, meanwhile, is still a “work in progress,” he said — something that is unsurprising and largely unimportant considering quarterback Lamar Jackson did not play nor did any of the regular starters. That will likely be the case for Baltimore’s remaining two preseason games against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday and the Green Bay Packers the following week, with a joint practice with the Packers also scheduled for next week that will at least presumably feature the starters. But until then, here’s the latest look at the Ravens’ latest projected 53-man roster with a little more than three weeks until the regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Quarterbacks (2): Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson In defense of Johnson’s four completions on 12 passes for 62 yards against the Eagles, Harbaugh noted the performance was tough to evaluate because the Ravens’ receivers who did play are mostly “developmental players.” It’s a fair point, and the 38-year-old understandably struggled. Harbaugh added that in some cases receivers ran the wrong routes. “I thought he handled himself really well and made some really good throws,” he said. “[He] protected the football like you want him to do and got us in the right plays, made some decisions on which plays to get us into, which is part of our offense.” One thing was clear: Neither rookie sixth-round draft pick Devin Leary nor undrafted free agent Emory Jones is unseating Johnson as the backup. Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali, left, is battling for a roster spot. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Running backs (3): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Owen Wright Neither second-year Owen Wright nor fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali looked overly impressive against the Eagles, though both had their moments. The former outperformed the latter, rushing for 33 yards on seven carries while catching a pass for 17 yards. Harbaugh said he isn’t worried about the fumbling issues that plagued Ali at Marshall, even though he nearly coughed up a kick return with the ball squirting out as he hit the ground. Only one of them is making the roster, though, and with Henry and Hill expected to get nearly all the carries during the regular season, special teams will be the difference. Wright provides more versatility as someone who’s been in the offense for a year and thus could contribute more in the backfield. Wide receivers (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker, Deonte Harty, Tylan Wallace The top three spots on the depth chart are set. The group gets thin beyond that in terms of potential impact, however, which perhaps explains the Ravens’ signings of three veteran receivers (Keith Kirkwood, Russell Gage and Anthony Miller) over the past six weeks. “Sometimes you’re playing the opportunities,” Harbaugh said. “So why not take a look at these guys, see what they can do and if they can make a push?” Walker played only 19 snaps on Friday because of a rib issue, Harbaugh said, while Harty, who is expected to be the team’s kick returner and has experience at receiver, didn’t play after not practicing earlier in the week because of a lower leg injury (he returned Sunday). Wallace played and easily outperformed the other young receivers, catching both targets for 26 yards, including one on a nice back-shoulder play. The group was also plagued by poor quarterback play, particularly when it came to Leary. Right now, it’s difficult to see any of the Ravens’ young receivers breaking through, and it’s possible that someone like Miller could edge out Walker for a roster spot. Tight ends/fullbacks (4): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard Scotty Washington spent last season on the practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract in January, so he could be back in a similar role this year. Qadir Ismail, the son of former Ravens receiver Qadry Ismail, continues to make the occasional play in training camp. But you can put this group in magic marker, even if Likely ends up being a de facto wide receiver. Offensive line (10): Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, Roger Rosengarten, Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Ben Cleveland, Nick Samac What was once an intriguing group with openings at both guard spots and right tackle seems much less so a few weeks into camp and after the first preseason game. Friday night provided coaches a much better sense of the unit, more so than at any other position. The left guard spot seems all but sewn up with Vorhees firmly entrenched. At right guard, Harbaugh said he liked what he saw out of Faalele, noting that he thought he made a “jump” in the game. “He was really good with his feet, punched well, stayed square, stayed in front of people,” he said. “I’d say he passed the test.” Rosengarten, who shared right tackle duties with Mekari and got just 18 snaps against the Eagles, should see more against the Falcons. With the Ravens’ preference to continue to use Mekari as a swing tackle and fill in where necessary, Rosengarten will likely have every opportunity to win the job. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on adding WR Anthony Miller, the offensive line battle and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton limps off practice field but appears to avoid serious injury Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Nate Wiggins did not suffer a serious shoulder injury in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Chiefs WR Marquise Brown ‘will miss some time’ after dislocating clavicle in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles Defensive line (5): Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, Travis Jones, Brent Urban Like the receivers, the Ravens’ young defensive linemen are largely developmental. None of them stood out against the Eagles, and the players mentioned above are talented, reliable and experienced. The most intriguing thing to keep an eye on here is whether Jones will usurp Washington and get more snaps this season. Jones has looked the part so far and seems poised to be the Ravens’ next interior defender to leap forward. Inside linebacker (4): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison, Chris Board Harrison played 21 snaps against the Eagles, which was perhaps more than expected. That could’ve also been because Board was being checked for a concussion and did not return to the game. Again, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of drama among this group. Josh Ross has at best an outside chance at cracking the roster. The 55 snaps Ross got against the Eagles were largely out of necessity, though Pro Football Focus did grade him respectably with a 64.4 mark. Outside linebacker (5): Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, Adisa Isaac Even though Ojabo has been a full participant in practice, he wasn’t medically cleared to play against the Eagles as he continues to work his way back from last year’s torn ACL. Isaac took second-team reps in Sunday’s practice as he continues to ramp up from a hamstring injury suffered in rookie minicamp, though Harbaugh noted that he’d like the third-round pick to be able to do so quickly, so expect to see him on the field soon. Quincy Roche, meanwhile, remains mysteriously absent, while Joe Evans played 68 snaps against Philadelphia, again largely out of need. Cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams sacks Kenny Pickett during Friday night’s preseason opener against the Eagles. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Cornerback (7): Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins, Arthur Maulet, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion “Pepe” Williams The Ravens got good news when they discovered Wiggins’ injury against the Eagles was not serious and thus he’ll likely be back in time for the season opener. Maulet’s knee injury, however, could keep him out for the first couple of games of the season, Harbaugh conceded Sunday. Tampa also remains out after undergoing double sports hernia surgery, though the team expects him to be back soon. Trayvon Mullen, meanwhile, is back from a shoulder injury and practiced Sunday and could be in the fold if injuries pile up. Safety (4): Marcus Williams, Kyle Hamilton, Ar’Darius Washington, Eddie Jackson The Ravens got a momentary scare when Hamilton suffered an apparent leg injury late in practice Sunday. Harbaugh said the injury does not appear to be serious and that the All-Pro will be fine. Rookie seventh-rounder Sanoussi Kane played 20 snaps and had two tackles and missed another against the Eagles and suffered a stinger in the game. But it’s an uphill battle for him to make the 53-man roster anyway, especially when the Ravens boast one of the league’s best safety duos in Hamilton and Williams, a veteran in Jackson and the versatile Washington. Special teams (3): Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore Tucker connected on both his field goal attempts Friday, including a 47-yarder. Stout had a much busier night with six punts but handled it well, averaging 51.5 yards with a long of 64. Stout also made a tackle on one return after four teammates missed on their attempts. Both would be wise to avoid trying to make any tackles in the preseason, though. View the full article

For the second time in a week, the Ravens added a new face to the wide receiver room. Baltimore announced it signed veteran Anthony Miller before Sunday’s practice, where he was active in his first day with his new team. Miller, 29, hasn’t played since 2021. He suffered a season-ending injury in training camp before the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then bounced around several practice squads in 2023. The Kansas City Chiefs released him in May. The 2018 second-round draft pick caught 134 passes for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears. Miller brings another veteran presence to the position group after the Ravens also brought in Russell Gage last week. “He’s a talented guy,” John Harbaugh said of Miller. “Hasn’t broken through yet, but we’re impressed. Had a workout, looked very good, looks like he’s in great shape. Why not take a look at these guys and see what they can do?” The now-crowded unit will be cut down considerably before Baltimore travels to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in the NFL season opener next month. The Ravens broke the preseason with six receivers last season. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor are all but locks to make the initial 53-man roster, meaning 10 more are competing for likely three spots. Harbaugh not ready to name OL starters Andrew Vorhees, Roger Rosengarten and Daniel Faalele all saw considerable action in the Ravens’ 16-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in their preseason opener Friday night, with Vorhees starting at left guard, Rosengarten playing most of the second half at right tackle and Faalele manning right guard for much of the first half. Harbaugh said he was impressed by all three, who are in the running to take the open offensive line positions the Ravens entered camp with. The coach added that he thought Faalele “made a jump” Friday and that he expects Rosengarten to play more in Baltimore’s next preseason game Saturday afternoon against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. Still, Harbaugh isn’t ready to settle on a starting five. Linderbaum’s continued absence makes that more difficult, but the coach hopes to decide on starters soon. The trio of young linemen who seem to be in the lead passed their first test, according to Harbaugh. “I’m comfortable that they took the steps,” the coach said. “They’re not there yet, but we still got three weeks.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 53-man roster projection: Here’s where things stand after preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton limps off practice field but appears to avoid serious injury Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Nate Wiggins did not suffer a serious shoulder injury in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Chiefs WR Marquise Brown ‘will miss some time’ after dislocating clavicle in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles Injury updates The Ravens were without several key players for Sunday’s practice, which was lighter than most have been since Baltimore transitioned to fully padded practices. Nate Wiggins, Bateman and Tyler Linderbaum were all out. Harbaugh said Wiggins’ shoulder injury isn’t serious after the rookie went down in the third quarter of Friday night’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he expects Bateman, who suffered an undisclosed injury last Monday at practice, to return soon. Linderbaum has been absent for more than a week while he deals with a soft tissue injury. Rookies Rasheen Ali and Sanoussi Kane were both sidelined with stingers suffered in Friday’s game. Chris Board, who left the loss with a concussion, and Quicky Roche also didn’t practice. Cornerback Trayvon Mullen returned Sunday after missing nearly two weeks of action. David Ojabo wasn’t cleared to play in Friday’s game but has continued practicing. Harbaugh said he believes Ojabo will eventually be cleared to play in preseason games. Rookie T.J. Tampa, who has missed all of training camp but has recently started working with trainers on a side field, is close to returning. Fourth-round draft pick Devontez Walker, who was targeted just once Friday night, is dealing with a rib issue that kept him from seeing more opportunities in the contest. Owen Wright continues to get work with the Ravens’ second team as he battles for the No. 3 running back spot. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Highlights • Isaiah Likely was the star of Sunday’s practice. He was Lamar Jackson’s favorite target in the seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 portions and made several leaping, one-handed grabs over the middle of the field that went for big gains or touchdowns. • Before he left early with an injury, Kyle Hamilton intercepted Jackson on one of the first plays of practice. Jackson attempted a no-look pass to Likely over the middle, but it sailed behind the tight end and into Hamilton’s hands. • With Ali out, Owen Wright was featured heavily with the second team Sunday. The second-year undrafted running back led the Ravens with 33 rushing yards on seven carries Friday night as he pushes for the third No. 3 spot behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. • Wide receivers Malik Cunningham and Sean Ryan were popular targets for backup quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Devin Leary. Both finished without a catch Friday but have spent most of their time with the second-team offense in camp as they jockey for one of the last available wide receiver roster spots. • Contact was light Sunday, but Henry displayed his quickness and broke a few outside runs for large gains despite would-be tacklers avoiding him. The veteran running back likely won’t play in the Ravens’ final two preseason games, and Harbaugh said the team is managing Henry’s workload in camp to keep the 30-year-old fresh for September and beyond. View the full article

The Ravens had a momentary scare when All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton went down and then limped off the field with an apparent left leg injury late in practice Sunday afternoon in Owings Mills. But coach John Harbaugh said Hamilton appears to be OK. “Looks stable, looks good,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll continue to do tests tonight and tomorrow to make sure, but first indications are he’s just fine.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens 53-man roster projection: Here’s where things stand after preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on adding WR Anthony Miller, the offensive line battle and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Nate Wiggins did not suffer a serious shoulder injury in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Chiefs WR Marquise Brown ‘will miss some time’ after dislocating clavicle in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles With about 25 minutes left in the nearly 2 1/2-hour practice — Baltimore’s first since Friday night’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles — Hamilton was contesting a pass to tight end Riley Sharp when he lunged for the ball and crashed to the ground. There did not appear much if any contact on the play. Hamilton stayed down on the ground and was attended to by trainers before getting up and limping off under his own power. He then left the field and headed inside with two trainers. Hamilton did not dress in the Ravens’ loss to the Eagles and, along with most of the regular starters, is not expected to play much if at all in Baltimore’s two remaining preseason games. The 14th overall draft pick in 2022, he is coming off his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection and is perhaps the Ravens’ best defensive player. It’s also the second time he has suffered an injury scare after bumping knees with wide receiver Puka Nacua during Baltimore’s Week 14 game last season against the Los Angeles Rams. He returned the following week but injured the knee again in the Ravens’ Week 15 rout of the San Francisco 49ers and missed the next week’s game against the Miami Dolphins before returning in the playoffs. Last season, Hamilton had 81 tackles, three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 13 passes defended, four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown in a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns. View the full article

Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins did not suffer a serious shoulder injury in Friday’s preseason opener, coach John Harbaugh said on Sunday, a significant relief considering the elite coverage skills the cornerback flashed in his first dose of NFL action. Harbaugh joked that he recently suffered a similar injury, which he called an AC sprain, on a water slide and could have been ready for the preseason opener. “I don’t even know that his was that serious,” he said, though he did not offer a specific timeline for Wiggins’ return to practice or preseason play. The rookie did not participate in Sunday’s practice. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Chiefs WR Marquise Brown ‘will miss some time’ after dislocating clavicle in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line is a clear work in progress. But for how long? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Risers and fallers: Ravens offense stumbles in 16-13 loss to Eagles in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins dazzles, then leaves preseason opener with shoulder injury The injury, which sent Wiggins to the locker room early in the third quarter with his right arm hanging at his side, cut short a brilliant debut performance in which the team’s first-round draft pick defended three passes, made a tackle for loss and earned the highest grade of any Raven from Pro Football Focus. Though Wiggins is not projected to start over incumbent cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey or Brandon Stephens, he made his case for substantial playing time by showcasing the outside coverage skills that many scouts rated the best in this year’s draft class. “I think they kind of went at him a bit, which was good to see,” Harbaugh said after the 16-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “And heck yes, when you’re a corner — a corner of his caliber — he wants that, so I think he was excited about that. He came up and made that hit later, so he played a good game.” View the full article

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kansas City Chiefs receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was taken to a local hospital with a dislocated clavicle, a potentially significant setback for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The former Ravens first-round draft pick, who signed a one-year, $7 million contract in March, landed awkwardly on his shoulder after an 11-yard reception on the opening play of a 26-13 preseason loss at Jacksonville on Saturday night. “I think he’ll miss some time,” coach Andy Reid said. “We’ll just see where he’s at. He’s kind of going through it right now and we’ll know more later on.” Reid said it was the same injury — a sternoclavicular joint dislocation — that sidelined former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill for four games early in 2019. Coincidentally, Hill was injured on the same field in the regular-season opener that year. Kansas City opens the regular season Sept. 5 against the visiting Ravens. Brown’s injury was one of several issues for the Chiefs in their preseason opener. Jacksonville’s Parker Washington delivered the longest return under the NFL’s new kickoff rules — an ankle-breaking, 73-yarder that set up an early touchdown — and the Jaguars nearly scored three times on special teams. “We’ll get it cleaned up,” Reid said. Washington made at least five tacklers miss before finally going down at the Chiefs’ 30-yard line. Trevor Lawrence found running back Travis Etienne for a 9-yard score four plays later to give the Jaguars the two biggest highlights of the game. “He’s a spark,” Lawrence said of Washington. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and Kansas City’s other starters played a series before watching the rest from the sideline. Mahomes drove the Chiefs into field-goal range and might have done more had Rashee Rice not dropped a third-down pass over the middle. Washington, meanwhile, made the most of every opportunity. The second-year pro, a sixth-round draft pick in 2023 from Penn State, turned heads with the kickoff return and then added a 13-yard punt return. He later chipped in a 10-yard catch in which he slipped out of Keith Taylor’s grasp. The Jaguars have raved about Washington since training camp opened, and he showed up under the lights. He’s expected to be the team’s No. 4 receiver in a room that includes Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis and first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. Washington gave the Chiefs plenty to work on moving forward. Covering kickoffs has to be an area of emphasis for them. After Jacksonville went ahead 18-10 on C.J. Beathard’s 44-yard TD pass to former Ravens speedster Devin Duvernay, Mecole Hardman tried to down a kickoff that bounced in and out of the end zone. Officials huddled, checked the replay and ruled it a safety. “I think that’s kind of the first time that’s ever happened,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said at halftime. “With the new kickoff rule, the ball is always live, even when it hits in the end zone.” Jacksonville’s Tank Bigsby looked like he was going to return the ensuing kickoff for a score — kicker Harrison Butker showed no interest in trying to tackle the 215-pound running back — but Bigsby tripped near midfield. Questionable call Officials overturned Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell’s 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the third. Braswell stripped the ball from Nikko Remigio following a 29-yard reception in which he landed on the ground and got up to gain more yards. Officials ruled Braswell touched Remigio while he was still on the ground, but few in the stands and none on Jacksonville’s sideline agreed. Rookie watch Thomas, the 23rd overall pick in April from LSU, had the catch of the night for Jacksonville. Thomas hauled in a 41-yarder from Beathard in the first quarter despite having cornerback Joshua Williams draped all over him. Pederson thought Williams should have been flagged for pass interference. It was Thomas’ lone reception. Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy, selected five picks after Thomas, started but wasn’t even targeted in the game. Notable injuries The Jaguars held out eight players, including starting defensive backs Darnell Savage (shoulder) and Tyson Campbell (ankle). They also held out two starting offensive linemen: left guard Ezra Cleveland (heel) and right tackle Anton Harrison (concussion protocol). Second-year linebacker Ventrell Miller, who missed all of last season after tearing his right Achilles tendon, left the game briefly with a right shoulder injury but later returned. Chiefs guard McKade Mettauer limped off the field in the fourth with a left knee injury after getting caught in a pile. Rookie linebacker Curtis Jacobs also was shaken up late. View the full article

The Ravens kept quarterback Lamar Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith and almost all of their key starters on the bench for their preseason opener, a 16-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Here are five things we learned from the game. We’ve been focused on right guard, but maybe the more interesting battle is at right tackle While starters at most positions sat, jobs were at stake on the offensive line — by far the greatest source of uncertainty on a largely settled roster. Andrew Vorhees, the favorite at left guard, opened with the first team, with Daniel Faalele at right guard and Ben Cleveland standing in for Tyler Linderbaum at center. Perhaps the most interesting competition unfolded at right tackle, where Patrick Mekari started but traded drives with rookie Roger Rosengarten. The Ravens might have sat Mekari if he was earmarked for the super-utility role he has filled in the past. The start suggests he could be the man to fill Morgan Moses’ shoes despite concerns that he might struggle with the wear and tear of a 17-game season. Or the Ravens could give Rosengarten, their second-round draft pick out of Washington, an immediate chance to swim. The rookie, known more for fluid movement than power, has struggled with bull rushes at times in camp. But he looked good in his first dose of action against the Eagles, keeping pass rushers locked up and sealing his man as quarterback Josh Johnson darted for 9 yards in the red zone. The Ravens could give Roger Rosengarten, their second-round draft pick out of Washington, an immediate chance to swim. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) If the Ravens had to win a playoff game next week, Mekari, with his long track record of solid play, would get the nod. But they need to find out if Rosengarten can be a long-term starter, and he just might be doing enough for his audition to begin sooner rather than later. “Absolutely,” Rosengarten said when asked if he feels on track to handle that responsibility. “Everything starts in practice. It starts in the board room and transfers to practice, and that’s where I build my confidence. Just going into these next preseason games, I’m excited for those and then going into Week 1.” Coach John Harbaugh kept his comments on the offensive line short and general pending careful study of the game tape. “The next time we have a press conference, I’ll have a little more to talk about,” he said. Nate Wiggins was every bit the coverage star advertised, which made his shoulder injury that much more worrisome The Ravens were delighted when the best pure cover cornerback in the 2024 draft fell to them at pick No. 30. For all the talent they’ve cycled through their secondary, they have not had a player with Wiggins’ skill set in many a year. The rookie wasted no time making an impression in his M&T Bank Stadium debut, essentially wiping out the Eagles’ first drive by himself. After Philadelphia moved into Ravens territory, Wiggins stepped in front of rookie wide receiver Johnny Wilson to bat a pass to the ground on first down. Two plays later, he kept his body between Philadelphia receiver John Ross and the ball on Kenny Pickett’s downfield attempt. On fourth down, Wiggins blanketed yet another Eagle, Joseph Ngata, and again got his hand on the ball. Make that three passes defended on four plays, a rate that would put the rookie in the Pro Bowl. Wiggins isn’t going to produce at that clip, but he showcased the skill set that had the Ravens so excited in April, hanging step for step with wide receivers on the outside, attacking the ball and playing with the arrogance required at the sport’s ultimate mano-a-mano position. “That’s what he looked like at Clemson,” said linebacker Trenton Simpson, Wiggins’ college teammate. So hearts sank when Wiggins trudged to the locker room early in the third quarter, holding his right arm uncomfortably at his side. Any harm done in a preseason game feels like a waste. To see a sensational opening bow cut short is that much more of a drag. Harbaugh declined to offer an immediate update on the injury, saying tests Saturday will reveal more. With incumbent cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens having excellent camps, even a healthy Wiggins would not start the season opener in Kansas City, but expect to see him plenty whenever he’s ready. “They went at him a little bit,” Harbaugh said of Wiggins’ performance Friday. “Heck yeah, when you’re a corner of his caliber, he wants that. So he was excited about that, he came up and made a hit later, and he played a good game.” Trenton Simpson looked the part as he prepares for his big promotion We’ve spent the whole offseason talking about how big the Ravens bet on Simpson, who played just 46 defensive snaps as a rookie. They didn’t make a push to keep Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen and didn’t sign a veteran to compete with Simpson in camp. They have treated the 2023 third-round draft pick as Roquan Smith’s presumptive partner in every way. With Smith on the sideline Friday, Simpson got to be the man at the heart of the team’s defense. He wore the green dot as chief signal caller for the first time and did not shrink from the moment, stalking side to side on his way to a team-high nine tackles in the first half and 60 defensive snaps overall. “The more you see at this position, the more you learn,” Simpson said. “The faster you can play.” We’ve seen Simpson’s speed and ferocity in practice, but it’s always reassuring to see a camp star translate fully to a game setting, especially when the player in question is going from a negligible role to a primary one. “He wants to be great at everything he does,” Harbaugh said. “That’s a good start for him. He’s not going to be afraid.” David Ojabo’s waiting game continues No one needs a jolt of confidence more than Ojabo, the 2022 second-round pick who spent most of his rookie year rehabilitating a torn Achilles tendon and had his second season cut short by knee surgery. The gifted outside linebacker will have to wait at least another week after he sat out the preseason opener. Ojabo has been a full practice participant for most of camp, but Harbaugh said doctors did not clear him to face the Eagles. Even if Ojabo had never suffered the catastrophic injury that robbed him of a chance to be drafted in the first round, he would have been a developmental prospect. He started just one season at Michigan, and though he was excellent, scouts thought he would need time to translate his length and explosiveness into NFL sack production. Instead, Ojabo has waited and waited, with limited practice and game reps to hone his pass rushing arsenal. He’s a guy who could use a dominant preseason performance to vault him into the regular season, where the Ravens hope he’ll supplement an edge group that lost Jadeveon Clowney after last season. Rasheen Ali, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick out of Marshall with explosive burst and pass-catching skill, is a flashier candidate to make the 53-man roster. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Neither Owen Wright nor Rasheen Ali took a clear lead for No. 3 running back It’s not clear how many carries will be available behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, but someone will step into the role, at least until Keaton Mitchell is ready to electrify again. Wright, a 2023 undrafted free agent, started against the Eagles and ran with his usual blunt force, gaining 33 yards on seven carries. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line is a clear work in progress. But for how long? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Risers and fallers: Ravens offense stumbles in 16-13 loss to Eagles in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins dazzles, then leaves preseason opener with shoulder injury Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Eagles in Preseason NFL game | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | What to know about new NFL rules: Ravens hope kickoff format is an ‘advantage’ As a 2024 fifth-round draft pick out of Marshall with explosive burst and pass-catching skill, Ali is a flashier candidate to make the 53-man roster. But he continued an uneven summer by almost fumbling a kickoff return against the Eagles (he was ruled down) and failing to punch in a potential touchdown in the fourth quarter. He averaged just 2.6 yards per carry compared to Wright’s 4.7. We’ve seen the Ravens move on from fifth-round picks before, so Ali’s draft status doesn’t guarantee him anything. It will be a question of what the Ravens want from their third running back. If it’s versatility and upside, that’s probably Ali. If it’s a guy to pick up tough yards when Henry or Hill needs a blow, that’s Wright, who’s also trying to make his case as a special teams contributor. The Ravens might figure Wright would be easier to stash on the practice squad, where he spent most of last season. One thing we know for sure is that this competition, still wide open, will continue over the next two preseason games as Henry and Hill wait to take the real stage. Preseason Week 2 Falcons at Ravens Saturday, Aug. 17, noon TV: NBC Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM View the full article

Even with starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Tyler Linderbaum, it’s hard to predict if the Ravens can build a solid offensive line this season. The Ravens opened the preseason Friday night losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 16-13, at M&T Bank Stadium, and there was enough optimism to see development, but enough negativity that might cause problems as well. Let’s just say the outcome was a draw, or about as even as the Ravens finishing with 82 passing yards and 82 rushing yards against the Eagles. Overall, the group turned in a solid effort considering Stanley, the ninth-year player out of Notre Dame, was held out and Linderbaum couldn’t play because of a “soft tissue” injury. Offensive line play is about timing and rhythm, and after last season, the Ravens lost both starting guards, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, as well as starting right tackle Morgan Moses. Both coach John Harbaugh as well as offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris knew it was going to take some time to rebuild the front five, and it showed against Philadelphia. When the game mattered most in the first half, the pocket was fairly clean for backup Josh Johnson, who started in place of star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Johnson had ample time to throw, but the 38-year-old struggled either because of his own errant passes or his slow progression in processing coverages. The Ravens worked some of their combination blocks well, especially 6-foot-8, 380-pound guard Daniel Faalele and 6-6, 360-pound center Ben Cleveland. Second-year left guard Andrew Vorhees, who missed his rookie season because of a torn ACL, is eventually going to be a top player and has strong mechanics. But it was easy to tell that this group doesn’t have the timing down yet. For one, they missed Linderbaum because centers usually set the slide protection. There were times when the Ravens were late in identifying blitzes or were so involved that they couldn’t recover fast enough to slow the Eagles. Faalele has great size, but there are still questions about his conditioning as well as hand placement and pad level. Cleveland played well Friday night, which was somewhat surprising because he had only been the starter at the position for the previous five practices. Patrick Mekari is the most technically sound offensive lineman on the roster and he took most of the repetitions with the first unit at right tackle in the first half, but there are still questions about his mobility and recurring back problems. Those are the same concerns about Stanley, who has had several season-ending ankle surgeries in recent years. Rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten, the team’s second-round draft pick, barely played Friday night and is still an unknown. Right now, the offensive line is easy to read. Josh Jones, who started in place of Stanley, tilts to his left or leans back on his heels on passing plays. Faalale takes a big split from the center on obvious “draws” or leans forward heavily on running plays. If it’s noticeable by the media from the press area, opposing defensive coaches and coordinators will see it after watching tape. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens | Risers and fallers: Ravens offense stumbles in 16-13 loss to Eagles in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins dazzles, then leaves preseason opener with shoulder injury Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Eagles in Preseason NFL game | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | What to know about new NFL rules: Ravens hope kickoff format is an ‘advantage’ But remember, it was only one preseason game. The Ravens have two more before they open the season Sept. 5 against the defending Super Bowl champions in Kansas City. Will there be a dramatic difference by then? Probably not. It can take as many as four games to work out all the nuances of strong offensive line play. It didn’t help that both Linderbaum and Stanley were on the sideline, and the Ravens had some players out of position. Cleveland was a guard at the University of Georgia. Faalale played tackle at the University of Minnesota. It doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but it’s a new world. A year ago, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said his unit was a work in progress. A year later, the offensive line is in the same position. View the full article

After nearly three weeks of practices and the doldrums of long, hot afternoons of training camp, the Ravens got their first taste of competitive football against someone other than themselves Friday night at M&T Bank Stadium. Or, at least Baltimore’s reserves did. With quarterback Lamar Jackson and most of the team’s starters not playing, the Ravens’ offense struggled to find any sort of rhythm and lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 16-13, on a 49-yard field goal by Jake Elliott as time expired in the preseason opener for both teams. “Many good things and many things to work on,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “That’s the thing I told [the team] is the great thing about a first game is you have an opportunity to see exactly where you’re at. You get to see some good stuff and you get to see where you’re exposed and what you need to work on. Sometimes that’s hard to see in practice.” The result was, of course, inconsequential, though it gives Baltimore a three-game preseason losing streak after its NFL-record 24-game winning streak in exhibitions ended last year. More pertinent was how the players performed, from the offensive line — where there are three starting jobs up for grabs — to the secondary — where Nate Wiggins made an immediate impact while at times looking like the rookie he is. It also marked the debut for defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who in addition to being the second-youngest defensive coordinator in the league at age 32 made his his debut calling plays. The offense, meanwhile, unsurprisingly struggled without Jackson. Baltimore had just 164 yards (compared with the Eagles’ 259) and was an abysmal 2-for-12 on third down. But the numbers only told part of the story. Here’s a look at who stood out and who didn’t. Who stood out Nate Wiggins: It didn’t take long for the Ravens’ first-round pick to make an impression, breaking up three passes on the Eagles’ opening drive. That included one deep down the sideline intended for John Ross from former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett and another on fourth-and-8 intended for Joseph Ngata to end the drive. The former Clemson standout’s speed was obvious as he had little trouble keeping close in coverage, but he appeared to have a mix-up on a 7-yard touchdown catch by running back Will Shipley with 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Wiggins got sucked inside on the play, with Shipley slipping out of the backfield for an easy, wide-open grab. Afterward, the cornerback appeared to utter “crap.” Most concerning, however, is that Wiggins left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury after making a tackle. Harbaugh did not have an update on his condition and said he will undergo testing Saturday, but the coach was pleased with the rookie’s performance. “I thought they kind of went at him a little bit, which was good to see,” Harbaugh said. “When you’re a corner of his caliber, he wants that. … He played a good game.” Unfortunately, when he’ll be available for the next one is a major question mark, and it puts some stress on a secondary that is already without cornerbacks Arthur Maulet (knee), Trayvon Mullen (shoulder) and T.J. Tampa (sports hernia). Ravens running back Owen Wright finds an open hole for a first down against the Eagles during the Friday’s preseason opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Owen Wright: With neither Derrick Henry nor Justice Hill playing, the bulk of the carries fell to second-year back Owen Wright and fifth-round draft pick Rasheen Ali. Of the two, Wright, who got the start, clearly stood out, showing good speed and hole recognition while running hard. On the Ravens’ opening drive of the game, the 25-year-old undrafted free agent out of Monmouth who spent last season on the practice squad accounted for all 29 of Baltimore’s yards. That included a 12-yard burst up the middle on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage and a short catch that went for 17 yards, eventually leading to a 46-yard field goal by Justin Tucker. Wright, a Bethesda native who starred at Georgetown Prep, finished with 33 yards on seven carries, along with the one catch. “I really just wanted to show that I was consistent, [that] I could make plays on special teams and on offense,” he said, adding that he has a much better understanding of the scheme and the offensive concepts now compared with a year ago when he was just trying to make roster. “Having that year under your belt is huge.” Patrick Mekari, Roger Rosengarten: With openings at right tackle as well as both guard spots, there is still a lot to be determined when it comes to who will land those starting jobs. Friday provided the best look yet at how that competition is shaping up. Baltimore opened the game with veteran Mekari at right tackle, Daniel Faalele at right guard, Ben Cleveland at center, Andrew Vorhees at right guard and veteran Josh Jones at left tackle. Starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, who has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, unsurprisingly did not dress. As for who did play, Mekari performed as expected and held his own. Rosengarten, the rookie second-round pick, showed good mobility and did not appear to get pushed around much at right tackle as he rotated regularly with Mekari, notably helping clear the way for a 9-yard run by quarterback Josh Johnson in the second quarter. “I lean on the vets a ton,” Rosengarten said. “I’m building off the confidence I already have and the guys already next to me.” Cleveland, meanwhile, said he was pleased with the group’s communication in what was his first extended action at center, which went off without a hitch. “Offensively we definitely have to get our run game going,” Cleveland said. “I think our pass protection was pretty solid most of the night. “I think the most challenging part was just being first game back of the year, just getting back into the grove of things and getting a feel for the speed of the game. But that’s very short-lived.” Jordan Stout: With a game that lacked much if anything in the way of offense, the Ravens’ third-year punter had a fairly busy night. And he handled it with aplomb. Stout had six punts and averaged 51.5 yards per kick, including a field-flipping 64-yarder in the third quarter. With the Ravens stalled on their own 16-yard line, Stout uncorked one to the Eagles’ 20 that was returned just 6 yards. Who didn’t stand out Daniel Faalele: The Ravens continue to give Faalele a look at guard, and it continues to look like an odd fit given his size (6 feet 8, 380 pounds). It didn’t play out all that well, either, for the third-year player. He still looks a bit slow on basic fundamentals, and he was flagged at one point for a false start, something that at times has been habitual for the group throughout training camp. Faalele started the second half as well and didn’t show much improvement. Ravens backup quarterback Josh Johnson completed just 4 of 12 passes for 62 yards with zero touchdowns in a listless first half of offense. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Josh Johnson, Devin Leary and Emory Jones: Johnson was long ago declared Baltimore’s No. 2 quarterback, but he didn’t show much command. The 38-year-old veteran completed just 4 of 12 passes for 62 yards with zero touchdowns in a listless first half of offense. His longest completion of the night was for 19 yards to wide receiver Tylan Wallace, with Wallace doing a nice job of snatching the back shoulder throw. Johnson finished with an abysmal 51.4 passer rating. “Timing and that sort of thing, that’s tough to evaluate,” Harbaugh said. “Guys aren’t all out there. It’s not always gonna look real great. I thought he handled himself well, made some good throws, protected the football and got us in the right place.” Leary, a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky, was even worse. He completed 6 of 10 passes for just 37 yards, though he did have a fourth-quarter sneak for a touchdown to tie the game. Harbaugh said that Leary also wasn’t on the same page at times and had receivers running the wrong routes a couple of times. Both quarterbacks were sacked once. Neither had a turnover, though Johnson should have been picked off by rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell on a poor throw late in the second quarter. But Jones, an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati, made the biggest mistake of all on his only snap of the game. After Elliott missed a go-ahead 50-yard field goal attempt with 21 seconds left, Jones was immediately strip-sacked by Patrick Johnson, who also recovered the fumble at the Ravens’ 32-yard line. Given another chance, Elliott kicked the game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line is a clear work in progress. But for how long? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins dazzles, then leaves preseason opener with shoulder injury Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Eagles in Preseason NFL game | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | What to know about new NFL rules: Ravens hope kickoff format is an ‘advantage’ Rasheen Ali: The speedy fifth-round rookie out of Marshall got the start in the second half, but his biggest play came on a second-quarter kickoff that he returned 31 yards up the middle, showing good burst on the league’s new “dynamic” kickoff format. Ali nearly coughed up the ball on the play — something that was a problem for him in college — but he was ruled down before it escaped his grasp. He finished with 26 yards on 10 carries, with his longest run just 5 yards. Trenton Simpson: With Patrick Queen now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Simpson steps in to take over alongside All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith (who was also not in uniform). On paper, Simpson looked terrific, leading Baltimore with 11 tackles. On grass, however, the 2023 third-round pick rarely stood out and at times was shoved around. That’s hardly a surprise — Queen also struggled early in his career, and most of the Ravens’ starters on defense, save for defensive tackle Travis Jones, did not play. Curiously, outside linebacker David Ojabo, who has essentially missed the past two seasons because of injuries but has been a participant during training camp, was not cleared to play by doctors, Harbaugh said. As for Simpson, who wore the green dot as the defensive signal caller, he didn’t play poorly but rather was simply unremarkable. Afterward, Harbaugh noted that Simpson was “flying around” but would be the first one to say that he wasn’t happy with his play. Sitting nearby during the postgame interview, the linebacker agreed. Simpson said he wasn’t pleased with some of his run fits and needed to be more aggressive shooting the gaps. “As a young linebacker, getting as many reps as I can is a blessing,” he said. “The more you see at this position the more you learn, the faster you can play. “The more I see, the more the game slows down.” Preseason Week 2 Falcons at Ravens Saturday, Aug. 17, noon TV: NBC Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM View the full article

Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was the early star of the Ravens’ preseason opener Friday night. His night ended in concern. The first-round draft pick exited Baltimore’s 16-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Wiggins, the No. 30 overall selection in April, started the preseason opener and excelled in his first test. He defended three passes during the defense’s first possession, including a breakup on an underthrown deep ball on third down and a drive-ending swat on a fourth-down pass from Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett. After the first stop, Wiggins joyfully ran to the end zone. The latter play ended with Wiggins wagging his finger as the defense jogged to the sideline, both moments capturing the swagger and confidence the 20-year-old cornerback plays with and what Baltimore hopes to see more of. Coach John Harbaugh had no update on Wiggins’ injury after the game. “I thought they kinda went at him a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “When you’re a corner of his caliber, you want that.” Wiggins played the entire first half and returned to start the second. To cap the defense’s first drive out of halftime, he swarmed a pass to the flat and dove at Philadelphia running back Lew Nichols’ feet to make the tackle for loss. Wiggins leaped up in celebration but left the field and entered the medical tent favoring his right arm. He departed for the locker room shortly after, was listed as questionable to return and never came back. The defensive back group has been depleted even more recently. Fourth-round pick T.J Tampa (sports hernia surgery) is on the physically unable to perform list and has been sidelined throughout training camp. Three-time Pro Bowl selection Marlon Humphrey and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton have missed time this summer with various ailments, although both have returned since the start of training camp. Trayvon Mullen has been sidelined for about a week with a shoulder injury. Arthur Maulet will miss time after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens offensive line is a clear work in progress. But for how long? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Risers and fallers: Ravens offense stumbles in 16-13 loss to Eagles in preseason opener Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Eagles in Preseason NFL game | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | What to know about new NFL rules: Ravens hope kickoff format is an ‘advantage’ Safety Sanoussi Kane, the team’s seventh-round pick, suffered a stinger delivering a crushing hit to an Eagles receiver in the third quarter and didn’t return Friday night. Kane, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, remained on the field for a few moments before walking off under his own power alongside team trainers. Ravens linebacker Chris Board also exited in the first half to be evaluated for a concussion and was later ruled out. Harbaugh didn’t provide an update on the status of Board or Kane. Wiggins was likely to be in line for a rotational role to start his rookie season, but he might be thrust into a larger one after the injury to Maulet, who was the likely starting slot cornerback. His absence might push Humphrey to that spot, opening up a perimeter role for Wiggins depending on the severity of his shoulder. That position is where the first-round pick started Friday and flashed in his first chance — and where he showed why his slender 6-foot-1, 182-pound frame could translate to a heightened risk of injury. “Nate played great,” said Wiggins’ former Clemson teammate and Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson. “Just to see him fly around, I was so happy to see him with pass breakups, make some tackles. … He’s gonna be a special guy for us this year.” View the full article

The Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker makes a field goal during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) The Baltimore Ravens #16, Tylan Wallace tackles Eagles #14 Kenneth Gainwell from below as #25 Ka’dar Hollman assists on first kickoff return of a preseason game. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Baltimore Ravens’ Rasheen Ali leaps free of Philadelphia Eagles’ Patrick Johnson on a kickoff return during the first NFL preseason game of the 2024-’25 season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens #2 Nate Wiggins breaks up a pass intended for Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson in first quarter of the preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/staff) Ravens #98 Travis Jones rushes Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett in first quarter of the preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/staff) The Ravens mascots, Edgar, Allan and Poe lead the team for player introductions during the first NFL preseason game of the 2024-’25 season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back Owen Wright runs down the field before a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh looks around the stadium before a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Baltimore Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome is on the field before a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Baltimore Ravens players participate on the field before a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Karl Merton Ferron/staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a football during pregame of preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens offensive Todd Monken looks on before preseason game against the Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr is on the field before preseason game against the Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, jokes around with Randy Brown, senior special team coach before preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

Attorney by day and NFL referee the rest of the time, Clete Blakeman has seen a lot over his 17 years patrolling football fields across the country. None of it compares with the league’s new kickoff format. “This is the biggest rule change that I’ve experienced,” he said earlier this week at the Ravens’ facility in Owings Mills. “It’s a really unique play.” Indeed. The new kickoff rule, which is based on what the XFL uses and was among a handful of rules changes this offseason, will look much different when Baltimore opens its preseason Friday night against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. In the words of Ravens coach John Harbaugh after watching last week’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears: “The one thing that did jump out at me was it’s confusing for the fans.” With that in mind, here’s a look at why the league altered the kickoff rule, an explanation of it and what else to know. Why did the NFL change its kickoff rule? In short, the new rule, which will be in place for one season (and still could be tweaked during the preseason) before it is reviewed and voted on again, was designed to sharply increase the number of returns per game after a steady decline, including a record-low mark of 21.8% in 2023. By aligning players closer together and limiting when they can move, the league believes it will not only increase the return rate but decrease the number of injuries from high-speed collisions. How will it look? The ball will still be kicked from the 35-yard line, but with 10 players from the kicking team lined up at the opposing team’s 40, with five players on each side of the field. The receiving team, meanwhile, will have at least nine players lined up in the “set up zone” between its own 30- and 35-yard line, with at least seven of them touching the 35. There will be up to two returners allowed inside the 20. What happens once the ball is kicked? Only the kicker and the returners are allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20. If the ball reaches the end zone in the air, it can be returned or the receiving team can opt for a touchback and get the ball at the 30. Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air and goes out of bounds or out of the end zone will also result in a touchback at the 30. Should the ball hit a returner or the ground and then go into the end zone, it can be returned or taken as a touchback, with the ball being placed at the 20. If a kick goes out of bounds before the end zone, or hits the ground or is touched by the receiving team before reaching the landing zone, however, the play is blown dead and the ball will be placed at the receiving team’s 40. The same is true if the ball does not reach the landing zone. Is anything about kickoffs the same? The ball is still kicked from the 35-yard line. Kicks following a safety will still be from the 20-yard line, though the new alignment and rules still apply. What about onside kicks? Onside kicks can now only take place in the fourth quarter and be done by the team that is trailing. That team must also inform officials, and players would then be instructed to line up in a traditional formation. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was injured last season by a hip-drop tackle, which is now banned by the NFL. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Other rules changes The kickoff format isn’t the only new rule. Among other changes, the league also banned hip-drop tackles, which is when a defender unweights himself and drops onto the ball carrier’s legs during the tackle. Blakeman confirmed that it was a hip-drop tackle used by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on Ravens tight end Mark Andrews in Week 11. Andrews injured his ankle on the play and missed the remainder of the regular season as well as a divisional round playoff game. Other high-profile players have been injured on similar plays in recent years; now players will be hit with a 15-yard penalty. Even if a player isn’t penalized, he could still be fined by the league. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | ‘It’s just the beginning’: Qadir Ismail, son of Ravens Super Bowl champion, forging his own NFL path Baltimore Ravens | 10 Ravens with most at stake in preseason opener against Eagles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens ‘professor’ Nelson Agholor provides valuable veteran presence in receiver room Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on Arthur Maulet’s injury update, Ben Cleveland at center and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 7, 2024 | PHOTOS The longtime referee also conceded it could be be a difficult penalty to call. “If I’m not sure, I’m not pulling the flag,” Blakeman said. “That’s clear from [the league office in] New York. … They don’t want reigning down a bunch of flags.” But there is no bigger change than the rules around the new kickoff, which includes a 5-yard penalty if a player moves too soon. How does Harbaugh, a longtime special teams coach of the Eagles before being hired by Baltimore in 2008, think the new kickoff rules will play out? He believes Baltimore will have an advantage over many other teams, given his background, but he’s also as curious as anyone. “I’m hopeful that we come out here, and we act and look like we know what we’re doing,” he said. “We hope we coach it the right way, and we hope it’s an advantage for us the first part of the season. “The first preseason game, all of the fans, we’re all going to be closely to see what it looks like.” View the full article

When the Ravens host the Philadelphia Eagles to open the preseason Friday night, longtime fans will see a familiar name when Qadir Ismail takes the field. Ismail is the son of former NFL wide receiver Qadry Ismail, who led the Ravens with 68 catches, 1,105 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 1999 before helping the team win Super Bowl 35 a season later. As he prepares to suit up for the Ravens decades after his father, Qadir revels in the opportunity to suit up for his hometown team, aiming to make a name for himself as he starts a career of his own. “He’s here because he’s worked for it,” said Qadry Ismail, who played 10 years in the NFL with five teams and spent several years as the Ravens’ radio color commentator. “I’m most proud of the journey, and the work he’s put in to get here, for him to be at this moment, he’s put himself in a good position.” Regardless of his NFL pedigree, Ismail has hit the ground running, impressing many during his short time in Baltimore. “Qadir is doing a great job, really at everything he’s been asked to do,” coach John Harbaugh said July 31. “He doesn’t back down from any challenge.” Ismail grew up in Bel Air and started as a quarterback at John Carroll before committing to Villanova, taking with him the wise words and firsthand knowledge of the game passed down from his father. “He’s always taught me to finish,” he said. “Finish every catch, finish every rep and finish every play. In my mind, every time I touch the ball, it’s going for a touchdown.” Ismail transferred to Samford, where he played two seasons at wide receiver. He was not drafted, but the Ravens invited him to rookie minicamp with something new in mind. They wanted him to play tight end. “When it comes to the art of playing football, you can go fast alone or far as a team,” Qadry Ismail said. “He’s embraced that understanding of wanting to go far and making the necessary sacrifices to help the team.” “Being with this great organization, wearing the purple and black, this is the dream now,” Qadir Ismail said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) After a good showing at rookie minicamp, Ismail was added to the 90-man roster and invited to training camp. He’s made a mark. “He’s a big body, he can run, he can catch [and] he’s learning the position,” tight ends coach George Godsey said July 27. “He’s played quarterback, [so] he knows what the quarterback is looking at. He’s young, he’s learning, he’s eager and he has a big capacity to learn, so [I’m] excited about him.” “It’s been a pretty seamless transition for him,” fullback Patrick Ricard, who has also played multiple positions throughout his career, said Tuesday. “He’s still learning, but he’s been very active in meetings, he’s always trying to get better.” With Qadry Ismail watching from the sidelines this summer, he might not be directly coaching his son like he did when he was a Bel Air Terp, but he still lends his expertise when he can. “I’m here to be whatever he needs,” Qadry Ismail said. “Whether it’s encouragement or walking things through with him to get an idea of what he and I both saw out there, I’m doing whatever it takes to help him get better every day.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | What to know about new NFL rules: Ravens hope kickoff format is an ‘advantage’ Baltimore Ravens | 10 Ravens with most at stake in preseason opener against Eagles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens ‘professor’ Nelson Agholor provides valuable veteran presence in receiver room Baltimore Ravens | Ravens observations on Arthur Maulet’s injury update, Ben Cleveland at center and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens training camp, August 7, 2024 | PHOTOS Qadry Ismail jokes that training camp is a lot more tame now than it was in 1993 when he had to grind through full-contact practices twice a day. But one thing that hasn’t changed, he said, is the job at hand for players in Qadir’s shoes. “It is the No. 1 priority for him to show that he belongs,” Qadry Ismail said. With a preseason full of game reps and opportunities fast approaching, Ismail is eager not just for his professional debut with his father’s old team, but also for the chance to go out and make a name for himself as he looks to start his path to a long career of his own. “Being with this great organization, wearing the purple and black, this is the dream now,” he said. “This is the reward for all the hard work, but at the same time, it’s just the beginning.” View the full article