ExtremeRavens

About six weeks ago, this matchup was circled as the game that signaled the Ravens had made it through the toughest part of their schedule. A grueling stretch versus five playoff-caliber teams ushered in the bye week then a softened schedule, starting with the Bears, prematurely penciled by many into Baltimore’s win column. That’s not the reality the Ravens live in anymore. This game, and every one the rest of the season “is a playoff game,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. Who will have the advantage Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Bears pass defense Let’s start with the obvious: this depends entirely on the health of Lamar Jackson. The superstar quarterback returned to practice this week after a hamstring injury sidelined him since Week 4. He’s been limited all week so his availability isn’t a certainty. With Jackson, the Ravens offense is one of the best in the NFL. Without Jackson, the Ravens are 4-12 since 2018. This year, left in the hands of either Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley, the Ravens have been outscored 61-13 in two losses. His value can’t be overstated. Meanwhile, Chicago’s defense is doing the thing Baltimore’s promised it would: force takeaways. The Bears’ 11 interceptions accounting for 16 total takeaways both lead the NFL. Comparatively, they’ve only coughed up the ball five times, which is better than all but five teams. “We’re ball hungry,” safety Jaquan Brisker told local reporters after a four-takeaway game in last week’s 26-14 win versus New Orleans. “Guys are hunting for the ball.” The Ravens’ 11 turnovers last season were the third fewest in the NFL. Through six games, they’ve already coughed it up 10 times. Baltimore’s ball security will certainly help decide this must-win. Having Jackson back under center mitigates those concerns. EDGE: Ravens Bears passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Caleb Williams hasn’t been the awe-inspiring former No. 1 overall pick many had hoped he would. He has amassed 1,351 passing yards on a measly 61.1 completion percentage. Chicago’s four-game win streak is a testament to the defense and run game. Williams has produced in spurts but hasn’t gone out and won his team a game. Pit that against a Ravens defense that played with more intensity than it has all season versus Los Angeles, added a safety that patched up schematic troubles and emerges from a bye week about as healthy as they’ve been since the start of the season and it might be tough for Williams to pilot multiple scoring drives. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Bears run defense Chicago had — past tense — one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Before last week’s win versus New Orleans, the Bears let through 156.6 rushing yards per game. Their best outing of the season silenced lead back Alvin Kamara to 28 yards on 11 carries. Was that the sign of a corner turned, or an outlier plotting a downtrodden group? Either way, Baltimore’s run game is getting a big boost in All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard. Derrick Henry flashed a wide grin when asked about getting reacquainted with his lead blocker, “He is a big, big reason why we had so much success last year, and we’re excited to have him back healthy and getting back going, so heck yes.” Henry hasn’t topped 50 yards rushing in four of six games. The run game has been a point of contention for an offense that desperately needs it. Henry hit 122 yards in a loss to the Rams, so adding Ricard could yield a productive day. EDGE: Ravens Bears running game vs. Ravens run defense The night Detroit pummeled the Ravens defense for 224 rushing yards will long be remembered as an indictment on the issues of this year’s front and the antithesis to everything Baltimore’s defense stands for. A month later, the Ravens’ run defense is somehow in even worse shape. They’re currently letting up the seventh most yards per game (after league-best marks in 2024) and the third most rushing touchdowns. Chicago wasn’t considered a premiere running team early in the year. But the latter half of the Bears’ four-game win streak is a credit to a pair of collective breakout performances. In their first four games, the Bears averaged 102.3 yards on the ground. They’re up to 183.5 averaging rushing yards in the two games since. That backfield belongs to D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai. Swift never ran for more than 65 yards through four weeks. Then he stacked two 100-plus-yard outings. Monangai combined for 81 yards through five games, then rushed for 81 on 13 carries last week. “We’re picking up steam,” Monangai said, “but there’s still a long way to go.” That could spell danger in Baltimore. EDGE: Bears Ravens special teams vs. Bears special teams Chicago has a kicking competition — kind of. Cairo Santos missed two games with a thigh injury so the Bears ran with Jake Moody. Santos is more accurate. Moody can boot it. But coach Ben Johnson has made it clear Santos is the guy when fully healthy. So between one accurate leg returning from injury and Baltimore’s rookie who was drafted on the merit of his distance kicks, Baltimore gets the edge. Tyler Loop is 9-for-10 on field goal tries with one 50-plus yarder. Although, Loop’s toughest test of the season may be on Sunday on a windy October afternoon. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Bears intangibles For the Bears, this game is chance to build on a hot streak and prove they’re a team worth respecting in the ultra-competitive NFC North. For the Ravens, it’s do or die. They’re as healthy as they’ve been since Week 1, coming off the physical and emotional reset of a bye week, and desperate for a win. On the other hand, the Ravens needed it more against Los Angeles and after two failed tush pushes, center Tyler Linderbaum admitted the Rams “wanted it more.” They can’t afford to think that way on Sunday. Related Articles Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ Ravens Week 7 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return “It is kind of a backs-against-the-wall mindset,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “I’ve never seen a boxer get out of the corner by not swinging or throwing any punches.” Baltimore gets the edge in the “Who has more to lose?” category. EDGE: Ravens Prediction If Lamar Jackson plays, flip these numbers. The Ravens’ defense is healthy and showed signs of life against the Rams, a better offense than Chicago’s. Baltimore should make the most of its ground game with Ricard in tow. Safety Alohi Gilman allows for the three-safety look where Hamilton is near the line of scrimmage and can, to some extent, mask issues up front. But if Jackson’s hamstring injury keeps him out another week, Baltimore’s defense won’t go win them this game. Bears 24, Ravens 13 Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr spent part of last Friday talking to his predecessor and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, the two former colleagues, separated by a handful of years and not much else given their overlapping tenures in Baltimore. They have remained close and talked family and football. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken, meanwhile, dove into “where we’re at now, what we’ve been doing personnel-wise and schematic-wise” and what they want to do moving forward. He said he doesn’t anticipate “too many” personnel changes this week and is glad to have fullback Patrick Ricard finally back after a long lingering calf injury as well as left tackle Ronnie Stanley healthy following a recent ankle injury. The bye week came at a useful time for players as much as coaches, who spent last week zeroing in on what to fix after a 1-5 start as well as preparing for this week’s opponent, the 4-2 Chicago Bears. “There [was] a lot of hard work, a lot of discernment, judgment, choices, things that you have to decide what direction you want to go, what’s best for us going forward, [so] that we can maximize and play our best football, really,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I’m really pleased with where we’re at. Now, we have to go put it into action.” That begins Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. For a defense that ranks 32nd in points allowed per game (32.3), 30th in yards per game (380.8) and tied for last in sacks (eight), reinforcements are at least on the way. All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith is expected to start Sunday for the first time since injuring his hamstring during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Baltimore also signed defensive end Carl Lawson to aid its beleaguered and short-staffed pass rush. Already, there was progress in other ways the last time the Ravens’ defense took the field, when it held the Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford to 17 points and just 241 total yards in Week 6. It helped that Alohi Gilman made a smooth transition after the Ravens traded underperforming and free-agent-in-waiting outside linebacker Odafe Oweh for the safety. With Gilman deployed mostly on the back end, that allowed Baltimore to utilize safety and “unicorn” defender Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage to get back to more three-safety looks. “That definitely helps,” Orr said of Gilman’s addition. “He’s an elite communicator, he’s seen a lot of football, and that helps us out. You always want to look at how you can get your best 11 on the field and where they fit at, and ‘Lo’ is one of our best 11 players.” As for where the pass rush will come from, Lawson should help, though he’ll need a quick ramp-up to play by Sunday. The Ravens can also use exotic schemes with simulated pressures and blitzes. However they do it, getting to the quarterback was the “main focus” of the bye week, Orr said. On the other side of the ball, the Rams game also offered a glimmer of what could come — especially if quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has missed the past two games and was limited with a hamstring injury for a second straight day of practice Thursday, is out again. Baltimore rushed for 179 yards against the Rams with 122 of those coming from Derrick Henry. It broke a string of four straight games in which the running back had been held to 50 or fewer yards. “In the moment, maybe we got some things going, but we lost,” Henry said. “So, that’s what I think about. We did some good things, but we still got a [loss].” His efforts this week, however, should be aided by the return of Ricard andStanley. “He’s a guy that doesn’t get dented,” Monken said of the bruising 300-pound Ricard. “He doesn’t overreact to what he sees as he is trying to fit up a run or on the line of scrimmage.” Ravens tight ends coach George Godsey talks to fullback Patrick Ricard during practice this week. Ricard's expected return should bolster the team's running game. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Of course, there would be no bigger return than Jackson’s. Baltimore’s offense has stagnated in his absence and since he was injured against the Chiefs last month. The Ravens have scored a combined 16 points in their past two games and struggled to move the ball consistently. Coaches have been mum about whether Jackson will be available Sunday, though. “It’s the player that really has to feel comfortable going out there and putting themselves in position to play,” Monken said. “He says he’s ready to go, I’m ready to go. I feel great. I don’t want to say — any great player that says they want to play, I’m all in. “It’s up to him, and I thought he looked really good today. I thought there were things he did out there today that he took another step forward.” Whether Jackson plays or not, though, there is one thing that is certain: The Ravens desperately need a win. Related Articles Ravens Week 7 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY Only one team — the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals — has started a season 1-6 and gone on to make the playoffs. But that was during the first year of the AFL-NFL merger when there were just 26 teams. A fifth straight loss Sunday wouldn’t end Baltimore’s season but it would be crippling and players and coaches are acutely aware of that. This week is a de facto playoff game. “I don’t think we have to be perfect, but I think we have to have a sense of urgency, and I think we all know what is at stake to get what we want to get done,” Henry said. “And I think we know what we don’t need to do to put ourselves in positions to not be able to win. “You’ve got to play every game like it is your last.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Each week during the high school football season, The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Ravens will select one tackle football and one girls flag football Coach of the Week. Here are the winners for Week 7: Tackle football Ken Brinkman, Edgewood: Brinkman is in his first season as the Rams’ coach, but this is his second Ravens Coach of the Week honor (North Harford, 2010). Edgewood is undefeated and fresh off a shutout win against C. Milton Wright. Heading into a huge matchup with Fallston this weekend, the Rams are averaging 35 points per game on offense and only giving up 11.5 points per game on defense. Girls flag football Mike Free, Calvert: Free and the Calvert program have been on a tear in their inaugural season. The Cavaliers are 9-1 and unbeaten on the road. Their lone loss came to county rival Northern earlier this year. The Cavs are rolling as they head into the region playoffs next week. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Related Articles Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY View the full article

The Ravens are getting some much-needed help for their pass rush. Baltimore is signing free agent edge rusher Carl Lawson, he shared on social media. The Ravens also waived tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, opening up a spot on the 53-man roster. Lawson’s signing comes after outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman and and after outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was put on injured reserve this week after suffering a broken foot in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this month. That had left Baltimore with just three outside linebackers on its 53-man roster: veteran Kyle Van Noy, rookie second-round pick Mike Green and fourth-year former second-round pick David Ojabo. On Monday, the Ravens hosted Lawson, 30, along with linebacker Jesse Luketa, for a visit. A seven-year veteran, Lawson spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and registered five sacks in 15 games (3 starts). Prior to that, he played two seasons for the New York Jets, where he tallied 7 sacks and 38 tackles in 23 games. Lawson joining the Ravens also marks a return to the AFC North. A fourth-round pick out of Auburn by the Bengals in 2017, he spent his first four seasons in Cincinnati, where he had 20 sacks, including a career-high 8 1/2 as a rookie in 2017. The following year, however, he suffered a season-ending torn ACL midway through the season. In 2021, he signed a three-year, $45 million contract with Jets but ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers that August and missed the season. In August 2024, he signed with the Cowboys’ practice squad before being added to the active roster in early October. Now the Ravens hope he can help their beleaguered pass rush immediately. The Ravens’ eight sacks are tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the fewest in the league, while their pass rush win rate (39%) ranks 19th, per ESPN analytics. For his career, Lawson has 32 sacks, 134 tackles, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ View the full article

We asked readers if they believe the Ravens (1-5) will make the playoffs. With quarterback Lamar Jackson getting healthier after missing two games because of a hamstring injury, there’s renewed optimism inside the locker room about making a playoff push. Do fans feel the same way? Here are the results from our online poll: No — 66% (353 votes) Yes, as a wild-card team — 19% (104 votes) Yes, as the AFC North champion — 15% (80 votes) Here’s what some fans said about Baltimore’s postseason chances (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Nope. It is ironic how similar the Orioles and Ravens seasons have gone. Each team started slow and had multiple injuries. The Orioles stayed optimistic and kept on saying they will improve as the season progresses. As it turns out, it did not happen. Now we hear the same about the Ravens. Since they have an allegedly weaker remaining schedule, and players returning from injury, their hopes for a playoff run improve. But the coaching and players remain the same. One good defensive game against the Rams does not absolve Zach Orr’s defensive coaching struggles. And even if Jackson returns, just how good will he be with that hamstring injury? Our backup quarterbacks leave a lot to be desired. General manager Eric DeCosta has to share much of the blame for the Ravens futility this season. And no matter what the players say, this team does not seem to be unified. — Robert No. There are too many deficiencies at offensive and defensive line. They struggle in pass blocking when they can’t run the ball and the pass rush on defense is nonexistent. It’s hard to see them going 8-3 or 9-2 down the stretch, which is likely what would be required to make the playoffs. They have ignored the trenches for too long and it is costing them big time. — Brian P. They will have a tough time winning games now vs. the Giants and Patriots and even Bengals, Steelers and Packers. So realistically, I foresee eight or nine wins at best. — William As Lloyd says to Mary in Dumb and Dumber … “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” Those are about the Ravens’ odds of making the playoffs. Something has been missing from this team for the past few years, whether it’s coaching, lack of leadership or possibly just uncoachable players who want to do their own thing. — Dale S. 9-8 or 10-7 might be enough to win the division this year, it’s still possible. — Justin In my dreams, yes all day. But the reality is NO, I’m almost at the point of waiting for next year. — LaSonia I have a better chance of hitting the lottery. — John Krainer From Super Bowl contender to asking if they will make a playoffs? What is going on my Ravens! Time to wake up and fly my men. Let’s go! — Timothy Park The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practiced again Thursday as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that kept him out the previous two games. Jackson returned to the field Wednesday in Owings Mills for the first time since suffering the injury during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player had missed 14 straight practices before jogging onto the field about 20 minutes into Wednesday’s session. Jackson then took part in team passing drills during the open portion of practice and was later listed as limited on the first injury report of the week. Jackson practicing for a second straight day is a good sign for his potential availability for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. Coach John Harbaugh declined to provide a potential return date for Jackson after Wednesday’s practice and is not scheduled to speak to reporters again until Friday when game statuses are announced. “It’s hard to put a number on it,” he said. “I don’t have any sharable injury intelligence at this point.” Cornerback Marlon Humphrey also returned to practice Thursday after being absent Wednesday with an illness. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was the only absence. Jackson has missed each of the past two games. The Ravens lost both, 44-10 to the Houston Texans and then 17-3 to the Los Angeles Rams, to fall to 1-5 on the season before last week’s bye. The Ravens have struggled mightily when Jackson has not played with a 4-12 record in those contests since he became the starting quarterback in 2018. This season, backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley have filled in during Jackson’s absence. Rush came off the bench against the Chiefs and has started each of the past two games, passing for a combined 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions. Huntley came off the bench against the Rams and completed 10 of 15 passes for 68 yards and also ran three times for 39 yards. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ozzie Newsome grew up in Muscle Shoals near the birthplace of the civil rights movement in Alabama. He remembers the days of “colored fountains” and as a sixth grader being the only African American in a newly desegregated school. When the Cleveland NFL franchise first moved to Baltimore for the start of the 1996 season, Newsome was then the executive vice president of player personnel and remembers the Ravens winning only 16 games in their first three years. If there’s a recurring theme here, it’s patience. Newsome, 69, has learned to keep quiet but confident. So now, as the Ravens struggle through a 1-5 start, he urges the same calm approach for fans. The Ravens have a favorable remaining schedule, which includes teams without proven starting quarterbacks in the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. Plus, the Ravens face the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals twice in their 11 remaining games. It might not be enough to get Baltimore into the postseason, but that wouldn’t be Ozzie Newsome. “We were developing and building in those first three years [in Baltimore]. We didn’t have a whole lot of resources, so we basically would have to build through the draft and we did that,” Newsome said. “And I think this team has been built through the draft, but you have to be patient. The thing about us thus far, we’ve only played one division game. “The goal every year is to win the division. So the outlook for me and how good I feel about it is based on what we did in those first three years. We can still win the division.” Talking to Newsome is like a stroll down memory lane. He gave few interviews when he was the Ravens’ general manager and even fewer now. The Ravens are celebrating their 30th season here and have had two owners in the late Art Modell and currently Steve Bisciotti, who became the majority owner in 2004. But no person is more synonymous with this franchise than Newsome, who helped lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl titles with two different coaches in 2000 and 2012. Twelve teams have yet to win the Super Bowl, and the Ravens, according to Newsome, are planning a 25-year reunion with the 2000 championship team and former defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Newsome’s new role, after he relinquished his previous post in 2019 to current general manager Eric DeCosta, is more about advising, consulting and watching game film. Few can break down video like Newsome, who was watching tape Wednesday of the Chicago Bears before passing on tidbits to coach John Harbaugh and his assistants. He cherishes the memories of three Hall of Fame players in left tackle Jonathan Ogden, middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, and the Ravens could be adding two more in outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and right guard Marshal Yanda. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Newsome still thinks Modell has a chance as well. “I sure hope so. He deserves to be in and it hurts me that he isn’t,” Newsome said. “As for the other two, once I got [inducted] in 1999, then I knew that in watching both of those players [that they] had a chance. I mean, J.O. was so effortless out there. And then Ray, I mean you just can’t describe the way that Ray was as a player, but as a leader. So once I got in and got a chance to be around the other Hall of Famers, I had the feeling that these guys would get in at some point or get the opportunity.” Newsome remembers how tough it was to watch and grade Reed on film as a player at the University of Miami. He talks about how he tried to work a trade to get out of the No. 24 slot that the Ravens used to pick Reed, but no other teams were pursuing him. The Ravens were stuck with a player who went on to earn the prized gold jacket and bronze bust. As for Suggs and Yanda, he believes both will eventually get there. “I think they both deserve to be in, but there is a backlog of players,” Newsome said. “And so the one thing about it, I waited four years, but when you get that call, whether you get it in the first year or the fourth year, it’s unbelievable. You can’t describe it.” Newsome has no problem talking about the coaches the Ravens have hired. Ted Marchibroda was a link to the past, having coached the old Baltimore Colts from 1975 to 1979. He had success here and provided a smooth transition on the move from Cleveland, even though the team had no money to sign high-priced free agents. When the team replaced Marchibroda with former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick in 1998, they got the fast-talking, car salesman type who was a bit arrogant. Billick and arrogance? Nah. Say it ain’t so. “Well, when we got Brian, he was a bit arrogant, but I mean we were a franchise that was just barely holding on,” Newsome said. “But Brian told them you can’t be scared, if you are scared, you can’t win in this league. To get Brian to come in and out talk everybody, it really gave us a little bit of an identity, The players brought into that and that helped us to get on that road that we got on.” From left, Ravens legends Ray Lewis, Ozzie Newsome and Johnathan Ogden are honored on the field during a game against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) After Billick, it was on to John Harbaugh in 2008. “John Harbaugh is all football,” Newsome said. “His dad is football, his brother is football, his sister married a basketball coach. So they are all about sports. And I knew about John because he had worked for my friend Ray Rhodes up in Philadelphia. And when we were looking for a coach, he had two things going for him. He had been a special teams coach and then [his last year with the Eagles] he went on the defensive side of the ball. So to have a coach that can walk in those two meetings and understand what needs to be done is huge. Then you just go up and you find somebody you trust with your offense.” It really does come back to patience again. Newsome was hired as the league’s first Black general manager in 2002 and remained in that capacity until 2018. When the Bears play at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, the president and CEO of the team, Kevin Warren, is Black and so is general manager Ryan Poles, special adviser Ted Crews and Ian Cunningham, the assistant general manager who worked in the Ravens’ front office from 2008 to 2016. Newsome didn’t see these changes coming so quickly. “No, but you just see how the climate has changed in the National Football League, in America,” Newsome said. “The climate has changed because I grew up in the 60s in Alabama and being able to go back to the school like I did last weekend and be able to enjoy it like I did in 2025, I could not have enjoyed that in 1965 or ’66 or when I went there in 1974. “It started on the field. I think 65 or 70 percent of the players are African-Americans right now, and then a lot of those players are staying in the game. I think we may have four or five coaches that all played the game at some level that are on our staff right now. So I think what has happened is that the more opportunities that guys have gotten to play has allowed for us to have more opportunities for the non-playing jobs.” That hope is what gives Newsome optimism about the Ravens this season. In 2000, they went five games without scoring a touchdown but still won the title because the defense was one of the greatest in NFL history. The Ravens were as cocky as Billick, and they talked so much trash. Ask Lewis or safety Rod Woodson what they needed to win, and they would say 10 points. Game over. During that season, they faced only three teams in the regular season that finished with a winning record. Are you noticing any similarities with the Ravens’ current schedule? In 2012, quarterback Joe Flacco just got hot in four playoff games. Few will ever put up those postseason numbers again. In retrospect, Newsome has done it all throughout his career, His college coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, once said that Newsome was the best receiver to ever attend Alabama. Like Bryant, Newsome points out some other great coaches he has worked with, including Bill Belichick, and adds that he has surrounded himself with some outstanding people, such as Jess Markison, DeCosta, George Kokinis and Joe Douglas, now senior personnel director with the Philadelphia Eagles. All franchises go through some struggling times, but the Ravens have something other teams don’t: Two Super Bowl trophies. “I have worked for two great owners,” Newsome said. “Art was here every day. Steve, he brought the franchise and has other things that he does in his life that he enjoys. He reads everything you write and everybody else will write. “So, he has questions, but you heard that song about moving on up? We have moved on up. Steve wants to have the best team, the best facilities, the best food, the best flights. So, I’m thankful that Steve has built what we call The Castle. We’ve had two different ways of winning, but you could enjoy the results just as much.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 8: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (14-1 last week, 76-31-1 overall): Chargers Sam Cohn (10-5 last week, 74-33-1 overall): Chargers Mike Preston (11-4 last week, 74-33-1 overall): Chargers Josh Tolentino (11-4 last week, 74-33-1 overall): Chargers C.J. Doon (11-4 last week, 69-38-1 overall): Chargers Bennett Conlin (13-2 last week, 70-37-1 overall): Chargers Tim Schwartz (9-6 last week, 62-45-1 overall): Chargers Patrice Sanders (9-6 last week, 65-42-1 overall): Chargers Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Falcons Cohn: Falcons Preston: Falcons Tolentino: Dolphins Doon: Falcons Conlin: Falcons Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Falcons Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Cohn: Bengals Preston: Bengals Tolentino: Bengals Doon: Bengals Conlin: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Sanders: Bengals San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: Texans Preston: 49ers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: Texans Related Articles How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Cohn: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Tolentino: Buccaneers Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Buccaneers Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Buccaneers Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Cohn: Colts Preston: Colts Tolentino: Colts Doon: Colts Conlin: Colts Schwartz: Colts Sanders: Titans Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Steelers Doon: Packers Conlin: Steelers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Washington Commanders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Chiefs Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

For the better part of six weeks, the Ravens’ defense couldn’t pinpoint why it was happening. Why — at full health or not — the spirited practices during the week didn’t translate to dominant performances on game day. “It’s not one thing in particular,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. Then he caught himself. “Actually, maybe one thing in particular.” When Baltimore toiled through the first third of its season, ranked last in the NFL in points allowed and third-to-last in yards allowed per game, they weren’t having fun. Even Hamilton felt guilty putting such damning figures in plain English. “I don’t want it to sound like it’s Little League football,” Hamilton said, but they believe the issues snowball from a fear of making mistakes. The Ravens have been ravaged by injuries. At one point, their defense took the field without four All-Pro players, thus propelling inexperienced guys into high-leverage spots. Couple that with the immense pressure of needing to turn the season around and outspits a defense that isn’t having any fun. “I think everybody on our defense has that in them,” Hamilton said, “it’s just a matter of letting it loose.” He’s vocalized the need to let loose before games. Running back Derrick Henry delivered the same message to his teammates days before seeing the Rams in Week 6. Hamilton admitted the fun in a full-throttle style of play “gets lost when you’re losing games.” It’s impossible to recover when they can’t make the necessary spark-plug plays. The Ravens are tied for the fewest team sacks and second-to-last in interceptions in the NFL. It has crippled the defense for the better part of this season. That is, until their respectable performance against the Rams, holding one of the league’s top offenses to 17 points and 241 total yards with a forced fumble. Los Angeles scored 20-plus points in the four games before flying into Baltimore. A week later, the Rams hung 35 on the Jaguars, who haven’t allowed that much offense all year. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr thought that loss was the “most intensity” he’d seen from them all year. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy acknowledged it was a step in the right direction, but called it “an OK game,” that they need to “step up another notch.” Now, the challenge becomes maintaining that level of “fun” when Sunday’s game versus Chicago has all the makings of a playoff game. No team in the modern NFL era has made the postseason after a 1-6 start. This weekend feels like win or go home for a team a stone’s throw from mathematical elimination. “You can’t ignore the past,” Hamilton said. “But we’re forward-thinking at this point. Kinda have to be. Everything for us is a playoff game. That’s how it feels.” There’s still belief in the locker room. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, shown playing against the Chiefs, says the defense needs to stop being afraid of mistakes. He hopes "letting loose" will help the unit perform well against the Bears on Sunday. (Reed Hoffmann/AP) Hamilton doesn’t think morale has gotten any lower. “We’re just eager to turn things around,” he said. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey said that if there’s one positive to glean from their torrid start, it’s that the locker room hasn’t splintered. He also said if there’s anyone on that roster thinking about anything other than beating the Bears, they should “meet with our mental health person.” All told, the Rams loss being the slightest sign of hope was more than just a downtrodden defense having fun again. Related Articles Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Newly acquired safety Alohi Gilman tightened up the back end of the defense while allowing Hamilton to play closer to the line of scrimmage, a well-documented quick-fix in Baltimore. They forced a turnover for the first time in a month, which Van Noy said can inject some juice. And the defense as a whole was healthier, having Hamilton and Humphrey back from injury. They should have linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie back for Sunday, too. However, outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was put on injured reserve Wednesday with a broken foot. If the Ravens are going to keep this season afloat, it’ll be a credit to “guys just not caring if you mess up,” Hamilton said. “It sounds kind of crazy saying that,” he continued. “It’s just a matter of letting it loose. Who cares if they catch a ball on me, get it down, tackle it and play another play. … Never seen a boxer get out of the corner by not punching.” Sunday’s prized fight kicks off at 1 p.m. By late afternoon, the Ravens season will either stand back up on two feet or the Bears will have left them face down on the canvas. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

After being handcuffed by injuries on their way to a dreadful 1-5 start, the Ravens are exiting the bye week healthier than they’ve been in some time. Lamar Jackson returned to practice Wednesday and was listed as limited on the official injury report, and only Kyle Hamilton (groin) joined the quarterback with that designation. Marlon Humphrey, a surprise addition to the injury report after practicing Monday, did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of an illness and was the only player listed as such on the injury report. “Got a call at 4:18 this morning. He’s not doing well. We didn’t want him here,” coach John Harbaugh quipped. Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), Zay Flowers (shoulder), Patrick Ricard (calf), Roquan Smith (hamstring), Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and Devontez Walker (oblique) were all listed as full participants Wednesday. Elsewhere, Tavius Robinson was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. was activated off IR, the team announced after practice. Harbaugh previously said that Robinson would miss 6-8 weeks with his broken foot. Humphrey was one of a slew of Ravens defenders who missed time over the past month. The cornerback played in the Ravens’ final game before the week off and practiced in the days leading up to the contest after missing the prior game against the Houston Texans with a calf injury suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s part of a core of defensive players in various stages of returning to action. Smith, who hasn’t played since the Chiefs game three weeks ago, participated in his second straight practice Wednesday, which was also the first time Ricard has been listed as a full participant. The fullback was limited in the team’s last practice before the Rams game and did not play, and along with Jackson and Jones will look to aid an offense that’s struggled to score in the quarterback’s absence. Jones said Wednesday he’s comfortable at either guard or tackle. He played both at LSU before being taken in the third round by the Ravens this April. Jones has yet to play in a game this season after undergoing shoulder shoulder in early 2025. Wednesday was the end of his 21-day window to either be activated off injured reserve or placed on season-ending IR. Harbaugh said Monday that Jones won’t play this week, while Jones said Wednesday he met with his doctors Tuesday and they cleared him to play. Baltimore’s offensive line has allowed the fifth-most sacks per game in the NFL this season with Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele starting all six games at both guard positions. “It’s been hard watching the guys practice,” the rookie said. “I’ve just been coming in here, lifting, keeping my head down, doing what I need to do to get back on the field. We’re finally here. It’s been a long six or seven months.” Harbaugh added Wednesday that Nnamdi Madubuike, who is out for the remainder of the season with a neck injury and has not played since Week 2, has not yet had surgery. The coach did not clarify if a procedure is still on the table. The defensive lineman has not been made available for interviews since Harbaugh said “those are questions that would be best answered by him” when asked if the injury was potentially career ending. “It’s one of those deals that just, I’d like to share more and I’m sure we will be able to at some point,” Harbaugh said. “Maybe the club could figure out some way to express it. Just with HIPAA and things like that, I can’t share somebody else’s information. That’s all I can say.” Still, the Ravens are getting healthier, as was the hope with the timely bye week and limited room for error the rest of the way. “You prepare with the guys who are practicing, and then we’ll see how we get through the week,” Harbaugh said. We’ll get to the game and play with the guys who can play, just like we have been doing.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Ravens are beating themselves up. Time to beat someone else. | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens need to beat Bears, but it won’t be easy | COMMENTARY The Bears’ injury report includes a few notable absences. Tight end Cole Kmet (back), wide receiver DJ Moore (groin), running back D’Andre Swift (groin), defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) and running back Roschon Johnson (back) did not practice Wednesday. Swift leads the Bears in rushing yards with 419, and Moore ranks second on the team with 258 receiving yards. Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, offensive lineman Braxton Jones, kicker Cairo Santos and defensive back Nashon Wright were limited participants. Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and defensive lineman Austin Booker were full participants, although each of those two players is on injured reserve and have yet to be activated. Booker must be activated this week or he’ll remain on IR for the duration of the season. Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons. New Ravens defensive lineman, David Olajiga, left, talks to teammate C.J. Okoye at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills. The Ravens are relatively healthy ahead of their Week 8 clash with the Bears. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice Wednesday in Owings Mills for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury nearly a month ago. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player jogged onto the field late in the open portion of the session. After loosening up, he dapped up fullback Patrick Ricard, hugged offensive coordinator Todd Monken and chatted with quarterbacks coach Tee Martin. Jackson then took part in team passing drills. It’s a good sign for Jackson’s potential return for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. He previously missed 14 straight days of practice. Jackson, who has been out since suffering the injury in the third quarter of Baltimore’s Sept. 28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, has missed each of the past two games. The Ravens lost both, 44-10 to the Houston Texans and then 17-3 to the Los Angeles Rams, to fall to 1-5 on the season before last week’s bye. Coach John Harbaugh is scheduled to speak to reporters later this afternoon. The Ravens have struggled mightily in Jackson’s absence, falling to 4-12 in games in which he has not played since becoming the starting quarterback in 2018. With Jackson absent, backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley had been taking reps at quarterback during practice. Rush came off the bench against the Chiefs and has started each of the past two games and struggled, passing for a combined 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions. Huntley came off the bench against the Rams and completed 10 of 15 passes for 68 yards. He also ran three times for 39 yards. Baltimore is currently in last place in the AFC North and trails the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) by three games with 11 weeks remaining in the regular season. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Ravens are beating themselves up. Time to beat someone else. | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens need to beat Bears, but it won’t be easy | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Zay Flowers apologizes for avoiding media after 2 fumbles View the full article

The Ravens were trailing by 7 points and down to their final desperate seconds. Arrowhead Stadium was in full throat. And the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones bore down not once but twice on Lamar Jackson, only the diminutive Justice Hill between the three-time All-Pro defensive tackle, the quarterback and game over. Over a year later and even amid the more recent challenging times of a 1-5 record that matches Baltimore’s worst start in its 30-year franchise history, the viral moment in which the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Hill successfully blocked the 6-6, 310-pound Jones still resonates. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Hill says with a shy smile in the back corner of the Ravens’ Owings Mills locker room. “Everybody goes one way and it’s just me and Chris Jones the other way. “We’re down, we’ve driven down the field, we have an opportunity to go score, you just gotta get it done some way somehow. I’m probably just a fly in his face, but Lamar was able to get the ball off. It was a crazy moment. I knew [Jones] gotta be somewhat tired so it was like, just give him all you got and hold on.” If there is a moment over the past seven years that both typifies Hill’s place in the NFL and his ability to persist it is perhaps that one from Week 1 in 2024. On a roster chock full of superstars and big personalities, the 27-year-old son of deeply religious parents, Derrick and Tia, older brother of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax and product of what the family calls a “good vibes” home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has endured as much as he has in his understated way excelled. Hill, a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State who rushed for 3,539 yards and 30 touchdowns and caught 49 passes for 304 yards and another score over three college seasons, was entering his third year as a pro when coach John Harbaugh told him that he was about to get cut. Instead, he is the last of the Ravens’ 2019 eight-player draft class still in the building, along with being the rare running back to get a third contract with the same team after signing an extension last season. He also overcame a torn Achilles that wiped out his 2021 season — ironically it was teammate J.K. Dobbins’ torn ACL in that year’s preseason finale that had helped keep Hill on the roster. Along the way, he has watched other backs take on leading man duties, from Mark Ingram to Dobbins to Gus Edwards to Derrick Henry, yet it hasn’t soured his disposition and Hill, even during what has been a disappointing 2025 thus far, often has a smile on his face. “I would say that’s god-given,” Tia said. “He was always a happy kid, always smiling and having fun. “As a mother, being spiritually grounded was one of my goals, so in his own way he’s searched for that.” That doesn’t mean that there weren’t low points. The lowest of them came even before he tore his Achilles. His first two years in the league, he was stuck behind three-time Pro Bowl selection Ingram and an odd fit for then-offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s power run scheme. Hill had 58 carries for 225 yards and two touchdowns along with eight catches for 70 yards as a rookie, but his touches (12 carries, 60 yards; 5 catches, 20 yards) plummeted the next season. Then came the news that he would be cut, followed by a brief sigh of relief that washed away after the season-ending injury. “My first three years, yeah man, was definitely challenging,” he said. “It was like, dang, there was a whole bunch of questions for three years. Why you bring me here? Why you do this? So many questions. “Then the Achilles injury brings you back to you’re blessed to even be here, be in this position, blessed to put pads on every day. When I came back from that, I had a different approach and mindset.” Ravens running back Justice Hill slips past Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton for a touchdown earlier this season. While not a superstar, Hill is a valuable piece to the Ravens' offense. (Charlie Riedel/AP) With newfound perspective that was aided he said by watching videos about Navy SEALS along with the birth of the first of his two children, Hill embraced the struggle and found joy in moments big and small off the field and on it. Of being home in a walking boot. Of playing special teams. Of pass protection. Of making the most of his scant opportunities when he got them. Eventually, the tide turned and he became an invaluable member of the roster. Since 2023, Hill is tied for third on the team in catches with 88. His 9.4 yards after the catch is also the most by a Ravens player with at least 50 receptions since 2023. This year, he has the fourth most receiving yards (144) on the Ravens and his 71-yard touchdown run against the Chiefs in Week 4 is Baltimore’s longest play from scrimmage thus far. That tenacity and versatility has earned high praise throughout the organization. General manager Eric DeCosta has called him one of the “unsung heroes” of the team. Harbaugh has referred to him as a “high-caliber” running back as well as a “difference maker.” Running backs coach Willie Taggart has dubbed him a “junkyard dog” for his versatility to do “everything” and noted that he played a key role in helping Henry integrate to the team last season. Related Articles 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Ravens are beating themselves up. Time to beat someone else. | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens need to beat Bears, but it won’t be easy | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Zay Flowers apologizes for avoiding media after 2 fumbles Ravens return to work from bye week ‘still searching’ for answers “He can pretty much do anything,” says teammate and linebacker Roquan Smith, who arrived in Baltimore in 2022. “I got a lot of respect for him, how he comes in every day. You never see the guy complain, he put his head down and go to work every day. When somebody’s like that, you can’t do anything but respect him.” There was a time, Hill’s father Derrick said, that his eldest son perhaps did feel undervalued early in his professional career. But through the tribulations, he found an “appreciation” for his role. Hill also believes the journey wouldn’t have been rewarding, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s gonna be muddy. It’s gonna be hard,” he said. “But if you get through those things, there’s gonna be some great things on the other side.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens are 1-5 coming out of the bye week with a disastrous blur in the rearview mirror. It’s put up or shut up time. Here are five things we learned from six games and a bye week: Harbaugh believes he has all the right pieces to spin a turnaround John Harbaugh’s stance hasn’t shifted in the slightest. After the Texans scored more points than any opposing team at M&T Bank Stadium since 2008, Harbaugh stuck by his defensive coordinator. When the Rams held Baltimore to its lowest scoring output in a home game since 2002, the longtime coach reiterated that there was no need for change. When the bye week arrived with a schedule break that might have been the time to pull a lever, Harbaugh adamantly stuck by Zach Orr and Todd Monken. “We have the people for the job. We have everything we need,” Harbaugh reiterated this week. “And we have to go get started this week.” When a team with such high, high hopes starts 1-5, it’s natural that fans and some national media to call for heads to roll — warranted or not, nuance be damned. The loudest voices have been aimed toward Orr, whose defense has endured a parade of injuries, but didn’t show the type of intensity that he has preached until Week 6. They rank last in the NFL in points allowed (32.3). Monken has taken some flack too, for an offense that hasn’t capitalized in short-yardage situations and struggled to maximize running back Derrick Henry after historic production a year ago. “I don’t think there’s any obvious move there that would make us better,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know why that always comes up, really. I guess maybe it’s part of it, but I love our guys. They work hard, and I think they’re doing a good job of coaching. I’m sure they want some things back, too. Certainly, we can do things better.” If Harbaugh isn’t right, and this season continues its downward spiral, some kind of staffing change is a near-guarantee. Lack of depth in the trenches is getting exposed Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum acknowledged what everyone inside M&T Bank Stadium saw. “They wanted it more than us,” he said, after two failed tush pushes from the 1-yard line vs. the Rams and a carry by Henry that went nowhere. It was a telling indictment on a group that hasn’t gotten much push up front for an offense that desperately needs it. Last year, the Ravens’ offensive line overcame legitimate concerns to be stout enough in protecting Lamar Jackson and clearing runways for an historic Henry campaign. The only change this offseason among the starters was replacing the plug-and-play Patrick Mekari with former seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees. Now, Pro Football Focus ranks Baltimore’s offensive line as the 23rd best group in the NFL. Against Los Angeles, they allowed 20 pressures, including three sacks, on 39 pass plays, with the worst pass-blocking efficiency grade (70.5) of any NFL team that week. The injured Stanley got beat on three of eight pass plays and his replacement, veteran Joe Noteboom, conceded six pressures with a sack. Even Linderbaum, who has been Baltimore’s top lineman, hasn’t played up to snuff. According to PFF, he’s allowed pressure on pass plays at the worst rate of his career (5.8%). When questions arise for potential changes along the struggling group, Harbaugh’s go-to answer has been that everything is on the table. Same goes for the defensive line. But it’s less about under performers — of which there are a few — and more about the stacking of injuries. Nnamdi Madubuike is out for the year. Broderick Washington is still on the injured reserve. Travis Jones missed time. As did Kyle Van Noy. At that point, the Ravens’ pressure rate (28.6%) ranked 28th in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Then they traded Odafe Oweh to the Chargers and Tavius Robinson broke his foot. Now, the interior defensive line and pass rushers primarily replacement-level players. Expect the Ravens to be squarely in the hunt for a big-bodied midseason addition to the defensive line. Related Articles Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ Ravens are beating themselves up. Time to beat someone else. | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens need to beat Bears, but it won’t be easy | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Zay Flowers apologizes for avoiding media after 2 fumbles Ravens return to work from bye week ‘still searching’ for answers In constructing this roster, there’s no way that general manager Eric DeCosta could have foreseen such unfortunate injury luck. But football is an unforgiving sport. And the trenches — no matter how unsexy — matter. Baltimore wasn’t prepared and has yet to take a big swing in addressing those concerns. Lamar Jackson should have won MVP last year What better way to solidify Lamar Jackson as the should-have-been 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player than by him suffering an injury that left the Ravens’ offense completely inept? Before Jackson’s hamstring injury in Week 4 at Kansas City, the Ravens led the league in scoring behind a quarterback with more passing touchdowns (9) and yards per pass attempt (9.6) than anyone in the NFL. Jackson also had the best passer rating in league history. There was an offensive lull early on in the Chiefs loss, but since Jackson’s exit, Baltimore has scored only two touchdowns (both rushing) in nine quarters. Talk about value. Quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench during the Ravens' 44-10 loss to the Texans. There's optimism within the team's locker room that Jackson can soon return from his hamstring injury. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Sure, there was a statistical argument in favor of Baltimore’s two-time winner. Jackson passed for more yards in 2024, ran for more yards and threw 13 more touchdown passes with two fewer interceptions than his Buffalo counterpart. Even though Josh Allen rushed for 12 touchdowns, compared with Jackson’s four, Jackson won the total touchdown tally, 45-40. This year, the Ravens dropped from 30-plus points per game with Jackson to averaging single digits per outing since his injury. Baltimore’s offense scored 40 points in Week 1 versus Buffalo. They scored only three in Week 6 versus Los Angeles when Cooper Rush and third-stringer Tyler Huntley took over. “We’ve just got to get our ‘mojo’ back a little bit,” Monken said. “Mojo” may just be a mispronunciation of “Jackson.” Emotional turmoil of Week 1 deserves a slice of the blame for this torrid start In late September, Hamilton acknowledged privately amongst his teammates what was perhaps the elephant in the room. A Week 1, 15-point collapse in Buffalo caused emotional turmoil that lingered past the cliche 24-hour rule professional athletes award themselves to get over a loss. The Ravens were playing scared, haunted by blue-and-white Buffalo ghosts that left them gashed by Detroit’s run game and bullied by Kansas City in all phases. All those meetings — a defensive team dinner after Week 1, Henry encouraging his teammates to get back to having fun, Van Noy affirming they must “get our [crap] together” — fell flat. What was an historic offense a year ago, the first NFL team to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000 in the same season, is now rhythm-less. A team that cashed in on 85% of red zone trips now only reaches the end zone at a 40.6% clip. And the defense, which talked a big game with lofty goals of returning to a “standard,” reached the bye week last in the NFL in points allowed (32.3) and 29th in yards allowed (380.8) per game. Baltimore’s issues aren’t singular. The offense lacks creativity and the defense is playing too tentative. “It’s one thing here, one thing there, these little things that are really adding up,” defensive lineman Brent Urban told The Baltimore Sun. It’s manifested in “bad football,” wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. Oh, to think about the parallel universe of a Ravens team who held onto a two-score, fourth-quarter lead. Gene J. Puskar/ The Associated PressBills coach Sean McDermott, left, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh, right, greet at midfield following their Week 1 thriller. The Bills beat the Ravens behind a surprising comeback, and some Ravens players say the defeat messed with their mindset. (AP file) The AFC North has been weird enough that the Ravens still have a chance One month into the season, three of four AFC North teams were without their Week 1 starting quarterback. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2 that required surgery and is expected to sideline him at least through November. Baltimore lost Jackson to a hamstring injury in Week 4. And Cleveland sent Joe Flacco to the Bengals in a rare interdivisional deal. Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers has been the only constant in what is still considered an open race for AFC North supremacy. That’s all to say, even though the Ravens are 1-5, there’s been enough craziness that, mathematically, Baltimore (somehow) still has a chance. “It’s pretty simple math,” Harbaugh said, begrudgingly. “I don’t have to think that long about it, to be honest with you. I know that winning the next game would go a long way in helping us.” Only four other teams in the modern NFL era have turned around their season like the Ravens will try to. Making the postseason after a 1-5 start is a brutal task that requires a magical run. Baltimore’s divisional schedule is backloaded. Part of the calculus of a playoff berth would require dominating division games. But before seeing an AFC North foe, the Ravens have to get through the Bears, Dolphins and Vikings. Divisional games in November won’t matter if these next few weeks don’t fall Baltimore’s way. “I want to win one game, cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “There’s no rest of the season. There’s just one game, and that’s all.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

The Ravens entered this season with Super Bowl aspirations. They’ve spent the first seven weeks, though, chasing themselves amid a disappointing campaign. The problems extend beyond injuries. They’re mental, emotional issues — and they trace back to a night in Buffalo when everything started to slip. That became even clearer after The Baltimore Sun spoke with more than two dozen sources in and around the Ravens to get a real understanding of what’s gone wrong. Our reporting revealed player frustration with a lack of offensive identity and a tentative defense. Perhaps most concerning was how players described the mental beating the Week 1 collapse at Buffalo created. “It was that Bills game that put a beating on us mentally where it felt like everything was ending, even though it was the first game,” one veteran player told The Sun. The collapse hardened into something deeper. That’s one of the biggest things I took away from our reporting. Through each loss, the Ravens seemingly have carried the weight of that season-opening defeat at Highmark Stadium. Since then, it feels as if pressure has only continued to shape the season, turning up a lingering psychological spin for a team ravaged by injuries. Inside The Castle, players are aware that Sept. 7 evening set a tone Baltimore has been unable to shake off completely. After last season’s playoff letdown, Buffalo again stripped Baltimore’s confidence early, and the Ravens have only attempted to reclaim it ever since. On defense, our reporting revealed exactly how cautious this Zach Orr-led group has become. A unit that once thrived on takeaways and aggression has played as if it’s afraid to make mistakes. That simply can’t continue. If this team is going to climb out of its hole, the defense needs to stack stellar performances. Consider Baltimore’s 17-3 loss to the Rams in Week 6 as a step in the right direction. There were flashes of better tackling and tighter coverage, but the Ravens need to show more consistency, especially as key pieces, such as middle linebacker Roquan Smith, return to the starting lineup. Offensively, things have gone awry since quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s Sept. 28 loss to Kansas City. The team’s tempo and passing game have evaporated with Jackson’s absence and coordinator Todd Monken’s creativity has dulled. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey breaks up a pass intended for Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The unit’s level of execution has also suffered to the point of visible frustration. If the Ravens somehow pull off a spectacular run to close the season, but fall a game or two short of making the playoffs, the offense’s sequence right outside the goal line against the Rams and the group’s inability to punch it in on three consecutive attempts will stick out like a sore thumb. The importance of Jackson’s expected return from injury cannot be overstated. His presence alone drastically shifts opposing defenses’ game plans and provides the Ravens a real chance that they haven’t felt or experienced since he limped off the field in Week 4. Jackson’s return, though, can’t be treated like a simple plug-and-play. Monken must use Jackson’s return as an opportunity to reset and streamline the offense, to play faster and lean on the run game, and recapture the sense of unpredictability behind Jackson and Derrick Henry that makes Baltimore a potent offensive threat. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens need to beat Bears, but it won’t be easy | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Zay Flowers apologizes for avoiding media after 2 fumbles Ravens return to work from bye week ‘still searching’ for answers Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses another practice Monday; LB Roquan Smith returns READER POLL: Will the Ravens make the playoffs? With 11 regular-season games remaining, the Ravens (1-5) have little room for error. And if Baltimore aspires to become just the fifth team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to start 1-5 and still make the playoffs, the Ravens absolutely need to play with consistent urgency. The journey to 10 wins, widely viewed as the prerequisite for a playoff spot in the AFC, begins Sunday against Chicago. The psychological climb might be just as steep as the on-field battle. Jackson’s imminent return gives the Ravens their best chance to clear that massive hurdle. No more excuses. No more carrying the dead weight of that opening defeat into every contest. That’s one of the most pertinent pieces of information I gathered from The Sun’s weeks of reporting: The Ravens know exactly what’s weighing them down. Either Baltimore uses the bye week and Jackson’s return as a true reset, or it lets the Week 1 collapse at Buffalo define the season. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Chicago’s football franchise is no longer the sad news Bears. They aren’t going to win a Super Bowl title in 2025, but Chicago is good enough to cause a lot of problems for the Ravens Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in a “must-win” situation for Baltimore. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only four teams have started the season 1-5 and made the NFL playoffs, but a 1-6 record is a journey into no man’s land. The Ravens’ remaining schedule is just the 23rd toughest in the NFL. But the Bears (4-2) won’t be pushovers. Chicago is on a four-game winning streak after an 0-2 start in losses to Minnesota and Detroit, both in the NFC North. The Bears have beaten Dallas, Las Vegas, Washington, New Orleans and forced 15 turnovers in those victories. It’s Chicago’s best start since 2018. Meanwhile, the Ravens are coming off a bye week. “Exhaustive type of review, do it as you go, going through reports, analysis and film study,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “You get to step back, build where you want to go. You try to make the best of it, I feel great about what we accomplished. It’s a lot of hard work, deferment, judgment, but it’s a chance to play our best football. The opportunity in front of us is great, but we got the people to do the job.” The city of Chicago is buzzing about the Bears. Their fans are hoping to have a new, 60,000-seat stadium constructed in Arlington Height, Illinois, in 2029. Ryan Poles was named the general manager in January of 2022, and Kevin Warren became the president and CEO nearly a year later. Poles was given permission to make various deals to upgrade the offensive line in the offseason, but the center of attention has been first year coach Ben Johnson. He has become the NFL prototype: young (39), detailed, intense and highly competitive. The Bears are ranked No. 14 in offense averaging 338.6 yards and 25.3 points per game, but have a very high sack percentage (32nd). The atmosphere in Chicago isn’t like his days in Detroit when Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator. In those times, the Lions had one of the five best offenses every season and were No. 1 in production a year ago, averaging 33.2 points per game and scoring at least 40 points in six games. But they can still give the Ravens trouble with three new offensive linemen added during the offseason in guards Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman. They also have two good receivers in Rome Odunze (24 catches, 359 yards, five touchdowns and DJ Moore (22, 258, 1). To compound problems for the Ravens, they are last in the league in points allowed at 32.3 per game and 29th in yards allowed at 380.8. The Ravens also have sacked opposing quarterbacks only eight times, one of the worst totals in the NFL. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, shown in 2024, will face off against Bears coach Ben Johnson on Sunday. Johnson is considered one of the best offensive minds in the NFL. (Kim Hairston/Staff) That’s where second-year quarterback Caleb Williams comes into play. A year ago, he was sacked 68 times (11 this season), losing five of his 10 fumbles. With a revamped offensive line, good receivers and a dual threat in running back D’Andre Swift, Williams might make plays against Baltimore. Like most games, it comes down to the interior lines, and the Ravens have to find ways to manufacture pressure. So far, that’s been a major missing part of this defense. Defensively, the Bears have been respectable holding teams to an average of 346.5 yards and 25.3 points per game, which is No. 21 in the league. To beef up its defense, Chicago added inside linebackers Terrell Edmunds (61 tackles) from Buffalo, even though he appears to have lost a step throughout his seven-year career. Left defensive end Montez Sweat (two sacks) and Gervon Dexter Sr. (2 1/2) are the Bears’ top pass rushers and free safety Kevin Byard III (31 tackles) can still make plays. He is always around the ball, but doesn’t run as well anymore. Related Articles Ravens’ Zay Flowers apologizes for avoiding media after 2 fumbles Ravens return to work from bye week ‘still searching’ for answers Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses another practice Monday; LB Roquan Smith returns READER POLL: Will the Ravens make the playoffs? What’s wrong with the Ravens? Inside a Super Bowl favorite’s stunning slide. The key is Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He still is good at scheming against an opponents’ offense. Allen’s defense forced New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler into three interceptions, and Rattler also had a fumble which Chicago recovered. Like a lot of NFL games, turnovers are a factor. “They have done a nice job,” Harbaugh said of the Bears. “They have a better feel for what they are doing offensively. Defensively, they keep playing better and better.” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t practice Monday, so his status for Sunday’s game debatable. So is the outcome of this game. When the 2025 season opened, most NFL observers thought these teams would be on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Ravens were expected to contend while the Bears were going to implode. But it’s different now. If the Ravens lose Sunday, the abyss becomes deeper and darker. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Zay Flowers took some accountability. The Ravens’ Pro Bowl receiver opened his post-practice scrum apologizing for leaving the locker room after their Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in which Flowers was involved in a pair of fumbles. With his normal toothy smile, Flowers, who has been media averse much of this season, vowed it wouldn’t happen again. How do the on-field mistakes get fixed? “I think, lock in a little bit more,” he shrugged. The first turnover came early in the third quarter, down one score, flushing a drive near midfield. Flowers caught a pass over the middle and squirmed past the linebacker behind him. He jetted to the left and turned upfield when Rams linebacker Nate Landman punched it loose. “I was just trying to make a play,” Flowers explained. Later in the same quarter, Baltimore within two scores, Flowers motioned through the backfield for an end-around handoff from backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Rush put the ball in his stomach and Flowers “just mishandled the ball,” he said. “Ain’t really too much to think about,” he continued. “I just got to hold the ball.” Baltimore’s No. 1 wide receiver didn’t agree with there being much of a difference between taking handoffs from Lamar Jackson versus Rush because he was at fault for it. Either way, Flowers felt the bye week offered Baltimore a much-needed reset, after two games without a passing touchdown that fed this calamitous 1-5 start. They want to “make an example” out of the Bears on Sunday. Flowers’ 423 receiving yards this season are more than double the team’s next most productive pass catcher. His 46 targets are 19 more than tight end Mark Andrews and 25 more than wideout Rashod Bateman. Flowers was also on the wrong end of a first quarter interception by Rams safety Quentin Lake that was more a credit to the defender than an indictment on the receiver. Lake said postgame that down-and-distance call had come up in practice in the week leading up to Week 6. After his involvement in the interception and his part in two fumbles, Ravens veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins told Flowers to not let anyone see him with his head down. “He’s a great player, and he’s going to be a great player for years to come,” Hopkins said. “It’s not just on him. He’s out there trying to make a play, so you can’t fault him. But Zay knows what he needs to do to be better, but my message to him is just, ‘Keep your head up. Play the next play.’” That uplifting message from a mentor in the same positional room after the young guy made a big mistake in a costly spot had a similar feel to the last time Flowers fumbled: at the goal line in the 2023 AFC championship game versus Kansas City. Flowers owned up to his first-career fumble postgame. He faced the cameras through a well of tears, a show of human emotion. Then, it was Odell Beckham Jr. who offered words of comfort: “‘Bro, you gon’ be straight. It’s tough. Yeah, you may hear something about this. That’s just the way the world is.’ Just keep his head, just like everybody else in here.” On that chilly night, Flowers owned up to his mistake. He did the same thing this time — albeit over a week later. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Ravens return to work from bye week ‘still searching’ for answers Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses another practice Monday; LB Roquan Smith returns READER POLL: Will the Ravens make the playoffs? What’s wrong with the Ravens? Inside a Super Bowl favorite’s stunning slide. Ravens or Orioles: Who’s got it worse than us? View the full article

Ravens players were back to work Monday afternoon in Owings Mills. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was still not, however. Jackson was absent from Monday afternoon’s practice, Baltimore’s first since returning from its bye week. The two-time NFL Most Valuable has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the third quarter of the Ravens’ Sept. 28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s also unclear whether he’ll be available for Sunday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears. “I think all the guys are working really hard to get back,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ll see who’s back and who practices on Wednesday. I don’t really want to comment on any individual guys.” If Jackson doesn’t practice on Wednesday, that likely doesn’t bode well for Sunday. Without Jackson, the offense has labored. In the first full game he missed, the Ravens were blown out at home by the Houston Texans, 44-10. Baltimore managed just 207 yards, including 163 through the air, and had just 40 offensive plays. In a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams the following week, the Ravens had 296 total yards (117 passing) and averaged a paltry 3.9 yards per play. Jackson’s backup, Cooper Rush, has struggled mightily in his place, completing 65.4% of his passes for just 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions in two-plus games. Without Jackson, the Ravens are 4-12 in games he hasn’t played in since becoming the starter in 2018. At 1-5 so far this season, history is also not on their side. Only four times has a team lost five of its first six games and gone on to make the playoffs. “I think you always have it in the back of your mind,” wide receiver Tylan Wallace said. “It is there. There’s no escaping it. At the same time, it’s like a balance and you have that in your mind and know that we have goals we want to reach.” One thing that should help is getting a number of other players back. Linebacker Roquan Smith, who has also been out with a hamstring injury since that Chiefs loss, returned to practice Monday and said he will play against the Bears. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) also practiced. Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard, center, is among the players hoping to return from injury Sunday against the Bears. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) “Having your players on the field is important,” Harbaugh said. “A player like that, like ‘Ro or anybody else, all the other guys, the guys that came back last week … It’s a big boost.” How big of a boost remains to be seen. Through its first six games, Baltimore ranks 32nd and 30th in points and yards allowed per game, respectively. The defense took a step forward in the loss to the Rams, Harbaugh said after the game, but the bigger question is if it will keep progressing and how quickly it will do so, even after the addition of safety Alohi Gilman allowed the Ravens to utilize more three-safety looks and move safety Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage to try to slow opposing offenses down. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey doesn’t seem convinced just yet. “The honest answer is we still lost so I don’t know what it really did,” he said as he sat at his locker, hat on and head down. “We’re still trying to figure out what we can do going forward to win some games and get the stink off of everybody.” Asked what is needed to turn things around, Humphrey said he’s “given up” on that, has put his faith in the hands of coaches and that “we’re still searching for that.” When prodded on if there is still faith in the coach, he said, “I think the best thing we’ve done as players is not question the coaches. There hasn’t been turmoil and guys turning on each other. “I just want to win a game. That would be really cool. I would be really happy. It’s just not fun to lose games. It’s something I told the defense, I’ve never really been a loser my entire life. I’m not really cool with being a loser. I’m not really comfortable with being a loser. So I just want to win one game.” Perhaps the week off will help. Humphrey, Smith, Wallace and wide receiver Zay Flowers said the break was as much a mental reset as a physical one. Smith went to Georgia’s win against Ole Miss over the weekend. Wallace likewise went to his alma mater, Oklahoma State, for its loss against Cincinnati. Others continued to work their way back from injuries. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses another practice Monday; LB Roquan Smith returns READER POLL: Will the Ravens make the playoffs? What’s wrong with the Ravens? Inside a Super Bowl favorite’s stunning slide. Ravens or Orioles: Who’s got it worse than us? The Ravens might get a high draft pick. Here are 27 prospects to watch. That includes rookie third-round offensive lineman Emery Jones, who is closing in on his 21-day window to return from shoulder surgery. Harbaugh said he has a chance to be a factor this season and is beginning to work his way into the conversation for an offensive line that has struggled this season (though he won’t be medically cleared in time for Sunday). Harbaugh will also have to find a way to replace the snaps of outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who broke his foot against the Rams and is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks. As for the players, they’re also looking forward. “It’s not about what’s happened in the past,” Smith said. “It’s more so about what’s happening in the future and there’s been many great stories and there’s gonna be another one coming soon but obviously it’s one game at a time and it starts this coming week.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed Monday’s practice in Owings Mills with a hamstring injury, making it 24 days since he last practiced. Jackson, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the third quarter of the Ravens’ Sept. 28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, was expected to return this week, coach John Harbaugh said after Baltimore’s 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The team’s ensuing bye week gave Jackson an additional seven days to recover. However, he was not on the practice field during the portion open to the media Monday, leaving backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley to take the reps at quarterback. In his absence, Baltimore (1-5) dropped two straight games with back-to-back embarrassing defeats at home, first to the Houston Texans, 44-10, then Rams. The Ravens are 4-12 in games without Jackson since he became the starter in 2018. While Jackson was out, Rush struggled mightily in his place, completing 65.4% of his passes for 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions in two-plus games. Huntley entered in the fourth quarter against the Rams, as Harbaugh said the plan was to play two quarterbacks. It’s still early in the week, and Jackson has missed practices before. But his return to the field carries added importance given the time he’s missed — and the urgency for Baltimore’s offense to rediscover its rhythm. The Ravens are currently in last place in the AFC North and three games back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers with 11 weeks remaining in the regular season. Before getting injured, Jackson had completed a career-high 71.6% of his passes this season for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception. However, the Ravens’ offense has also struggled to find a rhythm all season, while the defense has been the worst in the NFL. The Ravens did welcome back linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie back to practice. Smith had not practiced since his Week 4 injury against the Chiefs and Awuzie also returned from a hamstring injury that he suffered against Kansas City. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard also practiced, meaning Jackson and linebacker Tavius Robinson (foot) were the only players who missed action Monday. Harbaugh is scheduled to speak with reporters following Monday’s practice. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles READER POLL: Will the Ravens make the playoffs? What’s wrong with the Ravens? Inside a Super Bowl favorite’s stunning slide. Ravens or Orioles: Who’s got it worse than us? The Ravens might get a high draft pick. Here are 27 prospects to watch. Joe Flacco’s vintage performance has Bengals back in AFC North mix View the full article

The Ravens have an uphill climb. Baltimore, fresh off its bye week, is back on the field this week, preparing for a Week 7 home contest against the Chicago Bears. But at 1-5, the Ravens will need to go on a winning streak to have any shot at making the playoffs. Will they do it? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton gazed up in disbelief at the scoreboard inside Highmark Stadium, gobsmacked by what he saw and physically ill from what had transpired. He didn’t know it then, but the path was etched from that very first game of the season. Baltimore’s historic collapse last month in Orchard Park, New York, where Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for nearly 400 yards and erased a 15-point deficit in the final minutes, was dismaying. It was also an unwelcome tone-setter. The emotional toll of the shocking 41-40 defeat spilled over into the performances in the weeks that have followed and, eventually, into a roiling speech by Hamilton behind closed doors inside the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills. “It was that Bills game that put a beating on us mentally where it felt like everything was ending, even though it was the first game,” one veteran player who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Baltimore Sun. “When we have so much time to recover, such a long season, and we let that carry over.” Following a stunning 1-5 start to a Ravens season — tied for worst in the franchise’s 30-year history — that was expected to end in a rain of purple confetti, the once-Super Bowl favorite is on the brink. The Sun spoke with more than 25 sources in and around the Ravens to gain a better understanding of what’s really wrong with a team laden with All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent, led on offense by a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player in quarterback Lamar Jackson and a defense that just two seasons ago was among the league’s elite. Most of those who spoke to The Sun came from inside the locker room, and some were granted anonymity so they could speak freely without fear of retribution. A few league sources also offered a perspective on the team’s struggles. The discussions provided a revealing view of an offense that is frustrated with a lack of creativity, a defense that has played tentatively and is scared to make even the smallest mistake, and a group of veterans and rookies alike who have struggled to find joy in their work. Particularly stark has been the drop-off from a team that just a year ago became the first in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000 in the same season. From players to coaches, there has been an acknowledgment of a lack of rhythm among the offense. Jackson’s hamstring injury, which knocked him out of a Week 4 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter and sidelined him in embarrassing losses to the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams, has been a big factor. But even before he got hurt, there were indications something was amiss. “It just feels different. I just don’t feel like guys are being put in positions to succeed with this offense,” one veteran offensive player told The Sun, aiming his criticism at offensive coordinator Todd Monken, now in his third year in Baltimore. Asked what he meant, the player said, “It’s freakin’ Lamar Jackson, how can you not find ways to have success with him? But I’m pretty sure if you put [Chiefs quarterback] Patrick Mahomes out there for us right now, the same things would be happening.” ‘Everybody catches up to you in this league’ The numbers bear that out. After leading the NFL in yards per game and ranking third in scoring last season, the Ravens ranked 21st in yards and 13th in points through their first six games this year. They plummeted from No. 1 in red zone scoring (85%) in 2024 to 15th this year (40.6%). Baltimore has also turned the ball over 10 times, one shy of all of last season’s total. Players and coaches have acknowledged a lack of consistency. “Three years ago, we had a new OC, new DC,” another veteran offensive player said. “Teams didn’t have any film on us. Now, they’ve seen everything that we’ve done, so we have to be more creative and put guys in spaces [to succeed].” Having so many playmakers on offense between running back Derrick Henry, receivers Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins, along with tight ends Mark Andrews and now Isaiah Likely, has been, in the eyes of Monken, “a good problem to have.” But to some of his players, sometimes it’s just a problem. “It has pros and cons,” one longtime offensive player said. “You got so many guys you want to get the ball to, but then it can get confusing at times. You’ve got so many different personnels and plays for certain guys. I think, at times, it can be a little confusing.” The issues extend beyond scheme. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken speaks with the media after the team's 1-5 start. After a pair of superb seasons leading the offense, Monken has watched his group regress in 2025. (Surya Vaidy/Staff) “We got a lot of young guys around here,” one offensive player said. “They haven’t been around to build up battle scars, so it may get to them mentally, emotionally in their head. O-lineman, we have a lot of young guys, special teams, especially on defense right now. “You’re already gonna have nerves regardless, and then if things aren’t going well you’re going to have the outside noise. It’s a lot stacked up against you. “I think that’s the difference from the past — we had more mature teams.” Talk is cheap When the Ravens arrived at training camp in July, they spoke assertively about a singular goal: “We want to be the most feared unit in the league,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. Humphrey gave an impassioned speech about recovering a lost “standard.” The 2000 Ravens — Super Bowl champions, widely considered one of the best defenses ever — marked the mountaintop for a high-upside group laying out their goals from the season’s foothills. Fast forward six weeks into the regular season and the Ravens, who have been ravaged by injuries to several key starters, entered their bye week ranked last in the NFL in points allowed (32.3) and 29th in yards allowed (380.8) per game. Only two teams have fewer sacks and takeaways. Maturity has been a point of contention on defense, too, with All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey noting that coach John Harbaugh broached the topic in a team meeting just a week into the season. Baltimore’s once-dominant defense has also played “soft,” according to one assistant coach from a rival team, in what has been a departure from the norm. How did they fall so far, so fast? “You can’t just talk about it,” veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “You got to do it.” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton speaks with the media in late August. Hamilton is among the veteran defensive leaders trying to help the Ravens fix the unit's woes for the final 11 games of the season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Orr, 33 and in his second year, has taken the brunt of the criticism for Baltimore’s defensive struggles. His seat warmed with each loss, but might have cooled a bit after what he called “the most intensity” they’ve played with all year in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Rams. Harbaugh has repeatedly defended Orr’s job. Players stand behind him “110%.” They say their lack of success is on them, not him. It has led to extra walk-through sessions, extra meetings and extra position group meetings to “make sure knowledge of the playbook is good,” veteran defensive end Brent Urban told The Sun, adding that the quality of practices hasn’t translated to games. Others have shared that sentiment. “It’s not like we’re going in there just lollygagging and not doing our job,” Henry added. “It’s just so many things,” Urban continued. “Just guys getting on the same page, it’s one thing here, one thing there, these little things that are really adding up.” In an attempt to explain such a troubling trend, one player recalled one of four successful fourth-down conversions from the Chiefs game. The Ravens’ offense ran a play in practice that caught Orr’s defense by surprise. They didn’t stop it. Kansas City ran that exact play. Orr knew what was coming, schemed against it properly, and the Chiefs still converted. “It’s hard for me to comprehend at times,” one veteran defensive player said. “The game is a different environment. If you go in there scared to make a mistake, you’re probably going to make a mistake. When the poor results keep happening, it’s almost like the pressure is building, and guys are more scared to make a mistake. “A mistake’s not going to kill you. But these little mistakes all over the place continuing, it’s just like a snowball. It messes with you mentally.” Added another offensive player: “It makes Z.O. look bad when he’s calling the right [stuff].” ‘There’s a lot going on’ Accountability in the locker room was also a pillar of past teams, and it has been a talking point this year. Rob Burnett, a defensive end for the Ravens from 1996 to 2001, said that if a player missed a meeting, they’d end up on a milk carton. If someone lagged behind in practice, Burnett and Tony Siragusa, two partners in crime along the defensive line, would drown their belongings in a lake. “We’re old school,” Burnett said. Times are different now, but Harbaugh said accountability is “critical” and something “that we work on all the time.” “I feel like we’re going to get great, great veteran leadership,” he said. “Nothing is going to be more important than that.” Perhaps more impactful than perceived player accountability, injuries and the underwhelming play of key veterans have pushed inexperienced players into larger roles. Related Articles READER POLL: Will the Ravens make the playoffs? Ravens or Orioles: Who’s got it worse than us? The Ravens might get a high draft pick. Here are 27 prospects to watch. Joe Flacco’s vintage performance has Bengals back in AFC North mix Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY When general manager Eric DeCosta pieced the roster together in the offseason, he couldn’t have imagined it would look like this before midseason. In the Ravens’ 34-point loss to the Texans on Oct. 5, three defenders made their first career starts and five rookies (two undrafted) were part of the opening lineup. Fourth-round rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan wore the green dot as the primary play-caller, while first-round safety Malaki Starks fed communication in the secondary. “When a contender has that many young players and rookies forced into real roles this fast,” one high-level NFL executive said, “it’s hard to mask.” Starks acknowledged that he’s still feeling out his role, having “stepped into a [leadership] zone that I haven’t been in yet.” The rookie’s potential is undeniable. But the Ravens didn’t envision thrusting him into such a high-leverage role so quickly. “I mean, there’s a lot going on,” Starks said, “but it’s really just like a tunnel. I can only control what I can control.” ‘Get back to having fun’ Because of it all — what Hopkins, the 13-year veteran and three-time All-Pro wideout, aptly called “bad football” — the locker room looks different now, too. In the week leading up to the Sept. 28 loss to the Chiefs, punter Jordan Stout posted an Instagram story of Jackson sitting in front of a video game console, controller in hand, with the caption: “Hard at work.” It was a harmless, friendly jab. But two days later, the quarterback hobbled off the field at Arrowhead Stadium with a hamstring injury he suffered in another deflating 37-20 loss. When the team returned to Owings Mills, the toys had disappeared. The Ravens promptly removed several recreational staples from the locker room, including the basketball hoop near Jackson’s and Flowers’ stalls, the pingpong table that rookies Buchanan and Mike Green often battled on after practice, the once-popular cornhole boards, and yes, the video game consoles, often lit up with intense rounds of Super Smash Bros., that regularly drew small crowds of teammates late in the day. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy ponders a reporter’s question during the offseason. Van Noy and the Ravens' defense has struggled through their first six games of the season, allowing 32.3 points per game. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Multiple players told The Sun the decision came from the coaching staff, who wanted to strip away distractions and have the team fully locked in amid its disappointing start. It’s not the first time they’ve done it. In previous seasons when the Ravens stumbled early, coaches leaned on similar tactics, dialing back locker-room freedoms in an effort to boost focus and reset the work environment. From a player’s perspective, the recreational activities helped break up long days and allowed the locker room to breathe and relax, even for a moment, from an atmosphere that demands intense daily focus. Since the removal of the activities, the Ravens have lost two more games, extending their season-long losing streak to four. The fun stuff is gone. The team is still searching for answers. Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and gone on to make the playoffs. For Baltimore, the belief in a turnaround feels paramount. “The only worse thing is 0-6, so yes, it’s a big hole. We’re going to have to bounce back,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We have 11 games left to try to run the table.” That kind of hope is often where teams either splinter or rally. Amidst the worst stretch of his storied career — four straight games with fewer than 50 rushing yards paired with three early season fumbles — Henry gathered his teammates after a Friday practice leading into Baltimore’s Oct. 12 loss to the Rams. According to three players in attendance, he told teammates the only way they’d start winning games again is if they “get back to having fun.” Henry’s message was simple. For a team stuck searching for itself, weighed down by its historic Week 1 collapse, Baltimore needed this bye week — a timely physical and emotional reset. All that’s left is to see how they respond. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com and x.com/samdcohn. Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks to the media after a September practice. The Ravens lost both of their games with Jackson out of the lineup because of injury. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

This time last year, about a week apart, Lamar Jackson and Mike Elias remarked about the state of their respective organizations in an odd moment of affinity. Jackson, the star quarterback for Baltimore’s perennial playoff contending football team, then off to an 0-2 start, said, “We got to find our mojo because that’s not us at all.” Just a few days later, Elias, the president of baseball operations at the heart of the Orioles’ rebuild, making sense of the twilight of a disappointing season, felt “The mojo that we’ve had, it just has drifted away from us.” Now, there’s a similar sentiment hanging over both Baltimore sports teams as each grapples with lost mojo and disappointing seasons. The Orioles were a popular pick for a deep playoff run and missed the postseason entirely, finishing 75-87 in the cellar of the American League East. The Ravens, who were also a Super Bowl contender heading into this season, are now 1-5 at the bye week, facing an uphill climb for an AFC North three peat. Both birds have a few disappointing losses to show for it. On April 20, the Orioles fell 24-2 to the Cincinnati Reds in the franchise’s most lopsided defeat since 2007. The Ravens tied their largest loss in the team’s 30-year history two weeks ago in a 44-10 rout by the Texans. Most fans want to forget about the Ravens coughing up a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Bills in Week 1. Well on June 18, the Orioles let an eight-run lead slip to the Tampa Bay Rays — the third time since 1954 they’ve surrendered such a dominant lead. Sigh. It’s a hard pill to swallow. The Ravens and Orioles have each been snake bit by injuries while stars have played short of expectations. Maybe Baltimoreans have an Etsy witch to blame. For one, both teams were forced to lean on an aging veteran to keep the ship afloat. Neither did any such thing. Charlie Morton, 41, signed to be a stabilizing arm for what was thought to be a high-upside rotation led by Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers, with Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells on the way. All of them missed time to varying degrees. And Morton went 0-7 with a 9.38 ERA over his first nine outings. “That was really, really difficult,” the always-honest Morton told local reporters after being traded to Detroit at the deadline. “I’m failing on the field with a group of guys who don’t really know me, a new organization, high expectations.” Same could be said for Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush, even if his mellow vibe won’t put such heartfelt words to it. The Ravens signed Rush on a two-year, $6.2 million deal. He was a successful backup in Dallas, going 9-5 as a starter over four seasons. Baltimore figured it might be getting similar value. Rush has filled in for two games while Jackson nurses a hamstring injury and it’s gone about as poorly as Morton’s tenure. In two starts, both losses, he threw four interceptions without a passing touchdown. Of course, injuries have been the most glaring parallel between the neighboring teams. Ravens fans head to the exits as the Rams put the finishing touches on a 17-3 win. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens injury report has included as many as 15 players. Eleven of them were regular starters. Across the street, the Orioles were, by year’s end, the fourth most-injured team in MLB. Such unfortunate luck can sidetrack even the most ambitious of postseason plans. Both the Ravens and Orioles have had trouble getting the ball across the goal line, too — figuratively and literally. In last Sunday’s loss to the Rams, tight end Mark Andrews was stuffed on consecutive tush pushes in a goal-to-go situation that yielded no points. The same thing happened in Kansas City, when Jackson fumbled on fourth-down from inside the 5. And Week 2 against Cleveland, Baltimore needed all four downs to punch the ball in. At 44.44%, the Ravens rank 27th in the NFL at scoring touchdowns from the red zone. It’s the No. 1 thing on coach John Harbaugh’s mind heading into the bye week. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said this week he thinks “we’ve just got to get our mojo back a little bit.” This break in the schedule will either serve as a turning point for the Ravens or the point where the rollercoaster begins its vertical descent. Some are calling for defensive coordinator Zach Orr to be fired, despite the defense’s solid showing on Sunday. A smaller contingent of restless fans are wondering whether the second longest tenured NFL coach’s job is safe. Related Articles The Ravens might get a high draft pick. Here are 27 prospects to watch. Joe Flacco’s vintage performance has Bengals back in AFC North mix Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around The Orioles fired their manager on a much shorter leash. Brandon Hyde was hired by Baltimore after the 2018 season. He won Manager of the Year in 2023 and made the playoffs in two straight seasons, a feat no Orioles team has accomplished since 1996-1997. But this season, after a 15-28 start — earlier in the season with a better winning percentage than where the Ravens are now — he was fired. Under interim manager Tony Mansolino, the Orioles went 60-59. Elias acknowledged at his end-of-season news conference, “I’ve got a very busy offseason ahead of me.” Surely there are more parallels between the two pro teams in town. But the Ravens still have (some) hope of salvaging this season. An optimistic Harbaugh said before the bye week, “We have a lot of work to do.” One of these teams is bound to find their mojo soon. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Is it NFL draft season already in Baltimore? The Ravens are 1-5 after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, matching their worst start in franchise history. If the season ended today, Baltimore would net the second overall pick in the 2026 draft. It’s rare territory for a franchise that has been among the most successful in all of pro sports since entering the NFL in 1996. In fact, since 2000, the Ravens have only picked in the top 10 three times — and picked an All-Pro each time: running back Jamal Lewis (5th overall, 2000), edge rusher Terrell Suggs (10th, 2003) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (6th, 2016). Don’t get too excited, though. With Lamar Jackson likely returning after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye, Baltimore has a favorable schedule to try and bounce back from its shockingly poor start. Oddsmakers still consider the Ravens a contender to win the AFC North, while ESPN’s FPI — which projects results based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season — predicts Baltimore to finish around 7-10. But if the Ravens do end up having a premier pick in April, who could be available? Here’s an early look at the top prospects at key positions of need: Edge rusher With Odafe Oweh traded and Kyle Van Noy playing in a contract year at age 34, the Ravens could use some help to get after the quarterback. Baltimore drafted Mike Green in the second round last season, but he’s still unproven. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: There might not be a more impressive player in the country this season than Bain, who leads all defensive linemen with a 95.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Miami native has recorded 24 quarterback pressures to go along with two sacks, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble and an interception. T.J. Parker, Clemson: Parker has been a rising star since his debut season, in which he broke Clemson’s true freshman record with 12 1/2 tackles for loss. He followed that up with 11 sacks in 2024, but he hasn’t been as productive thus far this season (2 sacks, 5 1/2 tackles for loss). Keldric Faulk, Auburn: The former four-star recruit played in every game as a true freshman and burst onto the scene with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore. Mel Kiper said that the 6-6, 285-pound defensive end is an “LTPer” — someone who looks the part — though PFF notes that he stands to improve as a pass rusher. David Bailey, Texas Tech: The 6-3, 250-pound transfer has been a force for the upstart Red Raiders, leading the FBS with a 24.6% pressure rate and 8 1/2 sacks after recording 14 1/2 in three seasons at Stanford. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M: The Bowling Green transfer is enjoying a breakout season with the Aggies, recording 7 1/2 sacks in his first six games. ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid writes that Howell’s upfield burst, bend and closing speed are “Round 1-worthy traits.” Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods could help solidify a reeling Ravens defense. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) Defensive linemen With Nnamdi Madbuike’s future uncertain after being ruled out for the season with a neck injury and Travis Jones set to enter free agency, the middle of the Ravens’ defense will likely need some reinforcements. Peter Woods, Clemson: The 6-3, 315-pound Woods could be the next great interior lineman the Tigers produce following Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins. Woods’ stats this season are underwhelming (1 1/2 tackles for loss, 1/2 sack), but his versatility and strength will be coveted. Related Articles Joe Flacco’s vintage performance has Bengals back in AFC North mix Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Caleb Banks, Florida: A foot injury in the preseason that later required surgery is a big red flag, especially for a 6-6, 330-pound lineman. If Banks alleviates any medical concerns, he has the potential to be a disruptive force. A’Mauri Washington, Oregon: This is just his first season as a starter, but the 6-3, 330-pound Washington has already put himself in the Round 1 conversation with what Reid calls an “explosive interior presence.” LT Overton, Alabama: The Ravens love players from Alabama, which has produced many quality defensive linemen over the years. The 6-5, 278-pound Overton, a Texas A&M transfer, has five tackles for loss and three sacks so far this season. Would the Ravens be tempted to draft another first-round safety in Ohio State's Caleb Downs? (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) Defensive back The Ravens seemingly have their safety duo of the future in former first-round picks Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, but finding a reliable third option has proven difficult. Cornerback could also be a soft spot if Marlon Humphrey doesn’t return in 2026. Caleb Downs, Ohio State: Like Hamilton before him, Downs is the rare safety with the talent to be picked in the top half of the first round. The 6-foot, 205-pound Alabama transfer is an instinctive player and sure tackler who has helped lead one of the best defenses in the country over the past two seasons. Mansoor Delane, LSU: After transferring from Virginia Tech, the 6-foot, 190-pound Silver Spring native has raised his game. According to PFF, Delane has earned an 89.9 coverage grade while allowing just six receptions for 77 receiving yards. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: The biggest question for McCoy is his health after he suffered a torn ACL in January. Assuming his rehabilitation goes according to plan, the 6-foot, 193-pound Oregon State transfer has shown a nose for the ball, recording four interceptions in 2024. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson: The last name should be familiar to football fans, as Terrell is the younger brother of Falcons corner and former Tigers star A.J. Terrell Jr. The 5-11, 180-pound Avieon has recorded 24 pass breakups and three interceptions over three seasons. Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese has been one of the breakout stars of this college football season. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez) Linebacker Roquan Smith remains the leader of the Ravens’ defense, but his performance has slipped a bit in recent years while Trenton Simpson and Teddye Buchanan have yet to solidify themselves in the starting lineup. There could be an opening for a new man in the middle. Arvell Reese, Ohio State: The 6-foot-4, 245-pound true junior is one of the breakout stars of the season across college football. PFF lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema writes that Reese has a “rare combination of athleticism and instincts when triggering downhill as a run defender, quarterback spy, blitzer or even true pass-rusher.” Sonny Styles, Ohio State: Not to be overshadowed is another Buckeyes star who has been one of the nation’s top defenders since moving from safety to linebacker. The 6-4, 243-pound Styles has an 81.2 run-defense grade with zero missed tackles this season, according to PFF. CJ Allen, Georgia: The 6-1, 235-pound Allen has stuffed the stat sheet already this season, recording 4 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Kiper writes that Allen is a “three-down linebacker at the next level because his read-and-react skills are excellent and he can make plays in all three aspects of the defense.” Anthony Hill Jr., Texas: Reid notes that Hill is a “versatile playmaker who is capable of playing the edge along with the second level,” which will be attractive to the Ravens. The 6-3, 238-pound Hill recorded 13 sacks in his first two college seasons. Francis Mauigoa plays right tackle for Miami, but he could help the Ravens at guard. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) Offensive linemen Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is under contract through 2027 and Roger Rosengarten is entrenched at right tackle for now, but the two starting guard spots next to center Tyler Linderbaum are open for debate. It might not be too early to invest in an eventual Stanley replacement, either. Spencer Fano, Utah: The 6-6, 302-pound Fano has experience at both left and right tackle but could end up playing on the inside to begin his NFL career. Kiper, who ranks Fano as his 10th overall player, writes that he is “technically sound and shows good punch to compensate for his lack of ideal arm length.” Francis Mauigoa, Miami: Both of the consensus top tackle prospects could be better suited at guard, which is a bigger need for Baltimore anyway. The 6-6, 315-pound right tackle is known for his powerful run blocking and has only given up two sacks and two hurries on 153 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: The 6-7, 366-pound Proctor might rival current Ravens guard Daniel Faaele in bulk, which means he might be a better guard than a tackle. He struggled out of the gate this season at left tackle, allowing seven pressures and a sack against Florida State, and opinions are mixed about whether he can handle NFL-caliber pass rushers. Gennings Dunker, Iowa: The red-haired Dunker sports a mullet and mustache combo that is sure to make him a fan favorite wherever he goes. On the field, the 6-5, 315-pound right tackle is a dominant run blocker who could also shift inside at the next level. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: One of the few bright spots during a poor start for the Nittany Lions that got coach James Franklin fired, Ioane, nicknamed “Vega,” has been perhaps the best interior lineman in the country. The 6-4, 330-pound guard has earned a 92.0 pass-blocking grade, per PFF. Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson 47 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns already this season. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred) Wide receiver While Zay Flowers has flashed WR1 potential, he’s yet to negotiate a contract extension. Rashod Bateman is under contract through 2029, but he hasn’t made much of an impact yet this season. DeAndre Hopkins is on a one-year deal. In short, adding another wide receiver might make sense. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: The 6-2, 200-pound Tyson is a big play waiting to happen with 47 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns already this season. His ability to outjump and outmuscle defenders is something the Ravens have lacked before adding Hopkins this year. Makai Lemon, USC: While Lemon might work best in the slot role that Flowers typically occupies, it would be fun to see them pair up. The 5-11, 195-pound junior has been one of the nation’s most productive receivers with 44 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns this season. Denzel Boston, Washington: The 6-4, 210-pound Boston has the size and physicality of a prototypical X receiver but has shown an ability to win from the slot, too. His contested-catch ability would be a nice gift for Jackson. Carnell Tate, Ohio State: Kiper ranks Tate as his 12th overall player, noting that he is “a precise route runner, has great hands and displays outstanding body control.” Like former Buckeyes stars Emeka Egbuka, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave, the 6-3, 195-pound Tate is a polished player who could step in immediately and help elevate the offense. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq could be the Ravens' tight end of the future. (AP Photo/Matt Marton) Tight end Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are all playing out the final years of their respective contracts, so adding a tight end this offseason might be more important than fans realize. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: The thought of the Ravens using a high draft pick on a tight end seems improbable, but wouldn’t it be fun? The 6-3, 245-pound Sadiq is a mismatch nightmare with his explosiveness and speed and would elevate any offense with his receiving and blocking skills. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Joe Flacco looks like he’s ready to lead another AFC North team on an improbable run. Just 10 days after Flacco arrived in Cincinnati, he beat Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in an unlikely shootout between 40-year-old quarterbacks Thursday night. Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bengals to a 33-31 comeback victory over Pittsburgh. That left Bengals fans chanting: “Thank you, Cleveland!” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made it clear this week he wasn’t happy the Browns traded Flacco, a Super Bowl MVP with Baltimore 13 years ago, to a division rival. Tomlin criticized Browns general manager Andrew Berry, saying the trade “doesn’t make sense.” Flacco proved Tomlin had good reason to hate the deal. Even though the Bengals (3-4) lost to Green Bay last week in Flacco’s first start, the team finished strong and the offense had reason for optimism. It carried over against Pittsburgh (4-2). Flacco revived the passing attack, which features All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. That opened up the run game for Chase Brown, who had 106 yards against the Steelers. “From Day 1, he’s been impressive his ability to recall the plays,” Brown said about Flacco. “And not only that, but to step into these big games. … He’s played in the NFL for 18 years. He’s extremely poised. You see him in the building early every day. He pushes everyone to work harder and fix their routine and see whatever they could do to help this team. It’s been amazing to see what he can do the last two weeks.” Flacco targeted Chase 23 times. That’s not a typo. Chase caught 16 of those passes for 161 yards and one score. “It’s fun having him,” Chase said. “He knew what he was doing right from the jump. He’s giving me opportunities.” Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Flacco came off his couch in November two years ago, led the Browns to the playoffs by going 4-1 down the stretch and won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. After spending 2024 with the Colts, he returned to Cleveland this year but his second stint ended quickly. Flacco threw two touchdown passes and six interceptions in four games, losing three. The Browns benched him for rookie Dillon Gabriel and then traded him away. Flacco replaced Jake Browning, who lost all three of his starts filling in for Joe Burrow. Now, he has Bengals fans believing in a turnaround after the team snapped a four-game losing streak. One fan held a sign that read: “We trust in Joe 2.0.” With the injury-riddled Ravens off to a 1-5 start and the Browns also 1-5, Cincinnati’s victory made it a two-team race for the division. The Bengals host the winless Jets next week and then have another home game against the Bears. They could be 5-4 heading into a bye and then return to face the Steelers on the road on Nov. 16. Flacco has given them hope that a playoff run is still possible. And, Burrow could return in time to take them there. In a game the Bengals had to win, Flacco was slinging it all over the field, picking apart Pittsburgh’s secondary. When the Steelers double-covered Chase and Higgins, he threw a perfect ball down the middle to Andrei Iosivas for a 37-yard gain. But Flacco’s best — and most surprising play — came when he used his legs, keeping the ball on a read option for a 12-yard gain. “It felt good. I can’t lie,” he said. “This game is so great and sometimes when you’ve played it for so long, you can lose some of that energy for it but it’s all about your mind and telling yourself it’s one of the best things in the world and if you can stay excited about what you’re doing, you can do it for as along as you want.” How did Flacco, a father of four boys and one daughter, plan to celebrate the big win? By going to sleep, of course. “Man, I’ve been ready,” he said. View the full article

Zay Flowers was at the center of two costly fumbles this past Sunday. The visiting Rams capitalized on both turnovers, effectively sealing the Ravens’ latest defeat. When the home locker room opened, Baltimore’s top receiver, much like he has all season, had already slipped away. His locker stall was empty and his teammates were left behind to answer for his mistakes. The silence from one of the faces of the offense perhaps echoed louder than any quote could. In the Ravens’ latest unraveling, a 17-3 loss to the Rams, Flowers wasn’t just part of the critical sequence that swung the game; he was also absent from the accountability that followed. He’s hardly the only one. But Flowers represents the growing disconnect between the Ravens’ most visible players and the kind of leadership moments that define great teams. Let’s be clear: speaking to reporters isn’t about stroking media egos or entitlement. Rather, it revolves around accountability. It’s about facing the fans who buy jerseys, pour their money into tickets and spend Sundays chanting your name and team. Around the league, other stars in uncomfortable situations, from A.J. Brown’s frustration with the offense in Philadelphia to Detroit’s Brian Branch after his involvement in Sunday night’s brawl in Kansas City, regularly stand at their lockers and explain themselves through the good and the bad. It’s part of being a professional. It’s part of being an accountable leader. In fact, it’s a contractual requirement via the NFL Players Association for players to be made regularly available to the media throughout the season. Even players who’ve faltered in that department have displayed growth. Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs refused to speak with New England reporters back in training camp, drawing heavy criticism. But before the start of the regular season, the former Terps star recognized his error, braved the podium and apologized. Related Articles 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Flacco rallies Bengals to upset win over Rodgers and Steelers, 33-31 READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ “I was referred to as a pain in the a–. … But I want to be very clear up here, I’m an adult. I apologize,” Diggs said in early September. “Obviously, we have a media-to-player relationship [that I want to make] as professional as I can be. I want to make myself available each and every week. I don’t want to make this abrasive. I don’t want to get up here and not answer questions or make anybody feel uncomfortable. It’s going to be a long season, so we’re going to spend a lot of time together.” Diggs’ course of action served as a reminder that accountability isn’t about perfection, but about showing face and speaking up, especially when things get uncomfortable. Flowers isn’t alone in ducking that responsibility in Baltimore. He’s just the most recent example in a season in which it’s become a frequent occurrence. Nearly seven weeks ago, after the Ravens blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead to Buffalo, veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey also dodged the media in Orchard Park, New York. A few days later, though, under a more comfortable setting at his locker in Owings Mills, he offered one of the more honest assessments of the young season. “We’re just not mature enough as a team yet,” Humphrey said then. He added that defensive coordinator Zach Orr had vowed there would be no “repeat offenders.” Mighty phrases on the surface, but the same mistakes have lingered over the worst start in franchise history. Has anything changed from accountability and maturity standpoints? Wide receiver Zay Flowers, shown speaking to the media in June, hasn't answered media questions after a Ravens game so far this season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Like Flowers, linebacker Roquan Smith is one of the most recognizable players on the team. He’s also one of the highest-paid players behind only quarterback Lamar Jackson and safety Kyle Hamilton, and is considered by many the defense’s top leader. Before Smith was sidelined with a hamstring injury, though, he never spoke after a loss. In fact, the only time he’s spoken after a game this season was after the team’s lone Sept. 14 win over Cleveland. In Flowers’ case, he’s talked publicly just twice all season, with neither instance occurring after a game. Then there’s Jackson. This team revolves around the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, but his detached posture on the sideline was eye-opening. When Jackson exited the loss to Kansas City with a hamstring injury, he spent the fourth quarter glued to the bench, disengaged from sideline discussions and huddles. Leadership often is about presence. When the team’s biggest, most important veteran voices disappear, intentionally or not, it reverberates. Their disappearances also leave rookies and even undrafted players standing alone in a sparse room in front of cameras and microphones, trying to explain how a proud franchise has reached this bottom point. That exact scene played out after the blowout loss to Houston. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan, to his credit, has spoken after every game this season. But after his postgame session with reporters concluded Oct. 5, he turned to a team official and asked with emotional frustration written across his face, “Why are they saying it’s my fault?” Coach John Harbaugh was asked directly earlier this week about the team’s player leadership. His answer came across as measured with a dose of optimism. “We’re going to get great, great veteran leadership,” Harbaugh said Monday. “I believe that. And we’re going to have to. Nothing is going to be more important than that.” Inside the locker room, some players have downplayed the idea that someone needs to step up in a traditional way. One player who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about the situation told The Baltimore Sun: “If you have somebody [cursing you out], you’ll be super cautious about the next play.” Another player who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “You could say, ‘Oh, there’s no leadership.’ There’s nothing different that’s happening this year than last year besides maybe it’s repetitive execution, but it’s the truth. You go back to last year, there wasn’t guys like rah-rah standing up. [Smith] got the team going every game. But there’s really nothing different [in terms of leadership] that happened last year that isn’t happening this year.” And yet that’s what makes this disappointing season so jarring. This franchise was built on alphas from Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett and Sam Adams in 2000 to Ray Lewis, Anquan Boldin and Ed Reed in 2012. Those Super Bowl-winning teams didn’t just have stars, but also real enforcers and leaders who kept everyone around them accountable. Humphrey’s words after the Week 1 collapse have aged poorly. What was framed as a temporary maturity issue has festered into something much more serious and concerning. There might be reasons for optimism coming out of the bye. The Ravens’ roster is littered with talent, and coaches and players carry an important sense of hope tied to Jackson’s imminent return. Belief alone won’t fix a repetitive leadership void. Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Cohn contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

It’s been a season of disappointments for the Ravens. Baltimore enters its bye week at 1-5, a record that few teams recover from to reach the postseason. Yes, Lamar Jackson is returning, but the Ravens seem to have deep-rooted issues that could be hard to gloss over even with better quarterback play. A return to the playoffs for the fourth straight season is looking more and more like wishful thinking, rather than being rooted in reality. Here’s five reasons to be pessimistic about the Ravens’ chances of turning their season around: Poor trench play There have been two common sights at M&T Bank Stadium this season: Jackson being dragged to the turf and opposing running backs scampering for easy yards. Jackson has been forced to leave the pocket nearly 70% of the time this season, according to Football Insights. That’s the highest mark in the NFL. He’s been sacked 15 times this year, including seven times against the Detroit Lions. Meanwhile, the Ravens’ defense has allowed the most rushing yards through six weeks in franchise history. The unit is allowing 134 yards per game on the ground, which is tied for sixth-worst in the league. A dismal record Yes, the Ravens have an easy schedule remaining. And they will have Jackson returning from injury after the bye. But 1-5 is 1-5, and teams don’t typically make the postseason with that record. Only four teams in NFL history have made the playoffs after starting the season 1-5: the Washington Football Team in 2020, the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1970. Washington made the playoffs as a divisional winner with a 7-9 record. That type of season likely won’t result in the playoffs for Baltimore, so it will need to string together a lengthy winning streak to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Nonexistent pass rush Long gone are the days of Terrell Suggs. Baltimore’s sack rate is the fourth-worst in football and it has only forced 85 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus. After trading away Odafe Oweh, the team’s leader in pressures before his departure, the Ravens are missing a clear player to disrupt the quarterback in passing situations. Depth is also an issue. Defensive end Tavius Robinson broke his foot against the Rams and will be out for up to two months, which leaves rookie Mike Green, veteran Kyle Van Noy and fourth-year player David Ojabo as the remaining options on the edge. That’s not exactly an inspiring group for a team that’s already struggled to generate organic pass rush. Perhaps defensive coordinator Zach Orr will dial up more blitzes, as he did in the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but that could leave Baltimore’s secondary susceptible to big plays. Either way, the Ravens are going find a way to create more pressure on the opposing quarterback, or the defensive woes will continue. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Flacco rallies Bengals to upset win over Rodgers and Steelers, 33-31 READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ An identity in question For most of coach John Harbaugh’s tenure, his team’s identity has been clear. The Ravens are known for playing stout defense, being aggressive and running the ball. But Baltimore has struggled in all those areas this season. Its defense has been dominated in the trenches, running back Derrick Henry has eclipsed 50 yards just once since Week 1 and the Ravens have faltered in critical situations. Van Noy didn’t have a clear response when asked about the team’s messaging and accountability after the team’s blowout loss to the Houston Texans, a statement he later said not to read into, but it’s an embodiment of where this team sits. Nobody truly understands what they’re intending to do from game-to-game. Perhaps that identity has shifted to Jackson’s magic, but it will be difficult for him to completely carry the franchise to a fourth straight playoff appearance. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is introduced before a Week 3 game vs. the Lions. The Ravens hope Jackson can salvage their 1-5 season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Steelers Once a vaunted collection of teams, the AFC North is now one of the worst divisions in football this season. Without Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) looked toothless. That is, until trading for Joe Flacco and upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. The Cleveland Browns (1-5) have already traded away Flacco and turned to rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel. The Ravens are 1-5. But the Steelers have emerged as a legitimate contender in the AFC. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike Tomlin have worked well as a tandem, leading Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record. The defense is struggling, however, allowing more than 350 yards per game. Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins just torched the Steelers for 470 total yards. The Ravens and Steelers will play twice at the end of the season. Baltimore is hoping by that point that the division is not already decided. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article