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