Jump to content
ExtremeRavens: The Sanctuary

Ravens Insider: Ravens OTA observations: Lamar Jackson forfeits $750K workout bonus


Recommended Posts

Posted

Lamar Jackson was a full participant for the Ravens’ first open practice of organized team activities on May 28. He hasn’t returned to the field since, costing him $750,000 for the second consecutive year.

In the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s contract through 2027 is a clause that would pay out three-quarters of a million dollars should Jackson attend at least 80% of the team’s voluntary workouts. He’s stacked enough absences to forfeit that bonus money, lowering his 2025 compensation from $43.5 million to $42.75 million.

John Harbaugh hasn’t seemed worried. Attendance isn’t something the longtime Ravens coach is measuring, he said last week. Plus, Jackson was an infrequent participant during last year’s OTAs and proceeded to have the best statistical season of his career.

While the franchise quarterback has only practiced once thus far, he has not met with reporters since Baltimore’s AFC divisional round loss against the Buffalo Bills. He’s in the minority there.

Only two teams have not made a quarterback available: The Ravens and the Colts. Indianapolis is practicing without Anthony Richardson because of a shoulder injury and presumed backup Daniel Jones met with the media when he signed in free agency three months ago.

Encouraging attendance

Ten players were absent from Tuesday’s voluntary practice.

Two were expected because of previous injuries: Safety Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles tendon) and rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. (shoulder). Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has not attended an OTA practice yet and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike hasn’t been seen at the team’s Owings Mills facility since the first week they hit the field. Jackson, wide receivers Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins and safety Kyle Hamilton were also, to some extent, expected absentees.

There were, conversely, a pair of discouraging absences in the secondary. Second-year safety Beau Brade and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, whom the Ravens signed this offseason, were both seen leaving the field with injuries on Monday. Neither returned on Tuesday. No update has been provided for either.

Tuesday was the first OTA practice for Jake Hummel. The linebacker and special team ace who signed in March was away from the facility to be with his wife, who gave birth to a son last week.

The rest of the roster was accounted for on what was perhaps the best-attended OTA practice since the first open session.

Two takeaways

A Ravens practice sans Jackson is bound to feature some shaky quarterback play, with the caveat that most of the 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills were run at three-quarters speed with no tackling.

Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green grabbed his first interception in a Ravens jersey. The second-round pick undercut a route in the flat on a throw Devin Leary was trying to squeeze to his right side. Green promptly danced and got a noticeable reaction from his teammates.

Sanoussi Kane recorded the day’s only other interception. The second-year safety dropped back toward the right side of the end zone and hauled in a floater from Cooper Rush.

Ravens kicker John Hoyland works during OTA at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)June 6, 2025: Ravens' works out during OTA at Under Armour Performance Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
John Hoyland, an undrafted rookie kicker out of Wyoming, was sharp on Tuesday during Ravens OTAs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

Kicker impresses

The undrafted kicker sent out on the practice field fighting for reps with sixth-round pick Tyler Loop looked sharp Tuesday afternoon.

John Hoyland went a perfect 6-for-6 on his field goal attempts. Three were from 48 yards, one was from 46 and another was from 37. His longest of the day sailed through the uprights from 52 yards.

Presnap penalty issues persist

In 2024, the Ravens led the NFL in penalties with 140. Of those infractions, 21 occurred in the first four weeks of the season. All told, Baltimore was a middle-of-the-pack team in presnap penalties — far worse than expected for a team in Super Bowl contention.

It was a point of emphasis in meetings all of last year, second-year offensive line coach George Warhop said. And it has continued into camp.

Asked whether he’s seen encouraging signs these past few weeks, Warhop said matter-of-factly, “Too many false starts. So, no. We gotta do better.”

Warhop said that defensive holding penalties were a particular point of emphasis from Harbaugh. But for the offense, it was presnap infractions.

‘Glad he’s back’

Before left tackle Ronnie Stanley signed his three-year, $60 million extension in March, second-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten was, admittedly, bugging him endlessly. He tried recruiting other offensive linemen to do the same.

Rosengarten took a small vacation with his family shortly after the season ended and was still texting or calling Stanley every day.

“I was like, ‘Left side’s lookin’ real good,’” said Rosengarten, who would have likely moved to left tackle had Stanley departed in free agency.

Rosengarten wanted to keep his mentor and blind side counterpart around, “because I thought we had a really good dynamic duo of me and him bouncing off each other from left to right. I think it all played out at the end of the day, glad he’s back.”

Stanley signed the deal in early March. Rosengarten said his message that day wasn’t necessarily a “thank you,” but read more like a “finally” or a sigh of relief for the sake of continuity and keeping the All-Pro in town.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

View the full article

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...