The Ravens walked out of two joint practices with the Vikings carrying a little bit of everything: some encouraging signs, some real problems, and a few performances that stood out for all the right reasons. Minnesota’s Brian Flores-led defense came after Baltimore hard, and the Ravens offense spent much of the week trying to keep up. At the same time, several players on the other side of the ball made their case in a big way.
Ja’Kobi Lane kept building on a training camp that already has plenty of buzz around it. The rookie third-round receiver showed up again over the two days in Minnesota, and Lamar Jackson kept looking his way.
Lane worked all over the field, winning deep, taking contested catches, and finding space in the middle despite his 6-foot-4 frame. He has done enough as a route runner to stay involved, and he keeps proving he does not need much room to make something happen.
Baltimore’s secondary also had a strong showing, especially with Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins matching up with Justin Jefferson. Humphrey, according to numerous reports, may have had his two best practices of camp, beating Jefferson several times.
He even said Wednesday’s session might have been the best he has had since joining the Ravens in 2017. Wiggins, back after a scary leg injury, also handled himself well against the four-time Pro Bowler, forcing incompletions and showing tight coverage even on snaps where Jefferson got the upper hand.
Kyle Hamilton, meanwhile, kept doing what Kyle Hamilton does. The safety already carries a reputation as one of the league’s best, and he added more evidence in joint work.
He was physical at the line, jamming a Vikings receiver so badly he could not get off it, and he made his presence felt against the run as well. In Jesse Minter’s system, he looks ready to keep piling up impact plays.
On the other side of the ledger, Ronnie Stanley had a rough week. Flores’ blitz-heavy approach was always going to test Baltimore up front, and Dallas Turner made Stanley pay on Thursday.
Turner beat the veteran tackle for at least two sacks, a tough look for Jackson’s blindside protector and the Ravens’ franchise left tackle. The offensive line struggled overall, but Stanley was the one under the brightest negative spotlight.
Questions about possible regression have been out there, and this week did nothing to quiet them.
The offense as a whole also came out of the practices looking sluggish. Baltimore had trouble sorting out the Vikings’ pressure, and while there were quick throws to answer the blitz, the bigger explosive plays that Declan Doyle wants to bring to Charm City never really materialized. The flashes from Lane and Rashod Bateman were not enough to cover for the broader issues that have shown up not just against Minnesota, but throughout camp.
Justice Hill had one particularly rough moment in that uneven stretch. On Thursday, a Jackson pass bounced off his hands and landed in the arms of Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman.
It was a bad play from the eighth-year back, even if it was only one snap. Hill is still the top backup to Derrick Henry, and with Keaton Mitchell gone, the pressure on him is real.
He has plenty of experience, but those kinds of mistakes are the sort he cannot afford when the games count.
There was one more name trending up on the offensive line: Jovaughn Gwyn. Danny Pinter’s torn patellar tendon on Wednesday opened more room in the center battle, and Gwyn took advantage by earning more first-team work.
He helped spring a big Derrick Henry run and brought the kind of edge coaches want from interior linemen. It came on the heels of a strong preseason debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he posted a 90.8 grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Right now, Gwyn’s stock is moving fast.
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Ravens Suddenly Have A Lamar Jackson Problem Up Front
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Ethan Pocic and Jovaughn Gwyn now become the next men up at center, a development that puts added pressure on a group already trying to settle in before the games start to count. For a Ravens offense built around Jacksons mobility and timing, any disruption in the middle matters, and this one arrives with no easy short-term fix in sight. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Are Suddenly Watching A Familiar Steelers Linebacker Closely
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Harrison is now sitting on the roster bubble in Pittsburgh, which gives Baltimore a potential opening to address a need with someone who already understands parts of the defense. For a Ravens team trying to stabilize the middle of the field, the appeal is obvious, but the situation is still unsettled enough to keep this one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]