With the preseason opener less than a week away, Sunday’s Ravens practice had the feel of a team sharpening the rough edges before things start to count. It was hot, it was physical, and for long stretches it was messy.
The biggest issue was obvious from the start: the offense got tagged for eight false-start penalties, easily its most in training camp. Quarterbacks and everyone around them were working through cadence changes, part of coordinator Declan Doyle’s preseason push to keep defenses guessing. That approach can be a weapon - when it’s clean.
“We were really trying to mix it up, not letting the other side know what we are always operating on,” coach Jesse Minter said. “So we want to be able to do that.
You really want to be able to use that as an advantage, as a weapon. I think it is a great message of just the focus and the details that are required for that to become a real weapon, and not something that puts you behind the chains like it did a few times today.”
The early snaps reflected that sloppiness. Lamar Jackson’s first pass, intended for Mark Andrews, was broken up, and the opening drive ended with a fumble at the mesh point on a read-option with Justice Hill. By the unofficial count, Jackson went 9-for-16 in 11-on-11 work, and the offense never really seized control of the two-hour session.
Even with Zay Flowers out because of a quadriceps contusion, Jackson kept leaning on rookie Ja’Kobi Lane, who kept flashing against Marlon Humphrey. Lane produced two explosive gains and drew a pass-interference flag, another strong sign in what has become a torrid camp. Derrick Henry also gave the offense a couple of notable red-zone runs.
But the defense owned most of the day’s cleanest moments. Devontez Walker coughed up a catch after a first down, and Adisa Isaac recovered the loose ball.
Kyle Hamilton forced what looked like a safety after stopping Henry behind the goal line. Keondre Jackson jumped a Tyler Huntley throw over the middle for an interception, and pressure from cornerbacks and inside linebackers kept showing up in the backfield.
The Ravens closed practice with more “live” tackling work in 11-on-11 periods, mostly involving younger players, and that’s where some of the day’s best physical snaps came from. Rookie running back Adam Randall broke through one tackle attempt from Aaron Graves on an inside run and kept going wide for a first-down carry. In the red zone, Rayshaun Benny, Ethan Burke, Adisa Isaac and Amani Oruwariye all stood out.
“Today was more of almost like a game-like [atmosphere] - even though it is hard to really simulate that when you are playing against each other,” Minter said. “I thought there was some good physicality.
We know with the ones, we were obviously mostly in ‘thud’ [a competitive level where players do not take down others]. We did a little bit of tackling with some of the other groups.
So, again, good physical work, and I feel like we will be a little more ready to play now going into this week.”
There were a few clean offensive moments tucked into the chaos. Tyler Loop stayed perfect, hitting all nine of his field goal attempts, including makes from 52, 54 and 55 yards.
Huntley found LaJohntay Wester for a touchdown after Wester separated from Dominic DeLuca down the left sideline. Huntley later connected with Walker for a big gain down the right sideline after a long scramble, though that play likely would have ended differently with a live pass rush.
The injury front brought a mix of optimism and caution. Minter said defensive lineman Travis Jones, who opened camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list because of a pectoral issue, should be back “real soon.”
Aeneas Peebles, who has missed several practices for undisclosed precautionary reasons, may also return soon. Calais Campbell was back on the field and took part in team drills.
At quarterback, Skylar Thompson missed Sunday with what Minter described as “something small,” but the team hopes he can be ready for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano handled those reps and got his first extensive work of camp.
Flowers, who left Saturday’s practice with the quadriceps contusion, could be back after only a few more days, according to Minter. “I feel good that he will be back out there being Zay here pretty soon,” Minter said.
Also out Sunday were Dayton Wade, Carl Jones Jr. and Keyon Martin. Teddye Buchanan remains on the PUP list.
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