The Ravens are heading into their preseason debut with a whole lot of moving parts, and that’s exactly why this one has the feel of a true August test. The score matters less than what the new coaching staff learns about its operation, how quickly the chain of command settles in, and which young players can handle live reps when the lights come on at M&T Bank Stadium.
There’s also a real chance this gets messy, especially with the quarterback situation. Skylar Thompson is already out, and the lack of depth behind the top options could drag down the quality of the second half. That’s part of the backdrop here, along with the sense that this is the first preseason game in nearly two decades without John Harbaugh in charge.
One of the clearest places to watch for action is in the air against Eagles backup Tanner McKee. He’s the kind of preseason quarterback who isn’t shy about throwing it around, and he has gone after Ravens corner Nate Wiggins before when Wiggins was a first-round pick.
With multiple Ravens corners banged up and Tampa still fighting for a spot on the depth chart, McKee should get plenty of chances to test that group. He may not always put up eye-popping numbers, but he’s been known to get let down by drops, and this matchup could give him a real runway.
That secondary picture is complicated by the Ravens’ front-office talk about Tampa drawing trade interest. Even so, the reality may be that they need him more than ever, especially if Marlon Humphrey is cooked, and with Humphrey carrying a $19.25M salary, the market may not be there anyway.
Another player worth tracking is the fifth-round pick who has drawn attention from Broncos head coach Sean Payton, mentor to Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, as a possible Joker in Denver’s offense this spring. In camp, he has looked the part by running, blocking and catching the football.
He’s even gotten the ball in his gut more than expected, and this game should offer a chance to see the full package. The biggest question is pass protection, the part of his game he did the least of at Clemson.
Special teams should also get a good workout. Young kicker Tyler Loop figures to be given chances from distance whenever the opportunity is there, even with some rough days in camp.
The Ravens may want to see how he handles longer field goals, especially since the punter is also a rookie in Ryan Eckley. With No. 2 quarterback Snoop Huntley not likely to play long, the offense may stall enough to create plenty of punting situations and a few chances to let Loop try from 55 or beyond.
On defense, Trenton Simpson is in a now-or-never stretch. He has athletic traits and pass-rush upside, and with Roquan Smith out and Teddy Buchanan still working back from knee surgery, there’s room for Simpson to move around and make something happen. Rookie head coach Jesse Minter is expected to mix in a little something extra, and Simpson could be one of the players who benefits.
At receiver, Ja’Kobe Lane has been the biggest story of Ravens camp so far, but the quarterback setup changes the equation. With undrafted UCONN quarterback Joe Fagnano likely handling a bulk of the game, the Ravens may not be drawing up much in the way of back-shoulder fades or high-point chances. Elijah Sarratt might be the better bet to show something, especially on shorter catches where he can work through traffic and turn small gains into bigger ones.
And if the night gets clunky? That’s part of the deal.
The expectation here is a pile of procedural penalties on the offensive line and more than a few possessions that go nowhere. Preseason football has a way of producing weird, ugly stretches, and this one has all the ingredients for that.
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Ravens Preseason Opener Could Reveal Early Answers At Four Key Spots
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For Baltimore, the intrigue is as much about fit as it is about talent. Lane, Ioane and Young will each be trying to turn camp momentum into a stronger case for roles down the line, while Randalls workload figures to be especially notable with the backfield situation thinning for the opener. Preseason games can be noisy evaluations, but this one should at least start to clarify which of these rookies are ready to keep pushing for bigger opportunities. [Read more 🡒]
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Corey Bullock, Jovaughn Gwyn, Aeneas Peebles, Kaimon Rucker and Robert Longerbeam all enter the game with something to prove, and each has a different lane to climb if the first preseason outing goes well. The opportunity matters because the Ravens decisions are starting to take shape, and performances in a game like this can separate a player from the pack even before the depth chart gets crowded again. The opener against Philadelphia may not feature many established stars, but for these five, it could be the biggest shot they get all summer. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Kobi Lane Faces His Biggest Ravens Test Yet
Ja'Kobi Lane has turned enough heads in Ravens training camp to put himself squarely in the conversation for the No. 3 receiver job, a spot that has become one of the more interesting battles on Baltimore's roster. The rookie has reportedly been making a strong impression, and in a room where every rep matters, that kind of early momentum can go a long way toward separating him from the pack.
Lane is not running away with anything yet, though, and the next step will be proving it when the games start counting in a different way. Baltimore wants more than training-camp buzz from its young receivers, and preseason work will be the real measuring stick as Lane tries to turn a promising summer into a secure role. [Read more 🡒]