Baltimore’s preseason opener gave fans plenty to chew on, and the biggest takeaway was simple: Jesse Minter’s team looked sharp from the jump. The Ravens beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-7 on Saturday night, and even with the offense starting slowly, the overall performance at M&T Bank Stadium felt complete.
The defense set the tone early and never really let go. Philadelphia finished with just 159 total yards and managed only one touchdown, while Baltimore limited the Eagles to a single trip into the red zone.
The front end didn’t pile up sacks the way coaches would like - Keyon Martin had the Ravens’ only sack of the night - but the pressure was there. The Eagles’ passing game looked uneasy on a steady stream of dropbacks, and the middle of the field was essentially shut down against both the run and the pass.
Martin was part of a strong night for the defense, and Keondre Jackson added to that feeling of energy everywhere. Martin’s motor stood out with 2 tackles for loss and that lone sack, while Jackson kept showing up in coverage, closing passing lanes with impressive anticipation. It was the kind of effort that made the whole unit look connected.
There was also plenty to like from the rookie class on offense. Vega Ioane came out aggressive, and while he wasn’t spotless, he played with a mean streak that showed up in pass protection and in the way he finished plays. For an interior offensive line that Baltimore missed in 2025, it was a promising first look.
Ja’Kobi Lane backed up the buzz he’d built in camp. His night ended with 3 receptions for 38 yards and his first career touchdown, but the production only tells part of the story.
He wasn’t just winning contested balls; he was finding space over the middle and separating consistently. Devontez Walker and Elijah Sarratt also made their case in the WR3 race.
Walker caught 3 passes for 31 yards, while Sarratt finished with 6 catches for 66 yards, giving Baltimore a deeper-looking receiver group than it may have seemed coming in.
Matthew Hibner turned into one of the more useful targets in the game, too. He caught all 5 passes thrown his way for 61 yards, flashing both downfield ability and work after the catch. That kind of usage naturally invites comparisons to the Isaiah Likely role, even if there’s a long road ahead.
At quarterback, Joe Fagnano may have done enough to make the QB3 conversation pretty straightforward. After replacing Tyler Huntley in the second quarter, he stayed in until the second drive of the fourth.
He completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and while the arm strength wasn’t a calling card, the accuracy was. He kept putting the ball where his receivers could work with it.
The night wasn’t perfect for everyone. Tyler Loop’s field goal questions are still hanging around after he missed from 49 yards on the Ravens’ first drive, sending it wide right in a way that felt familiar from his misses in 2025. He did connect later from 42 yards, and his kickoffs were better, but the uncertainty on field goals remains.
Adam Randall also got a heavy dose of work, with the Ravens clearly trying to get him going. He had moments where he was tough to bring down on first contact and punched in a touchdown, but the overall running style made him easier to target. Over 12 carries, he ran for 46 yards and a score, with a long of 7, and he added 1 catch for 2 yards.
Baltimore’s opener didn’t just bring a win. It brought a lot of individual performances that will keep the conversations going all the way through camp.
In Other News...
Ravens Preseason Opener Could Reveal Early Answers At Four Key Spots
The Ravens open preseason against the Eagles with a chance to get a first real look at several rookies who have flashed in camp and now should see meaningful snaps. The focus is on Ja'Kobi Lane, Vega Ioane, Zion Young and Adam Randall, a group that has stood out enough in recent practices to merit extra attention in the exhibition opener, where playing time and position battles often matter more than the scoreboard.
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 🡒]
Ravens Bubble Players Get Their Biggest Shot Yet Against The Eagles
With Jesse Minter planning to rest many of the Ravens starters in the 2026 preseason opener against the Eagles, the focus shifts fast from established names to the players trying to carve out jobs. That kind of early-August stage can be unforgiving, but it also offers a clean look at backups and roster hopefuls who need live reps to stand out. For Baltimore, that means a handful of bubble players are getting the kind of exposure that can change how the rest of camp looks.
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 🡒]