Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane is walking into the NFL with a clear sense of where he fits, and he’s already drawing praise from people around the organization. The third-round pick out of USC said Baltimore feels like a natural landing spot for him, especially because of the way veterans such as Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson, and Mark Andrews go about their work.
“My personality fits very well in the sense of being able to come to work and just be myself and not be worried about people trying to tell me what to do or trying to dictate how my day is going to go,” Lane said, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “It’s your option to do whatever you want, but you see guys like Derrick (Henry), Lamar, Mark (Andrews), they come in every day and work as hard as they can.
The proof is in the pudding. It’s just crazy to think that now I’m in this position.”
Lane’s path to the league wasn’t always smooth at USC. He didn’t make much of an impact as a freshman, then became a starter over his next two seasons. USC receivers coach Dennis Simmons pushed back on any suggestion that Lane was checked out early, saying the real issue was getting comfortable with the system.
“The notion of him not being engaged wasn’t really one of those issues,” Simmons said. “It was just a matter of him just making the transition, relearning verbiage and being detailed on his alignments and his assignments. Once he got that down, and understood it like the back of his hand, he was obviously able to step in and let his talents be showcased.”
Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle sees a familiar trait in Lane, comparing him to former Saints receiver Michael Thomas.
“Mike Thomas had these strong hands where he could pull it down in a way, and you threw it in the vicinity, and you felt like he was going to go get it,” Doyle said. “There is a lot of that feeling (with Lane). He’s a very friendly guy to throw to.”
Baltimore also continues to sort out its kicking situation. Second-year kicker Tyler Loop is expected to open the year as the starter, but the Ravens added Jake Moody to the practice squad as competition. Head coach Jesse Minter said the move was about keeping every option available.
“It’s whatever’s best for the team at that particular moment,” Minter said, via Jeff Zrebiec. “We added a guy to compete on the practice squad, and we’ll see how it shakes out from there.”
Minter added that he still believes in Loop and expects him to be the kicker going into Indianapolis, while also making clear that camp performance only goes so far.
“I have a lot of confidence in Tyler still,” Minter said. “He’s had a great training camp.
I expect him to be our kicker going into Indianapolis, but I think, again, you’re always trying to just have every scenario covered. That’s what we’re trying to do as a team.”
For Minter, the real test is what happens when the pressure spikes.
“It comes down to making the kicks in the pressure situations in the game,” Minter said.
On the other side of the AFC, Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith says Pittsburgh has an extra edge this season with Aaron Rodgers entering what he called the quarterback’s final year in the league. Highsmith said the goal is bigger than just reaching the postseason.
“We know our goal,” Highsmith said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Chris Harlan. “Not just get to the playoffs, but when we get there, to make noise.
To win and go to the Super Bowl. But there definitely is extra added motivation to send ‘eight’ out the right way.”
In Other News...
Steelers Passing Game Suddenly Faces A Week 1 Concern
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Mike Tomlins offense may have to lean more on less experienced receivers and other pieces around the passing game if Metcalf and Pittman are not fully ready. That creates a different kind of Week 1 question for the Steelers, one with implications beyond a single game: whether the group can function well enough early on to keep the offense on schedule while its top names catch up on the work they lost in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Week 1 Problem They Werent Supposed To Have
The Steelers are heading into Week 1 with an unusual amount of uncertainty on the other sideline. Atlanta still has not named a starting quarterback for its opener in Pittsburgh, with the Falcons weighing Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. as the regular season approaches. Penix has only recently been cleared for full practice after a knee injury, while Tagovailoa has taken the lead in preseason work.
For Pittsburgh, the issue is less about which name is eventually announced than the preparation problem that comes with not knowing. The Falcons are the only team in the league without a starter set entering the regular season, which leaves the Steelers waiting on a key detail that should have been settled long before opening weekend. That kind of uncertainty can change how a defense studies film, plans its pressures and spends the final days before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Just Got A Familiar WR Safety Net Before Week 1
The Giants decision to release Darius Slayton right before the season opener immediately puts a familiar name back on the market for teams still looking for receiver help. For the Steelers, it is the kind of roster twist worth watching, since they have kicked the tires on Slayton before and remain in the kind of spot where added depth at wide receiver never hurts.
Slayton brings a long track record of NFL production, with 296 catches, 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns across 106 games. Whether Pittsburgh turns that past interest into a real pursuit now is the open question, but a veteran pass catcher with that kind of experience suddenly available always has a way of drawing attention this close to Week 1. [Read more 🡒]