OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown won’t take part in the first full-squad workout of training camp Thursday, but his practice debut should be right around the corner.
The 2019 first-round pick from Oklahoma has passed the team’s rigorous conditioning test, but he hasn’t yet been cleared to practice and remains on the non-football injury list. The expectation is for Brown to be eased into workouts in the coming days as he works his way back to full strength from left foot surgery in January. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound speedster did not take part in spring organized team activities, which was always the expectation in his recovery from a Lisfranc injury sustained last December.
The Ravens host the preseason opener against Jacksonville on Aug. 8, which won’t leave Brown much time to be ready for the first exhibition game.
One player who will be ready for the first full practice is defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who passed his conditioning test and was removed from the NFI list Sunday. The fourth-year defensive lineman was held out of mandatory minicamp in mid-June due to weight and conditioning concerns, but he received positive reviews upon returning to Owings Mills.
“Was I worried? No, because I know he’s a professional,” defensive tackle Brandon Williams said. “Sometimes it gets away from you. It’s happened to me before also. I’m not going to fault him for that. If he had come in and not looked as good as he does now and didn’t pass his conditioning testing, then there would have been a problem. Other than that, I love him. He’s ready to go, and I can’t wait to step on the field with him.”
Safety Tony Jefferson also deemed himself “100 percent” ready to practice after being limited in spring workouts while recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
“I don’t really like sitting out. I’m always trying to rush and get back, but [head athletic trainer Ron Medlin] and the staff did a great job of keeping me patient,” Jefferson said. “I got the opportunity to really hone in on training in the summer, being able to really get to it, get ready for this run test that we did, so it was a good time for me. I really trained pretty hard, so I’m excited how that’s going to translate.”
Veterans reported for the start of training camp Wednesday, but it remains unclear if all players passed the conditioning test. No Ravens players were placed on the NFI list, according to Wednesday’s transaction sheet.
Guards Alex Lewis (shoulder) and Patrick Mekari (back) remain on the active physically unable to perform list.
