OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In the midst of their second week of organized team activities, the Ravens were missing 10 starters during their voluntary workout on Thursday afternoon.
Cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb, linebackers Terrell Suggs, Daryl Smith, and Elvis Dumervil, defensive end Chris Canty, and offensive linemen Jeremy Zuttah (offseason hip surgery), Eugene Monroe, Marshal Yanda, and Rick Wagner (foot) were all missing from the field as media observed practice. Jimmy Smith and Daryl Smith were both present for the first voluntary workout open to media last week.
In addition to second-year wide receiver Michael Campanaro (quadriceps) already being sidelined until training camp, the Ravens confirmed wideout Aldrick Robinson suffered a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament sprain that will keep him out for the remainder of the spring.
Starting left guard Kelechi Osemele was present and working after he was absent for last Thursday’s practice.
Tight end Dennis Pitta was once again catching passes and working on an individual basis as he tries to come back from two serious right hip injuries in the last two years.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the spring has been the progress of safety Terrence Brooks (knee), who increased his activity level from the previous week and took part in some team drills on Thursday. The 2014 third-round pick suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last December, but he appears to be ahead of schedule after team officials said repeatedly in the offseason that he would begin the season on the physically unable to perform list and may not be able to play this year.
The star of Thursday’s practice was wide receiver Kamar Aiken, who was working opposite veteran Steve Smith in the starting offense. Aiken made a series of impressive catches as he tries to build from his surprising 2014 season in which he rose from anonymity to catch 24 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season before adding another touchdown catch in the divisional playoff loss to New England.
Rookie Breshad Perriman saw most of his reps with the second-string offense, which isn’t surprising considering the Ravens historically defer to veteran players in positional battles during the spring and the early portion of training camp. During 11-on-11 team drills, the 2015 first-round pick made a nice adjustment on a seam route to catch an underthrown pass by backup quarterback Matt Schaub.
After missing last Thursday’s workout to attend his grandfather’s funeral, defensive end Brent Urban was active along the defensive line, at one point drawing the ire of head coach John Harbaugh for getting too close to the quarterback in a non-contact situation.
“It was Brent’s second time, so he was sent to his room for a couple of plays,” said Harbaugh as he laughed after practice. “He was a little too close, and then he was celebrating it. That’s what sent me over the edge. It’s like, ‘Do you understand what we’re doing here?’ But he has practiced really well.”
Now practicing fully after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in last summer’s training camp, Urban will be competing with Canty for the starting 5-technique defensive end job this summer.
Harbaugh said the Ravens hope to finalize their travel plans later this week for two instances of back-to-back road games out west during the regular season.
