With the Ravens conducting the first workout of a three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Practicing in Owings Mills for the first time since limping through a Dec. 29 workout, Lamar Jackson was mostly sharp and impressed with several vintage sidearm throws. The contract speculation isn’t going away for the face of the franchise, but it was refreshing to bring focus back on the field.
2. Tony Jefferson was one of the stars of the day with two interceptions of the No. 1 quarterback, something we’ve rarely seen defensive players do these last few preseasons. Despite no shortage of younger safeties on the roster, Jefferson is having a strong spring.
3. In case you were worried in the wake of Jackson skipping voluntary spring workouts, his chemistry with Mark Andrews is very much intact with the two connecting multiple times for sizable gains. I’m pretty sure these two could move the chains in their sleep.
4. Acknowledging the memory of him being held out of 2019 mandatory minicamp, Michael Pierce being absent with “a personal matter” is unsettling. You hope for the best with John Harbaugh adding that the Ravens “understand his situation,” but Pierce has missed a lot of football over the last couple years.
5. Marcus Williams sat out the full-team periods of Tuesday’s practice with Harbaugh saying the safety is “working through some physical things” that are “nothing major.” On the heels of the injury-plagued 2021 season, this is certainly the time of year to be cautious with any minor ailments.
6. Though he hasn’t flashed much in open workouts, Tylan Wallace had one of the day’s top plays with a long touchdown from Tyler Huntley on a double move that beat Brandon Stephens during a 7-on-7 drill. You’d feel better about the wide receiver position if Wallace shows more of that.
7. Kyle Hamilton intercepted a Huntley pass to Tyler Badie. Harbaugh said, “His sense of urgency drops a little bit when he’s not exactly sure what to do, but he is a quick learner. When he knows what to do, you see that quick reaction time.” That was a good example.
8. Reporters got their first look at Kyle Fuller, who broke up a Huntley pass intended for Wallace during an 11-on-11 period. The 30-year-old struggled in Denver last year — the reason he was available for a reported $2.5 million — so we’ll see how a homecoming helps the Mount St. Joseph product.
9. In the wake of Derek Wolfe’s unceremonious departure, it’s worth noting that Harbaugh singled out Broderick Washington for “really stepping up” this spring. The play of the young defensive linemen becomes even more important now with Wolfe officially out of the picture.
10. Calais Campbell will tell you the NFL is a business, but I enjoyed hearing him reminisce about being a 6-year-old begging his father to play football. “God just gave me a pure love for the game. Ever since I was a kid, I loved football. … It was always football.”
11. Edge rusher and onetime Raven Steven Means is among several players trying out. Injuries derailed his first stint with Baltimore in 2015, but credit the 31-year-old for surviving in the league. He played in 30 games for Atlanta over the last two seasons, collecting three sacks and 81 tackles.
12. Steve Bisciotti watched Tuesday’s workout from the sideline. You’d have to think he was hoping to have a few words with his star quarterback, right? While no contract extension appears imminent, engaging in some meaningful dialogue with Jackson becomes much easier now.
