With the Ravens returning to the field Monday for their 13th full-team practice of training camp after a day off, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. We’re counting down to the preseason opener, which is the next step in the evaluation of unproven young players and offers context you don’t get in a controlled practice environment. Nowhere is that needed more than along the offensive line with three starting spots up for grabs.
2. Tyler Linderbaum wasn’t expected to play in Friday’s game anyway, but John Harbaugh added to the “minor soft-tissue kind of thing” description offered last week. “They’re kind of evaluating him. He had some discomfort, and we’re going to hold him out. We’re going to be very cautious with Tyler obviously.”
3. With Linderbaum sidelined, Ben Cleveland worked as the first-team center, continuing the trend where he’s practiced much more at positions other than the right guard job many projected him winning this offseason. Baltimore does need another viable reserve at center beyond the versatile Patrick Mekari.
4. Andrew Vorhees is the strong favorite at left guard at this point and two legitimate options continue to compete at right tackle, but right guard is my biggest concern. A strong preseason showing from Daniel Faalele would really help, but I’m not convinced he’s going to hold up there.
8
5. As Harbaugh noted a few days ago, Roger Rosengarten is starting to receive more first-team reps as he splits time with Mekari at right tackle, but the second-round rookie struggled to deal with power rushes on Monday. These exhibition games are obviously huge for him and his early-season starting chances.
6. The offensive play of the day was Rashod Bateman’s leaping touchdown over Jalyn Armour-Davis on a Lamar Jackson pass to the back corner of the end zone during a full-team period. However, Bateman was favoring his midsection and didn’t take any more reps after that catch late in practice.
7. One of the top defensive plays would have made Ed Reed proud as Marlon Humphrey intercepted a pass off the hands of tight end Scotty Washington and began a chain of multiple laterals as the defense returned the takeaway. Humphrey has gotten his hands on plenty of footballs this summer.
8. A path to playing time became more difficult for Ar’Darius Washington with the arrival of former Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson, but Washington picked off a Josh Johnson pass intended for Malik Cunningham and returned it for a touchdown, completing the highlight play with a celebratory backflip.
9. Deonte Harty remains sidelined with a nagging lower leg issue that’s kept him out for more than a week now. Between that and his spring absence, the Ravens haven’t had much on-field time with their projected return specialist, which is more notable with the new kickoff format.
10. One might assume Qadir Ismail, the son of Qadry Ismail, is just happy to be here, but he shows the willingness to block as a tight end and made a handful of catches Monday. Whether this results in a practice squad opportunity remains to be seen, but he’s definitely competing.
11. Lamar Jackson broke up the monotony of practice when rookie quarterback Emory Jones fumbled on a pump fake during a 7-on-7 drill. The reigning MVP jumped into the drill mid-play to pick up the ball and deliver a pass to rookie running back Chris Collier. I don’t think that counted.
12. The first depth chart has been released with the annual disclaimer that it is unofficial and put together by the team’s public relations staff. I’d say it looks pretty accurate, but Friday will give us a better idea of the pecking order for younger players competing for roster spots.
