With the Ravens conducting their first padded practices of training camp on Friday and Saturday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Clearly not right when he tried practicing Wednesday, Lamar Jackson returned Saturday to practice fully and showed good energy throughout the day. Unsurprisingly, the offense had its best showing of the week after being dominated by the defense over the first five full-squad workouts. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
2. Despite Jackson entering his seventh season, the energy he sparks never ceases to amaze. After taking warmup snaps from Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson bolted downfield to catch a pass from his center, prompting huge cheers. As Michael Pierce noted, practice gets “a little more hectic” for the defense facing Jackson too.
3. The highlight of the day for Jackson and the offense was a crisp two-minute drill in which he went 5-for-6 and threw a touchdown to Nelson Agholor, who was matched up with Arthur Maulet in coverage. Jackson had some errant throws early, but he was sharp to close the workout.
4. Marlon Humphrey intercepted a Jackson pass as part of another strong practice for the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback. John Harbaugh is pleased with what he’s seen from a healthy and slimmer Humphrey. “He’s moving super good. He looks great to me.”
5. The offensive line is a work in progress with much competition remaining, but the group has fared better since the pads came on, which is encouraging. Still, Harbaugh acknowledged having a clear idea of what the Week 1 group will look like before the preseason opener might be too ambitious.
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6. Though Nate Wiggins has been targeted more at the start of camp than in the spring and has surrendered some plays, his willingness to hit and tackle has stood out despite his wiry frame. There’s much competition, but it’s tough imagining him not being in the sub-package mix early on.
7. Speaking of secondary competition, Ar’Darius Washington has become somewhat of a forgotten man in the wake of Eric DeCosta signing Eddie Jackson and bringing back Daryl Worley, but he recorded multiple pass breakups on Saturday. We easily forget Washington started last season as the primary nickel before getting injured.
8. Every Ravens quarterback not named Lamar Jackson turned the ball over too much in the first week, but Devin Leary does mix in some impressive throws to remind you of his arm talent. I still remain skeptical that Baltimore will carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, however.
9. Friday’s practice concluded with Leary throwing a touchdown to Devontez Walker in an 11-on-11 red-zone period. Walker beat Wiggins in coverage and has started to show up more frequently in practices after a pretty quiet spring and first few days of camp.
10. The intensity always picks up with the threat of contact being introduced, but you still rarely see players go to the ground in modern practice. Harbaugh said, “It’s more of an emphasis on teaching tackling with the bags, front-up tackling, technique tackling, being in position to make tackles.”
811. Besides Jackson’s illness and Kyle Van Noy’s minor neck issue, the Ravens hadn’t suffered an observable injury all week until cornerback Trayvon Mullen landed on his shoulder in Saturday’s practice and was eventually carted inside. Rookie draft picks Adisa Isaac (hamstring) and T.J. Tampa (sports hernia surgery) remain sidelined.
12. The Ravens dedicated Saturday’s practice to Jacoby Jones, whose memory was celebrated in New Orleans this weekend. Justin Tucker was among the members of the organization to travel there. Jones had such a unique energy that won’t be forgotten by anyone who knew him.
