With the Ravens holding their second voluntary organized team activity open to reporters on Wednesday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Lamar Jackson spoke highly of Jesse Minter and a new coaching staff being “a breath of fresh air,” but he balanced that with respect for John Harbaugh and what they accomplished together. That’s not always easy to do without sounding like you’re diminishing one or the other.
2. Jackson has been present for much of the spring, but he downplayed the need to alter his typical offseason workout regimen after an injury-plagued 2025 he labeled a “once-in-a-lifetime thing.” The Ravens obviously need a healthy Jackson, who’s missed sizable chunks of three of the last five seasons.
3. Unsurprisingly, Jackson had little to say about his contract status while stating he “absolutely” still envisions himself with the Ravens for the long haul and loves Baltimore. His spring attendance has been reassuring on that front, but the contract will remain a story until it’s not anymore.
4. Jackson was mostly sharp in his first open practice of the spring, but the highlight of the day was Nate Wiggins intercepting his pass intended for Zay Flowers on a deep crossing route. The two-time MVP connected multiple times with Devontez Walker, who’s making the most of his spring reps.
5. Minter praised Trey Hendrickson as “an unbelievable leader” for the rest of an otherwise young outside linebacker room. Hendrickson batted down a screen pass and had what would have been an easy sack of Jackson from his blind side. That’s why you gave him a four-year, $112 million contract.
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6. Hendrickson easily beat Carson Vinson for that sack, but Minter noted how much useful feedback and advice the veteran edge rusher is giving the second-year offensive tackle, who was filling in for the absent Ronnie Stanley. Vinson and Emery Jones are top candidates for the No. 3 tackle job.
7. After Danny Pinter received the first-team reps at center last week, it was Jovaughn Gwyn’s turn this time with Minter alluding to there being three main in-house candidates. The assumption is Corey Bullock still being the third, but I’d still wager the starting center not being on the current roster.
8. The most interesting names absent for the second straight week were Marlon Humphrey and Rashod Bateman. Workouts are voluntary, but one would have assumed they’d be regular participants coming off disappointing seasons. Especially considering the perception of Humphrey’s $26.3 million cap number, the offseason approach with him has been surprising.
9. Minter again deferred to Nnamdi Madubuike to speak on his status for the upcoming season, but he stated the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle continues working out in the building and is “trending in a great direction.” That was the strongest statement to date one could interpret as a positive.
10. The head coach called Teddye Buchanan “really far ahead of schedule” in his recovery from a mid-December ACL tear. Between that update and Eric DeCosta not drafting an off-ball linebacker last month, the Ravens have to be anticipating Buchanan being available at least relatively early in the season.
11. In contrast, third-year outside linebacker Adisa Isaac still isn’t practicing after missing the entire 2025 campaign with a preseason elbow injury. The Penn State product was once a promising third-round pick, but he’s missed so much pivotal development time over the last two calendar years.
12. Fans and media alike are still getting used to a new voice as the head coach, but Minter was asked how he approaches depth chart visibility for players. “The elite players work as if they’re not entrenched in the depth chart.” That’s what you want for an optimal team culture.
