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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson had mixed results in a joint practice against the Green Bay Packers. He did not play at all during the preseason, so this was the closest he would get to a true dress rehearsal. There were some issues along the offensive line, with one beat reporter posting that Jackson was “running for his life” through much of the scrimmage. He took multiple sacks. "You're not going to be perfect, and Lamar definitely holds the ball,” head coach John Harbaugh said after the scrimmage. “Lamar was not looking to run. He was looking to stay in there and throw. I think he probably would run more in a game than he did today, and that's a problem for the defense too… I was standing there. I can't wait to see the tape, but I was happy with how firm the pocket was 90% of the time." Jackson was better in the final team training camp practice, reportedly looking sharp with his throws and showing a nice burst when breaking from the pocket. ?"I thought Lamar looked great," Harbaugh said of the last camp practice. "It's just another kind of a circumstance for him to be in where he can kind of get ready for the season."?Josh Johnson remains locked in as the No. 2 quarterback. Devin Leary struggled mightily in extended playing time during Baltimore’s preseason finale. Despite arriving as a sixth-round pick, he is unlikely to make the roster and looks ticketed for the practice squad.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
With Keaton Mitchell expected to start the season on the PUP List, the Ravens will basically have a two-man rotation at running back. Derrick Henry will lead the way and should handle a workload similar to his role in Tennessee. If he remains healthy, Henry has a clear path to 300+ carries and could challenge for the rushing title. Justice Hill will also be heavily involved as a change-of-pace back. The complete lack of competition behind the top two backs virtually guarantees consistent weekly involvement from Hill. Owen Wright broke his foot during Baltimore’s preseason finale in Green Bay, an especially tough break for a young player who looked to be on the right side of the roster bubble before the injury. He was ahead of Rasheen Ali for the No. 3 running back job but is probably now ticketed for the IR. The injury increases the chances that Ali sticks on the 53-man roster to open the season. However, Ali has generally failed to impress, and this is a spot where the Ravens could look to add someone from outside the organization between now and the start of the season.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Zay Flowers enters his second season as the unquestioned top wide receiver. He put together a hot finish to camp and will compete with Mark Andrews to be the overall top target in the Ravens' offense. Flowers had a 25-yard grab in joint practices versus the starting Green Bay defense and was a tough cover throughout the scrimmage. Baltimore needs Rashod Bateman to stay healthy and make good on at least some of the promise that made him a first-round pick in 2021. He ended camp on a high note with an outstanding performance in joint practices against the Packers. "He looked good, quick, and fast," Harbaugh said. "I'm happy with Rashod. He's going to have a great season."?Nelson Agholor is in line to open the season as the No. 3 receiver but has done little of note in camp. Devontez Walker is staring at a likely redshirt year. He is too talented for the Ravens to give up on, but he needs a year of development before potentially contributing. Expect Tylan Wallace and Deonte Harty to stick at the bottom of the roster. Both are key special teams contributors, which weighs heavily in their favor.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Mark Andrews was in a car accident on August 14th. At the time, it was reported that he did not “sustain any apparent injuries.” Harbaugh noted, “Mark wore seatbelts. That was an accident that happened, and it was pretty significant, I believe. He came out of it with nothing. Nothing at all, not a scrape.” The Baltimore County Police Department did note, however, that the crash involved two vehicles that sustained “heavy damage.” While Andrews has not returned to practice since the incident, he was on the field getting in some light work before the joint practice against the Packers. This appears to be just a minor setback (possibly a concussion?), and there have been no indications that Andrews’ Week 1 availability is in question. With Andrews out, Isaiah Likely has continued to shine. He is one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets. The two were able to hook up for multiple completions into tight windows against Nate Wiggins in a recent practice. Likely is too talented for the Ravens to put him back on the bench like he was for the first two-thirds of last season. However, designing game plans to feature him will still be tricky. The Ravens have not typically used much 12-personnel, and when they have, it usually features a blocking specialist inline, not two flex tight ends. Likely has more upside than most late-round tight ends. How aggressively you target him in your drafts depends on your confidence level in Todd Monken's creativity and the offensive staff's ability to get the ball to their best players.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The defense has excelled against Lamar Jackson and the passing offense through much of camp. With the starters not playing in the preseason, a joint practice against the Packers provided a good test of the unit. The results were mixed. Jordan Love completed 18-of-30 passes for 216 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception (a sweet play by Roquan Smith). The Ravens' cornerbacks mostly dominated against their teammates, but the Packers' wide receivers proved a tougher task. Despite the off day, the secondary looks stacked. Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, and Nate Wiggins (showing no ill effects from the shoulder injury two weeks ago) have been consistently excellent and give the team one of the better cornerback groups in the NFL.
Preseason Updates: Returners
Deonte Harty will almost certainly earn a roster spot as a full-time return specialist.
Updates from Week 3
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Lamar Jackson looks “smooth” in his second camp under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, having spent significant time with his coaches this offseason tailoring the offense to his strengths. This has been evident in his performance this summer and enabled him to take on more of a field general role, as seen in his ability to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. Monken has made the deep ball a practice priority over the past week. This was a problem area last season and continues to be an issue in camp, though the Ravens' cornerbacks are a factor to consider. While there haven’t been signs of significant improvement, it wasn’t broken to begin with. Jackson didn’t play against the Falcons, as expected. Josh Johnson played almost the entire first half, going a perfect 11-of-11 for 120 yards and a touchdown. "I thought [Johnson] played really well," head coach John Harbaugh said. "Josh did a great job. He got us in a few plays here and there. [He] had a chance to move the team down the field twice really well."
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The Ravens are holding their top two backs, Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, out of the preseason, with Henry set to be the lead back and Hill providing a change of pace. Henry’s imposing presence and the prospect of him alongside Lamar Jackson create a formidable offensive threat, reminiscent of his dominant years with the Titans. His drive and work ethic align well with John Harbaugh’s program, positioning him to feature as a bell cow in Todd Monken’s offense. Keaton Mitchell is expected to return midseason and push Hill for snaps. At worst, Mitchell will be the No. 3 running back. Owen Wright and rookie Rasheen Ali are fighting for the final roster spot. Wright seems to have a leg up in the competition, and his lead has grown slightly with Ali sidelined by a shoulder stinger.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
On the final day of training camp, Zay Flowers electrified the crowd with multiple big plays, including a 75-yard touchdown and several long connections with Lamar Jackson. He capped off the day with a touchdown in goal-line drills, aiming to carry his strong offseason momentum into a big second year. The Ravens will need a big year from Flowers because there are major questions behind him on the depth chart. Rashod Bateman returned to camp this week after missing seven days with a rib injury. He looked tentative on his first day back but showed improvement throughout the week. At 31, Nelson Agholor has shown signs of losing a step and hasn’t looked explosive on deep routes. Devontez Walker has been a disappointment, given his fourth-round draft capital. "He has a little injury, a little rib injury he's dealing with, so that's where he's at," noted Harbaugh when discussing Walker’s lack of impact. The battle for spots at the end of the roster is fierce. Tylan Wallace has been consistently solid throughout camp and will likely make the roster. Deonte Harty needs to improve his kick-return decision-making to secure his spot, as his role will primarily be on special teams. Anthony Miller has drawn praise for his explosiveness and is a dark horse candidate to stick on the roster.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Mark Andrews was uninjured in a minor traffic accident early in the week. He returned to practice on Wednesday. Andrews and Isaiah Likely are arguably the best pass catchers at any position. Andrews has caught the most passes from Jackson, but Likely has been a close second, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “I would say Isaiah has put together a fantastic training camp,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been spectacular with the route-running details. I feel like the timing has been fantastic with him. He’s just a very special athlete, comes to work every day ready to go to work. We’re really proud of him, and we’ll keep going.” If Andrews were to miss time, Likely could step into the league’s elite.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Odafe Oweh is poised for a breakout season, with pass rush coach Chuck Smith predicting he'll become an "A-List Rusher" in 2024. Although Oweh has yet to start more than 13 games or surpass five sacks in a season, Smith believes he’s on track to hit double-digit sacks if he continues to play fast and get consistent reps. Oweh will start at one outside linebacker spot opposite Kyle Van Noy. The Ravens would love for David Ojabo, who returned to action after a long injury absence, to emerge as a solid third option. Ojabo impressed in his first game back, disrupting the Falcons' offense despite limited stats. Harbaugh praised Ojabo's performance, noting his impact as a pass rusher and run defender. Harbaugh also praised rookie pass rusher Adisa Isaac, stating he "was a factor, rushing the passer [and] in the run game. He's a big guy. He's explosive. He's not as far along as David [Ojabo] is – as far as the conditioning part of it – because he had the hamstring." Star safety Kyle Hamilton returned to practice after an injury scare late last week.
Preseason Updates: Offensive Lines
Legendary coach Joe D'Alessandris was hospitalized with an acute illness requiring ongoing care. George Warhop (offensive line coach for 22-plus years, most recently Houston) has joined the Ravens' staff. When healthy, left tackle Ronnie Stanley leads the group. Center Tyler Linderbaum is out with soft tissue injuries, but he should make a quick recovery. Ben Cleveland has been taking snaps. There are three new starters: left guard Andrew Vorhees, right tackle Roger Rosengarten (Round 2 - Washington), and right guard Daniel Faalele. Patrick Mekari can sub at all five spots. With all the turnover, the Ravens fall to 15th in the rankings.
Updates from Week 2
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Despite winning MVP last season, Lamar Jackson was not satisfied with his performance and has slimmed down considerably. A noticeably slimmer Jackson reported to training camp weighing 200 pounds, 30 pounds less than his 2022 weight and 15 pounds less than last season. "I was fat, to me. I felt like I was fat," Jackson said. "My eyes may be deceiving me, but I believe I looked a little slower to me, but not now." Jackson thinks he’s regained some of the speed he lost after adding bulk. “I don't like getting caught if I do decide to run," Jackson said. While the lighter weight should help Jackson’s speed, it may make it harder for him to endure the grind of a 17-game season.
Veteran Josh Johnson, 37, is locked in as Jackson’s backup. He started the preseason opener against the Eagles and failed to impress, completing just 4-of-12 passes for 62 yards while playing the entire first half. Johnson’s experience is an asset, but he did not inspire much confidence. The backup position remains a weak point and could be a spot the team looks to address with an outside signing.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Derrick Henry is not expected to play in the preseason, which is unsurprising given that he hasn’t taken a preseason snap since 2018. Top backup Justice Hill was also held out of the preseason opener, reinforcing Hill’s importance, even with Henry there as the new No. 1. “You’ll see us using Justice in a lot of different ways,” running backs coach Willie Taggart said. “From the time I got here, you can see the professionalism from him. He’s so much more ahead of his age right now.”
With Keaton Mitchell on the PUP list and expected to miss at least the first part of the season, the battle for the No. 3 job is wide open. Owen Wright has emerged as the favorite. He spent last season on the practice squad as an undrafted rookie out of Monmouth. That year of experience may give him an edge over rookie Rasheen Ali. Wright started against the Eagles and ran for 33 yards on seven attempts. He also had a 17-yard reception and an impressive blitz pickup. He played nearly the entire first half, while Ali played nearly every snap in the second half.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The Ravens held out starters Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor from the preseason opener. Bateman is banged up yet again, landing hard after a catch in practice on Monday, and was absent the next day. While none of Bateman’s camp injuries appear to be long-term concerns, his inability to stay on the field is worrisome. The fact that Agholor got the day off and Tylan Wallace played indicates that Agholor leads Wallace in the battle for the No. 3 role. Wallace may not even make the team, given that rookie Devontez Walker’s upside makes him a roster lock, and Deonte Harty’s special teams impact warrants a spot. Baltimore also signed 28-year-old Russell Gage this week. Gage missed last season with a knee injury but has been productive in past stints with Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Wallace, Gage, Keith Kirkwood, Dayton Wade, and Malik Cunningham are competing for the last roster spot.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely have been standout performers throughout camp, and both were understandably among the key contributors held out of the preseason opener. The challenge will be getting both on the field together, given that they play the same flex role. 267-pound veteran Charlie Kolar is the top blocker and will play plenty of snaps as a result. “I didn’t block anyone in college, so it was definitely learning the first few years,” Kolar said recently. “I put on good weight, feel like I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been in the league. I think if I can continue to grow in that world there’s a lot of snaps available.”
Preseason Updates: Defense
In his NFL debut, cornerback Nate Wiggins exceeded even the lofty expectations of being a first-round draft pick. He showcased his length and elite closing speed with three pass breakups on the opening drive. Unfortunately, he favored his shoulder after a tackle in the second half and headed to the locker room after conferring with doctors in the medical tent. Fortunately, his injury isn’t serious, per Coach Harbaugh. He will undergo testing in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury. The Ravens also lost slot cornerback Arthur Maulet to a knee injury that required surgery, and his absence is expected to extend into the regular season.
Preseason Updates: Returners
The Ravens lost former All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay in free agency but signed another former All-Pro, Deonte Harty, to replace him. Tylan Wallace (punts) and Justice Hill (kickoffs) are the top candidates to back up Harty.
Updates from Week 1
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's What You Need To Know From Every Team This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson began feeling ill during meetings the day before the Ravens' first training camp practice. He missed the first three practices and then returned for the fourth but stayed on the field for only about an hour before heading to the training room. He returned the next day and has appeared healthy since. "I kind of just got a bug," Jackson said. "You really never know when a bug hits you." Head coach John Harbaugh had some bold takes on Jackson to open camp. "The vision that we have together is that Lamar Jackson is going to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League," Harbaugh said. "That's the vision. It's going to happen by Lamar, his work ethic, and his brilliant talent, by all of us pouring into that effort together as a team, teamwork, and by the grace of God and God's goodwill. That's how it's going to happen. And I believe it like we've already seen it." Jackson has thrown several interceptions in practice, including four to Marlon Humphrey in three practices.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Derrick Henry has had several strong runs in practices. He's showing he has the speed and vision to bounce outside for yards when there's no running room between the tackles. Henry has impressed not only due to his freakish athleticism but also his work ethic. After his miscue led to an interception, Henry asked to go to a side field to run the same play repeatedly until he felt comfortable he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. "It's like the damnedest thing ever. He wants to be perfect on everything. We love it," Running backs coach Willie Taggart said. "He'll eventually come around, but probably the first two plays after a mistake, he's going to be ticked off." While many expect Henry to start slowing down as he enters his age-30 season, he may be the rare running back to break the mold. He spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on body maintenance and gets some kind of therapy (red light, sauna, hyperbaric oxygen chamber) every day. "I'm not joking. I'm not hyping it up. I think he's better right now than he was in year four and five," Henry’s trainer Melvin Sanders said. "He's a lot stronger now. He's a lot more mobile. He's able to move better. His lateral quickness is better. He's just a stronger athlete now.” Justice Hill has emerged as the clear top backup. "The evolution of Justice [Hill] as a player is that this guy has become a starting [running] back in the National Football League," said Harbaugh. "He is a high-caliber running back. So, to have him along Derrick [Henry], along with the young guys, it's really great. He's going to give us a little different style than Derrick Henry. I see him as a starter. I think he's going to play a lot and kind of do it his way." Rookie Rasheen Ali has had a quiet start to his pro career, and Keaton Mitchell looks likely to open the season on the PUP list, which means Hill is positioned to handle nearly all the backup snaps early in the season.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are locked in as the top two wide receivers for the Ravens. Bateman has missed some time in camp with minor injuries described as “soreness” and needs to prove he can stay healthy. Bateman struggled to get on the same page as Jackson last season, partly due to missing so much time. The chemistry between the two has shown signs of improvement. In a recent intrasquad scrimmage, Jackson and Bateman hooked up four times for 61 yards. "It was great to see," Wide Receivers Coach Greg Lewis said of the connection between Jackson and Bateman. "I think the sky's the limit for him in this offense… Change of direction, getting in and out of breaks, having him out there being able to do that. I watched him in college, you see all these spectacular moves he can do. He's showing up, and he's done a great job throughout this whole camp. We just want to continue to build off that." Aside from Flowers and Bateman, Tylan Wallace has been making the most plays with the starters. Nelson Agholor rounds out the top four.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Jackson’s return to practice coincided with an increase in downfield connections with top tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. The two are clearly favorites of the star quarterback. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken recently said he “would love to” keep both of his top tight ends heavily involved in the offense. “You’re obviously trying to get your best playmakers on the field, and they’re two of them. Those two guys are unique weapons, so we must do a great job of being creative — getting them on the field and finding a way to utilize them. Their skill sets are similar, but they’re different. They’re built a little bit differently, but we love both, and that showed last year — when Mark went down, (Likely) came on. Having them both together would be great.” Though injuries played a role, it is worth noting that Baltimore only used 12 personnel (two tight ends) on 11 percent of their plays last season. Expect that number to increase. Likely is too talented to keep off the field. “We’re going to throw it to them,” Monken said of his tight ends. “We love those guys. We want them to have every opportunity. Mark last year probably didn’t have as many targets as he wanted, but he had touchdowns — we got him the ball in the red zone, which helped. Obviously, finding a way to get Mark the ball and (Likely) the ball more is a huge part of what we need to do moving forward.”
Preseason Updates: Defense
The biggest defensive question mark is at edge rusher. Odafe Oweh has had a strong camp and should start alongside Kyle Van Noy. David Ojabo is working his way back from a November ACL surgery. Behind these three, depth is an issue. Adisa Isaac, drafted in the third round, was expected to be a key part of the rotation but has yet to participate due to a nagging hamstring injury. Promising youngster Malik Hamm suffered a season-ending knee injury this week. The defense's strength is the secondary, featuring proven veteran starters and an impressive collection of young backups. Rookie cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa have been standouts.
