The latest Baltimore Ravens training camp observations
The Ravens returned to practice after a well-deserved Sunday off. Now, they enter their first week of practice that concludes with a football game (albeit a preseason game). Here are my latest observations.
Absences/Injury
- WR Deonte Harty (soft-tissue, lower body)
- C Tyler Linderbaum (third missed practice)
- CB Trayvon Mullen (Shoulder)
- RB Keaton Mitchell (PUP)
- LB Adisa Isaac (NFI)
- CB T.J. Tampa (PUP)
Big Day for Bateman
After a stellar practice on Saturday, Bateman once more blossomed. He made multiple plays, both in one-on-one drills and in 11-on-11.
His biggest play of the day was a highlight-reel catch during red zone 11-on-11 where he vaulted above cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and Ar’Darius Washington for the back-corner touchdown thrown by Lamar Jackson.
Bateman also bested cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens in one-on-one drills. Against Humphrey, Bateman ran a smooth, yet sharp route where he expanded leverage from positioning to gain separation into a touchdown. Against Stephens, he worked through physicality before the score.
The red zone touchdown was quite the highlight and occurred with 10 minutes before practice ended. It also left Bateman a bit shaken up. After the catch, Bateman remained knelt on the ground. He immediately signaled a thumbs up to the trainers and team, but was slow to get up. He appeared to be holding his abdomen. While Bateman’s day was done on the field, he did not leave early, remaining on the sideline for the remainder of practice.
Washington, who Bateman scored against, shared how he’s been impressed by the receiver after practice.
“[Rashod Bateman]’s done really well – especially [when] we saw that catch in the end zone – he’s making the tough catches, he’s giving us a lot of good releases off the line and everything like that,” Washington said. “But ‘Bate’ is going to be explosive this year, [and] he’s going to make a lot of plays for us for sure.”
Washington Delivers Defensive Play of the Day
Washington may have been scored on at the end of practice, but his rep on defense earlier in the day ended the earlier 11-on-11 session when he scored a touchdown himself.
Quarterback Josh Johnson snapped the ball, scanned the field quickly before throwing to wide receiver Malik Cunningham, who ran a short route as the team simulated third-down scenarios. But as Johnson looked Cunningham, Washington read his eyes and bolted to the passing lane. With impeccable timing, Washington undercut the route, intercepted the ball and was in a full sprint headed for the end zone with no one threatening to stop him. The closest player to him wasn’t even supposed to be on the field as teammate Kyle Hamilton sprinted off the sideline and joined him in running downfield to the end zone, where Washington would celebrate with a backflip.
“I’ve been doing that since I was like six years old,” Washington said regarding his backflip celebration. “I wanted to bring it out here, why not.”
Equally to the point was Washington when talking about his pick-six.
“It felt good,” Washington said. “It was my first play – well first pick, so it felt good definitely to get on the board, too.”
Big Play Highlights
- Safety Eddie Jackson ruined a highlight-reel deep ball touchdown from Johnson to rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker.
- Defensive tackle Travis Jones frequently won his reps in 11-on-11 and in pass rush 1v1/2v2 drills. He is looking more the real-deal each practice.
- Outside linebacker Joe Evans was a menace on the edge against offensive lineman Darrell Simpson. On back-to-back plays, he got a run stop and a sack.
- For one period of 11-on-11, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was repeatedly winning his reps and causing havoc.
- Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy got under the pads of offensive lineman Patrick Mekari on a play that pushed him to the side and ceased the action.
- One bizarre situation was quarterback Emory Jones straight-up fumbling the football in seven-on-seven, leaving the ball to bounce away from him. Jackson, in the backfield with the rest of the team ran to the ball and threw a completion to running back Chris Collier, bringing cheers to the crowd for the entertainment.
- The second unique situation was Humphrey corralling an interception after it deflected off the hands of tight end Scotty Washington. No, that’s not the crazy part. That happened when Humphrey lateraled to Hamilton, who lateraled to linebacker Malik Harrison, who then lateraled to safety Daryl Worley from one side of the field to the other in an attempt to gain more yards. Which, it nearly did.