The Baltimore Ravens’ fourth day of training camp featured a mighty defensive performance, outshining the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The heat, humidity and competition ramped up today at the Baltimore Ravens’ Under Armour Performance Center as Day 3 of training camp extended from their 90-minute practices to two hours. A number of plays were made, including more flashes from wide receiver Rashod Bateman, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, cornerback Arthur Maulet and more.
Attendance/Injury
- RB Keaton Mitchell (PUP)
- OLB Adisa Isaac (NFI) (Hamstring)
- LB Yvandy Rigby (undisclosed)
- CB T.J. Tampa Jr. (PUP) (sports hernia)
Note: Though Jackson did return after missing the first three days of practice, he left midway through. It did not appear injury related and is assumed he still isn’t fully healthy from illness.
Lamar Jackson’s Return to Practice
Walking out to practice, numerous children and fans asked security workers and staff if the franchise quarterback would be making his return to practice. They got their answer when four quarterbacks exited the indoor facility and the excited screaming from children at the tunnel entrance rung into the humid air of the Ravens’ Under Armour Performance Center. Jackson was welcomed by his teammates as he joined with the offensive line and each one dapped up Jackson in his return.
Jackson’s return didn’t last the entire length of practice, though. He didn’t take the starting reps during installation or the first reps of 11-on-11 drills. He worked with the second team for his first set, before joining the first-team offense on the ensuing cycle. In all, Jackson threw five passes in practice before exiting as they transitioned to seven-on-seven, just past an hour of practice.
Jackson’s early exit in practice is likely due to not feeling 100-percent. Coming back from illness to a hot, sticky summer day for anybody would be an unenjoyable atmosphere.
Fortunately, the Ravens are off on Thursday, giving Jackson another day to recuperate, rest and hopefully return on Friday.
Though Jackson’s briefly practiced today, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken discussed and praised his participation in meetings.
“In the meetings he was great – and we are going to work him back in, for sure,” Monken said. “He was great in the meetings, he was great. You’ll have to ask him how he feels, but he was great. He was great in the meetings, and when were on the field at the start [of practice] he said he was feeling good.”
Secondary Snags Six Picks
The Ravens’ defense has frequently gotten the better of the offense through the first few days of camp. On Day 4, the defense had its best outing yet, generating six interceptions.
The first came on the first snap of 11-on-11 when safety Marcus Williams caught a Josh Johnson pass in stride and followed a pair of blockers for a touchdown.
Nine plays later, Jackson, who appeared still hampered due to illness, lofted one deep downfield to either Rashod Bateman or Tylan Wallace, but it was cornerback Marlon Humphrey who tracked it deeper than intended for the second interception of the day.
Safety Kyle Hamilton came up with the third interception, reeling in an off-target ball by rookie quarterback Devin Leary in seven-on-seven drills. Some on the sideline speculated if it was an interception or not as nobody on the defense reacted in their typical fashion when generating a takeaway, but I saw it as an interception.
Humphrey managed to get his second interception of the practice on a Johnson throw to wide receiver Zay Flowers.
Cornerback Trayvon Mullen came up with the ball twice in practice, but his first interception, thrown by undrafted quarterback Emory Jones, was flagged for defensive pass interference as he got there early and there was sufficient contact. His second, however, would stand, and it came against Leary during red zone 11-on-11 drills.
The final pick of practice was nabbed by cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and was Johnson’s third of the day.
Big Play Highlights
- Undrafted rookie linebacker Joe Evans had one of the prettiest rushes in camp this season as he pancaked through offensive lineman Julian Pearl for the sack.
- Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh generated a few pressures, a sack and notched one pass swat at the line.
- Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins stuck tightly to wide receiver Qadir Ismail in 11-on-11 for rep and broke up the reception with an aggressive swat as Ismail attempted to snare the ball.
- Rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker gained a step on cornerback Christian Matthew during a go-route rep in 7-on-7. Walker nearly reeled in the ball but Matthew had interfered with him, leading to a 30-yard gain by way of defensive pass interference.
False Start Laps
The Ravens instituted a rule this offseason that any player who jumps before the snap runs a lap around the field. Today, three players were flagged for the infraction.
- OL Josh Jones
- OL Daniel Faalele
- OL Ben Cleveland