Quarterback Lamar Jackson is used to sitting out the preseason. He’s also used to seeing the Ravens’ defense in practice.
This week, finally, the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player is spicing things up a little bit. Jackson and the Ravens will travel to face the Green Bay Packers in a joint practice Thursday, his first and only real test of a defense outside Baltimore before the Sept. 5 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I’m definitely ready for the season,” Jackson said Monday. “It’s been a great offseason for us, and [I’m] tired of going against my guys.”
Jackson’s not expected to play in Saturday’s preseason finale against Green Bay at Lambeau Field, but the defense he sees Thursday could be an ideal warm-up for Week 1. The Packers, flush with pass-rushing talent, should challenge a remade Ravens offensive line. First-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, meanwhile, is known for the kind of creative blitz packages that Jackson has struggled to dissect at points over his career.
“We want to put our best foot forward right out of the gates as much as we can,” coach John Harbaugh said when asked about the value to Jackson of joint practices. “It’s hard to do, there’s no guarantee you’re going to do that, and there’s a lot of question marks to that every year. We have done well over the years doing that, because we practice well.
“It comes down to practice. Practice is what makes it; preseason games don’t make or break you that way. It’s the practices that make you, because that’s what you stack. There are advantages to practicing. … We had done it [joint practices] for a while, and we haven’t done it in the last few years. I think you can do it either way, and that’s the way we’re doing it this year.”
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Jackson approached the microphone after Monday’s practice with a spring in his step — and not just because of the weight he’s shed since last season — “If I’m running 30 yards down the field, I can come back and just be like me,” he said of the benefits of a lighter frame. Jackson feels more comfortable with offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s “vision” for the Ravens’ attack in Year 2 and praised the team’s young offensive line for “coming along very well.”
Jackson looked more than ready in Monday’s practice. Unofficially, he finished 9-for-11 in competitive team drills, highlighted by a deep shot down the right sideline to wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who didn’t have to break stride as he beat cornerback Ka’dar Hollman for what would’ve been a long score. Jackson also threw an interception in a red-zone drill, with cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams undercutting wide receiver Keith Kirkwood in the corner of the end zone for the pick.
Jackson later left practice with an athletic trainer for about 10 minutes but returned and hit his first two throws in a seven-on-seven drill. He said he was looking forward to the “competitiveness” of Thursday’s practice.
“Finally get to go against someone else,” he said. “Especially [since] I’m not playing preseason, just great to see how we are against other opponents.”
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- Wide receiver Russell Gage, inside linebacker Chris Board (concussion), safety Sanoussi Kane (stinger) and defensive back Christian Matthew, all of whom missed Saturday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, returned to practice. Their participation in team drills was limited.
- Center Tyler Linderbaum, who last practiced Aug. 1, is “in a good place” and “right on schedule,” Harbaugh said, as he recovers from a minor neck injury. Linderbaum has participated in the Ravens’ noncontact “alignment, communication and technique” practices, but won’t take part in any “contact work” this week, Harbaugh said.
- Harbaugh said the Ravens are “close” to finalizing their Week 1 offensive line: “I think we have a pretty good idea and what way it’s trending in different areas. It’s not altogether solidified, but we’re in a good place right now.” Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Linderbaum are locked in as starters. Andrew Vorhees is the runaway favorite at left guard, and Daniel Faalele doesn’t have much competition at right guard. Roger Rosengarten and Patrick Mekari could be fighting for the last spot at right tackle.
- Tight end Mark Andrews is “going to be fine,” Harbaugh said, as he recovers from a “very minor thing.” Andrews hasn’t practiced since he got into a car accident Wednesday morning as he drove to the team’s facility. The team said in a statement that he’d been evaluated by medical staff at the team’s facility and did not suffer any apparent injuries. Andrews was at the Ravens’ preseason game Saturday but, like most of the team’s projected starters, did not dress for the game.
- Also missing practice Monday were rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker (rib), rookie running back Rasheen Ali (stinger), tight end Scotty Washington (broken hand), defensive lineman Josh Tupou, rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, inside linebacker Josh Ross and safety Eddie Jackson. Walker played just eight snaps Saturday, while Isaac left the game with what Harbaugh indicated were cramps. Running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) and cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee) remain sidelined.
- Cornerback Nate Wiggins, who left the Ravens’ preseason opener with a minor shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of last week, was seemingly a full participant in Monday’s practice. Playing without any apparent harness or brace, he intercepted a pass from rookie Devin Leary to tight end Qadir Ismail after jumping a curl route in 11-on-11 action.
- Tight end Isaiah Likely had the upper hand on Wiggins in one-on-ones, though. On their first matchup, he separated for a catch on a quick in-breaker, and on their second, he showed late hands to bring in a throw up the left sideline while Wiggins’ back was turned to the quarterback.
- Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh continued to get the better of Rosengarten, beating him for a “sack” in team drills and adding another a few plays later. Defensive lineman Justin Madubuike also had his way at times with guard Sala Aumavae-Laulu.
