It’s opening day of Ravens training camp, and there’s one big question that won’t be answered soon — What’s the offense going to look like with Todd Monken calling plays and an improved group of wide receivers catching passes from fully paid Lamar Jackson? — but that we’re going to talk a lot about, anyway.
Reporters from The Baltimore Banner will provide updates from the Ravens Under Armour Performance Center right here, throughout the day.
In the meantime, you can follow @AllBannerSports. We also have a list that corrals tweets from all of our Ravens reporters.
[5:40] Harbaugh on Dobbins’ absence: “That’s a J.K. question.”
Although the Ravens saw new running back Melvin Gordon and the return of Gus Edwards when they took the field, the position group began training camp without projected starter J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins, entering a critical fourth year with the Ravens, was placed on the physically unable to perform list Friday.
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When asked about Dobbins’ absence, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said: “Yeah, that’s a J.K. question. I wish it was a simple answer. There’s always a lot of things that go into football, but there’s some complexity to it and we’re working through all that. J.K. is working through it, and I’m looking forward to when he’s out there.”
Harbaugh wasn’t ready to say Dobbins is falling behind with the season on the horizon but made note of the work he’s still taking part in while sidelined.
”I know he’ll get ready,” Harbaugh said. “He’s in all the meetings, mentally, and doing all those kind of things, and I also believe this about J.K.: He’ll be happy when he’s out there. He wants to be out there, and we both want the same thing.”
— Aron Yohannes
[5:00] Rookie WR Zay Flowers thrives
Soft-tissue injuries sidelined Zay Flowers for part of his offseason workouts in Baltimore, quieting the hype over the Ravens’ speedy wide receiver. After a busy Wednesday, the first-round pick might not need long to dominate the training camp discourse.
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Flowers was the Ravens’ most active wide receiver in their first full-team practice, frequently connecting with quarterback Lamar Jackson on short and intermediate routes. At one point late in the 90-minute practice, he caught a pass over the middle from Jackson, froze inside linebacker Roquan Smith with a juke, then eased past him as a crowd of fans oohed.
With Rashod Bateman still getting over lower-body soreness and Odell Beckham Jr.’s workload still ramping up, Flowers will get a lot of looks early in camp. Coach John Harbaugh indicated after practice that Flowers is more than ready for it all.
— Jonas Shaffer
Humphrey reflects on being voted No. 92 on NFL top 100
Marlon Humphrey has been arguably the Ravens’ top-rated corner for a few seasons now, but the 27-year-old earned props from players around the league this week when they voted him back into the NFL’s top 100 at No. 92. Humphrey has been on the list before, reaching as high as No. 38 in 2021, but he didn’t make the cut last season.
“The coaches, they asked me if there were 91 guys better than me,” Humphrey quipped. “But any sort of ranking that the players put out, it’s always an honor. I really don’t take any recognition lightly when it comes to peer recognition. It’s a cool thing.”
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Added Humphrey: “It sucks when you’re not on it. I do know that.”
The corner added that he’s taking his leadership role seriously as one of the established veterans on defense, narrowing the gap between the top defensive back (himself, naturally) and the least experienced. He is relishing the chance to get physical with the Ravens’ improved receiving room to sharpen his own iron.
“I think I can stop anybody,” he said. “I think I can run with anybody.”
Apparently, the rest of the NFL thinks so, too.
— Kyle Goon
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[2:50] Bateman, Dobbins absent from first practice
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman and running back J.K. Dobbins were among the Ravens sidelined for the start of training camp Wednesday.
Bateman, who’s recovering from Lisfranc (foot) surgery, and Dobbins, who missed mandatory minicamp in June amid a reported contract dispute, were placed on the physically unable to perform list ahead of training camp. Fullback Patrick Ricard and cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams are also on the PUP list and did take the field Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, who had knee soreness in minicamp, also did not take the field with his teammates.
Players on the PUP list can be activated at any time.
— Jonas Shaffer
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[2:15] Baltimore adds corner depth
The Ravens have signed cornerback Arthur Maulet to a one-year deal, the team announced. The contract is reportedly worth up to $2 million.
Maulet is entering his seventh NFL season and will join the Ravens for their first day of training camp practice Wednesday. With Marlon Humphrey and Rock Ya-Sin entrenched as the starting cornerbacks, Maulet is expected to compete for snaps with cornerbacks Damarion “Pepe” Williams, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Trayvon Mullen and Kevon Seymour, and safeties Ar’Darius Washington and Brandon Stephens.
The Ravens are familiar with Maulet, who played the last two seasons with the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Over those two years, he snagged one interception and 106 tackles; he also contributed on special teams. In 2022, Maulet lined up primarily in the slot, where the Ravens are looking to replace Kyle Hamilton, who’s moving to safety.
Maulet joins a Ravens secondary that was near the bottom of the league in yards allowed per game last season (229.4). He’s also played for the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets.
— Kris Rhim
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