OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Both projected starting tackles were absent at Ravens training camp on Aug. 3, and about midway through the practice, starting right guard Kevin Zeitler left with a foot injury. For an offense that was already without its starting quarterback, top wide receiver, top blocking tight end and No. 2 running back, the results were predictable.
The Ravens’ defense appeared to be a step ahead throughout the practice, the first of camp in which the players wore full pads.
The offense, led by quarterbacks Trace McSorley and Tyler Huntley, struggled to get into any rhythm, and the various patchwork offensive line combinations struggled to hold off pressure, either from the edge or from the interior.
It’s probably too early to sound alarm bells, but a week into camp, it’s been hard to get any true read on this offense with so many missing parts.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and No. 2 running back Gus Edwards have yet to practice after testing positive for COVID-19, while wide receiver Marquise Brown has been sidelined since late last week with a leg injury.
Tight end Nick Boyle is still rehabbing from an offseason knee procedure, while wide receiver Miles Boykin missed practice for the first time after limping off early on Aug. 2.
Right tackle Alejandro Villanueva was also a new absence on Aug.3, though head coach John Harbaugh said that Villanueva was simply getting a veteran day off. With Zeitler leaving early, and with presumptive left tackle Ronnie Stanley yet to take the field as he recovers from last season’s ankle injury, the Ravens are mixing and matching a lot up front. (The Ravens’ media policy prohibits disclosing specifics about who is playing where.)
But when the offensive staff rolls the tape from this workout, they might not like a lot of what they see.
The defensive front led by Calais Campbell and Justin Madubuike gained consistent traction against the Ravens’ patchwork offensive line in both the run and the pass. Had tackling the quarterback been allowed, Campbell would have probably had at least three sacks.
Even without full contact, Madubuike has been in the Ravens’ backfield a lot and has been one of the defensive standouts since training camp began.
“The guy’s a stout dude,” center Bradley Bozeman said after practice. “He’s one of the harder people I’ve ever had to move on defense.”
Newly signed outside linebacker Justin Houston has yet to take the field as he works through the NFL’s COVID-protocol intake process, but rookie edge rusher Odafe Oweh again looked disruptive with his speed, and the offense struggled in most team periods.
McSorley has had a couple of strong practices filling in for Jackson with the first unit, but after connecting early on some underneath throws, he struggled with his accuracy during a two-minute period and a red-zone period when several throws sailed high out of the back of the end zone.
McSorley also appeared to tweak his throwing hand, perhaps on Oweh’s helmet as Oweh applied pressure. McSorley made a few extra throws behind the players to assess the situation but then returned to take his reps.
One bright spot for the offense was the return of rookie first-round pick Rashod Bateman, who had missed practice yesterday. Bateman fully extended his arms to make a nice catch across the middle early in practice with Marlon Humphrey in coverage.
With Brown and Boykin out, there’s an opportunity for a receiver down the depth chart to make a statement, and Deon Cain has done that the past couple of days. Cain, who has played in 15 games throughout the past two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers, made a couple of big plays downfield. Cain caught a deep ball from Huntley down the left sideline with Humphrey covering him, and later caught a long pass despite drawing a pass interference flag on Nigel Warrior.
NOTEBOOK
RAVENS REMEMBER DARREN SANDERS: Head coach John Harbaugh began his post-practice news conference by recognizing Darren Sanders, the Ravens’ late director of security who died 10 days ago after a battle with brain cancer. Sanders was extremely popular in the building, and Harbaugh said he and many others in the Ravens’ organization attended a viewing for Sanders on Aug. 2. Harbaugh called Sanders “one of the best people I’ve ever known … [and] one of the best friends I’ve ever had.”
DL BRANDON WILLIAMS SITS OUT: A total of 12 players missed the practice, including defensive lineman Brandon Williams (undisclosed). He had missed an earlier practice as well, so it’s unclear whether he is getting extra rest or is dealing with an injury. Also sitting out the workout were Jackson (COVID), Edwards (COVID), Brown (leg), Stanley (ankle), Villanueva (vet day), Boykin (leg), Boyle (knee), cornerback Iman Marshall (knee), tackle Ja’Wuan James (Achilles), tight end Jake Breeland (knee) and Houston, who is the midst of a five-day COVID-protocol intake process after being signed.
MASON, FERGUSON TUSSLE: With the pads on, the intensity picked up notably, and rookie fullback Ben Mason got into a couple of scuffles. Linebacker Jaylon Ferguson appeared to throw a couple of punches at Mason after one play, and a couple of plays later, Mason and linebacker Patrick Queen had to be separated.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox