PressBox Ravens photographer Kenya Allen shares his favorite shots from the 2023 preseason and regular season, with explanations for each choice.
Go Hamm
I love great underdog stories. Malik Hamm, a Baltimore native who defied the odds to make the Ravens’ original 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent out of a small FCS school, is definitely one of them. Hamm played collegiately for Lafayette College, which just happens to be the same school that I played for nearly 20 years earlier. In this photo, Hamm celebrates his first sack in a Ravens uniform during a preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in August.
J. K. Air
Running back J.K. Dobbins goes airborne for a 4-yard touchdown during the home-opener win against the Houston Texans in September. Dobbins got hurt later in the game and missed the remainder of the season with a ruptured Achilles.
Safety Patrol
The Ravens had the Indianapolis Colts pinned back at their own goal line. As I searched for a spot to shoot the play, Tommy Giligan, one of the photo regulars at the games, pointed to the spot next to him and said, “Trust me, the shot’s right here.” And boy, he was right. The very next play, Michael Pierce and Jadeveon Clowney absolutely destroyed Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew in the end zone for a fumble and safety. Unfortunately for Minshew, the play should have already been blown dead because he had already stepped out of the back of the end zone, Dan Orlovsky-style.
Superman That …
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs dives for an overthrown deep ball. I have a few frames with the ball in them, but I like this one because it literally looks like he’s flying through the air like Superman, hand placement and all.
Stretch Goals
Following the serious ankle injury to tight end Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely stepped up and made several big plays for the Ravens in the latter part of the season. Likely stretches out for the end zone as part of a 54-yard catch and run during the first quarter of the Ravens’ overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams in December.
Raise Your Kupp
Los Angeles Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp goes up high for a crucial grab from Matthew Stafford during the fourth quarter, helping set up a field goal shortly afterward to tie the game and send it into overtime.
Wallace Walk-Off
In what was widely considered the most exciting play of the year, Tylan Wallace stepped in for an injured Devin Duvernay and escaped down the sideline for a 76-yard walk-off punt return touchdown in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams. While I was not able to get down to the other end of the field fast enough for the runback, I was able to capture this shot of Wallace smiling after being mobbed by virtually the whole team. This is definitely one of the most electrifying moments I have ever witnessed at M&T Bank Stadium.
Drink (Ir)responsibly
Water droplets fly everywhere as Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum takes a drink during a timeout against the Cleveland Browns in November. I think it’s safe to say that his jersey and the M&T Bank Stadium turf were the primary beneficiaries of that particular water break.
Caught One-Handed
Patrick Ricard is a rare Swiss Army knife of a player. The four-time Pro Bowl fullback shows off his receiving skills as he pulls in a one-handed touchdown grab during the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ dominant win against the Miami Dolphins on New Year’s Eve.
Photo Credits: Kenya Allen/PressBox