OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Josh Johnson dropped back and looked to his left, hoping to connect with receiver Malik Cunningham. But safety Ar’Darius Washington saw it all the way, broke on the ball, picked it off and raced untouched down the sideline for a touchdown.
Washington’s pick-six proved to be one of the highlights — for the defense at least — during a steamy Ravens training camp practice on Aug. 5 that included an injury to receiver Rashod Bateman, who was shaken up after making a superb end-zone grab in a red zone drill.
Bateman leaped high and corralled a 15-yard touchdown pass in the left side of the end zone with Washington and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis all over him, but Bateman came down hard and was attended to by trainers in the end zone before walking off.
Bateman watched the final 10-15 minutes of practice from the sideline with his pads off and then walked off with trainers at the end of practice.
Head coach John Harbaugh had no update on Bateman’s condition when he met with the media shortly after practice ended.
Washington’s interception continued a run of superb plays by Ravens defensive backs this summer, and after running down the right sideline for a score — with a helmetless Kyle Hamilton right behind him after coming off the sideline — Washington punctuated his touchdown with a back flip in the end zone.
“I’ve been doing that since I was like 6 years old,” Washington said. “I wanted to bring it out here. Why not?”
Washington is looking to make an impact this year in the midst of a career that has largely been derailed by injuries. Washington, 24, made the initial 53-man roster in 2021 as an undrafted rookie out of TCU, but spent most of that season on injured reserve with a foot injury.
He was on the practice squad for most of 2022, and then last season, he essentially won the starting job as slot corner coming out of training camp. He had 11 tackles and a sack in two games, but suffered a chest injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season. He did return to appear in both postseason games. In three NFL seasons, he has played in eight regular-season games.
With Hamilton, Arthur Maulet and Marlon Humphrey all among the players who could play in the slot, Washington is playing a lot of safety in training camp, but there is stiff competition there as well. The Ravens signed former Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson earlier this summer, and also brought back Daryl Worley as a special teamer and backup safety behind Hamilton and Marcus Williams.
Washington has always faced questions about his height at 5-foot-8, but the Ravens love how he demonstrates a nose for the ball and Harbaugh has said Washington plays bigger than his size. With the Ravens’ numbers in the secondary, Washington finds himself on the roster bubble yet again, but his ability to play both safety and in the slot could work in his favor.
“Competition is good,” he said, adding that wherever coaches ask him to line up, “I’m going to compete. I’m going to do my job and do the best I can. The more you can do it, the better.”
NOTEBOOK
LINDERBAUM SITS AGAIN: Starting center Tyler Linderbaum missed his third straight practice with a soft-tissue injury. “He had some discomfort, and we’re going to hold him out,” Harbaugh said after practice. “We’re going to be very cautious with Tyler, obviously. There is not anything he needs right now in terms of practice, so we’ll kind of rest him up.”
In Linderbaum’s absence, Ben Cleveland is getting a look at center, something that Harbaugh said has been in the works since OTAs in May. The Ravens figure to rotate a few players at center in the preseason opener against Philadelphia this coming Friday, May 9. Another possibility is undrafted rookie Darrian Dalcourt from Alabama. Dalcourt is native of Havre de Grace and played high school ball at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.
HARTY, MULLEN STILL OUT: Wide receiver and kick returner Deonte Harty remains sidelined by a soft-tissue injury, and cornerback Trayvon Mullen (shoulder) remains out. Harbaugh said Mullen’s injury could sideline him for a few weeks. In addition to those players and Linderbaum, outside linebacker Quincy Roche (undisclosed) also missed practice.
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