OWINGS MILLS, Md. — During a period in which the Ravens’ offensive starters lined up against the defensive second team, quarterback Lamar Jackson hit tight end Isaiah Likely down the middle and then connected with him again on the left sideline. Likely earlier had elevated to make a nice catch down the seam.
With Mark Andrews sitting out after a scary traffic accident, Likely proved to be one of the top offensive weapons during the team’s two-hour practice Aug. 14, and he showed again just how formidable the offense could be with both he and Andrews on the field.
Those plays were among the highlights on an uneven day for the Ravens’ offense, which was hurt by a few turnovers and several pre-snap penalties that left linemen running penalty laps around the field.
The offensive highlight of the day came from undrafted rookie wide receiver Isaiah Washington, who reached out with one hand to haul in a long pass down the right sideline with safety Kyle Hamilton closing in on him. As Hamilton took a knee after the play, Washington struck a pose in front of the fans in attendance.
That was one of the few blips for Hamilton, who showed little evidence that he had left practice with a knee injury three days earlier. Hamilton was everywhere. He tipped a pass from Lamar Jackson, then dove to complete the interception in the middle of the field, and later made a great play in a red-zone drill to break up a pass for tight end Qadir Ismail in the right corner of the end zone.
During a run drill, Hamilton handed out a big hit to running back Owen Wright, one of many times defenders appeared to get as good a shot as they are allowed within the confines of the team’s camp protocols.
Edge rusher David Ojabo had his second straight strong practice, at one point batting the ball out of the hand of quarterback Josh Johnson. Seeing how often quarterbacks hurt a hand or suffer an injury when they try to throw and are impeded by an opposing arm, the Ravens probably don’t want Ojabo getting that close this time of year. Still, the Ravens have to like Ojabo’s penetration and pursuit after what’s been a fairly quiet summer for the third-year edge rusher.
Two other defensive players who have shined this week, and did so again during the Aug. 14 workout, were cornerbacks Pepe Williams and Bump Cooper Jr.
Williams, competing for a roster spot as a slot corner and special teamer, broke hard, dove, and got a hand in to break up a pass intended for Malik Cunningham. Coaches will stress to Cunningham that he needs to come back for the ball, but Williams has been extremely active this week.
So too has Cooper, the undrafted rookie from Oregon State. Cooper won both his 1-on-1 matchups early in practice, shutting down passes to Nelson Agholor and then Devontez Walker, and he also made a nice play in a 7-on-7 period to break up a pass intended for Isaiah Washington.
The Ravens close out their public portion of training camp Aug. 15, as that will be the last practice open to fans. After next week, the Ravens will shift to in-season mode, with just the first 20 minutes or so — basically special teams and individual work — open to the media.
NOTEBOOK
ORIOLES, RAVENS GET TOGETHER: Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, outfielder Cedric Mullins and pitcher Craig Kimbrel watched part of the practice, along with several other Orioles staffers. During the special teams portion of practice, safety Kyle Hamilton spent a long time talking to the Orioles players, who, along with Hyde, later watched part of practice right behind the Ravens quarterbacks.
The Orioles left after about an hour to report to Camden Yards for their game against the Washington Nationals.
“I have so much respect for Brandon,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’s a great coach. A great skipper. … We got them right there behind (the play). … They were 15 yards away from the play, and I think they were really enjoying it.”
MILLER SHINES AGAIN: Receiver Anthony Miller has been with the team for just a few days, but he continues to be an active part of the offense. He beat Pepe Williams for a touchdown catch in a 1-on-1 red zone drill — one of three straight touchdowns in the period thrown by Lamar Jackson — and later in the same drill made a nice touchdown grab in the back of the end zone against Marlon Humphrey.
Miller, 29, was a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018 and had seven touchdowns that season, but he has not appeared in an NFL game since 2021. He was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs this past spring. The Ravens have several receivers competing for a potential final roster spot at the position, and though his inclusion on the roster should still be considered a long shot, Miller has done as much as any bubble receiver in his little time in Owings Mills.
WIGGINS WORKS ON THE SIDE: Rookie cornerback and top draft pick Nate Wiggins (shoulder) missed practice again but did conditioning work on a side field with a trainer. Wiggins has not practiced since suffering the injury in the preseason opener against Philadelphia last weekend.
Wide receiver Russell Gage, who also has been sidelined, did some conditioning work as well. In addition to those two and Andrews, others absent from the Aug. 14 workout included running back Rasheen Ali (stinger), safety Sanoussi Kane (stinger), defensive back Christian Matthew (undisclosed), linebacker Chris Board (concussion) and Tyler Linderbaum (soft tissue).
JACKSON WON’T PLAY SATURDAY: Harbaugh confirmed that quarterback Lamar Jackson will not play in the preseason game against Atlanta at M&T Bank Stadium on Aug. 17. Harbaugh said he will generally follow the same pattern as the preseason opener, with most starters sitting out, but said those decisions would be made on a “case by case” basis.
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