OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Quarterback Lamar Jackson made his delayed training camp debut on Thursday, July 24, after missing the Ravens’ first three camp practices with illness, but Jackson left the workout an hour early, and for the fourth straight day, the defense did most of the cheering.
Jackson took part in individual and some full-team drills, though backup Josh Johnson took the first reps in full-team drills. And Johnson’s first throw of the day in 11-on-11 action set the tone: His swing pass glanced off the hands of running back Derrick Henry, and safety Marcus Williams snagged it and raced the other way for a would-be pick-six touchdown.
That was one of several interceptions for the Ravens’ defense, which has had the decided edge in the opening week of camp with Jackson sidelined.
Jackson made only a handful of throws in full-team drills, but one of them sailed beyond Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace — it was unclear which one was the intended receiver — and Marlon Humphrey picked it off. That was one of two interceptions for Humphrey, who also tipped and then grabbed an interception in a two-minute drill when Johnson overthrew Zay Flowers.
Neither head coach John Harbaugh nor Jackson met with the media after practice, and with the team off on Thursday, the next comments from either will be after Friday’s workout.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken met with the media and said the offense didn’t feel behind despite Jackson’s absence the past few days.
“I mean, we had all offseason,” Monken said. “Lamar was a part of that in our offseason. But it was great for the other quarterbacks to get the work. That’s a part of it, so it’s great having him back today, but I don’t feel behind. We didn’t stop. We still installed. We’re still going through the installs.”
“He was great in the meetings, and when we were on the field at the start [of practice], he said he was feeling good,” Monken added.
In addition to Williams and Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton appeared to make a sliding interception, Trayvon Mullen got one, and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis picked off a pass in the end zone during a red-zone drill when Johnson tried to connect with tight end Mark Andrews.
Armour-Davis’ career has been defined by injuries; the 2022 fourth-round pick has ended both his NFL seasons on injured reserve and has played in just 12 of 34 career games. But he is healthy this summer and looks ready to contribute to a deep Ravens secondary.
Humphrey, too, has looked strong this summer after dealing with what Harbaugh called “nagging things” that limited him in spring workouts.
Humphrey said he has shed about 10 pounds this season, noting that his best seasons came when he played a little lighter than the past couple of years. He said he weighs about 190 now; he was listed at 201 last year, when he missed eight games, including one playoff game.
The interception fest in Thursday’s workout only underscored what has been one of the prevailing themes of the first week of training camp. If healthy — and history has shown this is far from a certainty — the Ravens’ secondary is deep, versatile and fast.
Arthur Maulet had a highlight-reel interception in practice a day earlier, and top draft pick Nate Wiggins and newly signed safety Eddie Jackson had interceptions a day earlier. The defensive backs have also been physical and quick to the ball throughout.
Backup Christian Matthew made a terrific play to rip a would-be catch out of the hands of rookie receiver Devontez Walker, though Scotty Washington later got the better of Matthew with a tough, contested catch near the sideline.
“I give a lot of credit to [general manager Eric DeCosta] and his staff for putting the roster together,” said Chris Hewitt, the team’s longtime secondary coach who now serves as the pass game coordinator and assistant head coach. “We’ve got a lot of talented guys back there. We’ve got length, we’ve got speed, we’ve got guys who [are] pit bulls. We’ve got it all. Guys who come up and tackle. We’re a very talented group back there.”
NOTEBOOK
FOUR REMAIN SIDELINED: With Jackson back on the field, the only player not on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform or Non-Football-Injury list who didn’t practice was inside linebacker Yvandy Rigby. The undrafted rookie from Temple has missed all four days of training camp with an undisclosed injury. The other absences include running back Keaton Mitchell (PUP list, knee), cornerback T.J. Tampa (PUP list, sports hernia) and outside linebacker Adisa Isaac (NFI list, hamstring).
NEW KICK RULES ON DISPLAY: The Ravens spent the first part of practice working on the NFL’s new kickoff format, with Justin Tucker trying to emphasize placing the kick in the so-called “landing zone” between the 20-yard line and the goal line, with the kickoff cover team in pursuit.
Special teams coordinator Chris Horton acknowledged that the new rule is a learning process for all. “It actually has been pretty fun, just watching something different and trying to come up with the best plan … and just trying to figure out how to gain an advantage,” Horton said. “I think over time, we’re going to figure those things out, but it’s fun just up there grinding it out, putting together different schemes.”
“As the pads start to come on,” he added, “we’ll start to find out a little bit more about the play.”
ANOTHER DEFLECTION FOR URBAN: Six-foot-seven defensive end Brent Urban got his paw on another pass, something that has happened in every practice in training camp, with Urban following it with his patented tipped-pass dance. Urban, 33, has been a full-time starter only once in his career, but the Canadian and former Virginia standout has quietly produced a solid NFL career as a situation player. Urban is one of the most experienced players on the roster as he begins his 11th season overall and eighth with the Ravens.
GOVERNOR MOORE WATCHES PRACTICE: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was practice. Wearing a purple Lamar Jackson jersey, Moore spent time with the team before the two-hour afternoon workout and then worked the crowd while the team practiced, posing for pictures with fans.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox