Maryland’s OWINGS MILLS The Baltimore Ravens’ training camp practice was interrupted on Monday when tight end Isaiah Likely and quarterback Lamar Jackson discovered an area of the field that was not being used.
With Likely wide to his left and standing in the center of the field, Jackson quickly dropped back and lofted a pass toward the end zone. A swiftly moving Likely pivoted in one direction, but the ball ended up on the other side of his body. This resulted in an incomplete pass, which sparked an animated exchange between the quarterback and one of his primary targets.
Likely and Jackson gave it another go. They were in sync this time, but Likely was probably not going to make the catch. Following a completion on the ensuing play, both players hurried back upfield to reunite with their teammates.
The rapport that Jackson has with three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews—who has caught 347 passes for 4,305 yards and 37 touchdowns in the five seasons since Jackson took over as the team’s full-time starter in 2019—is well known.
But during training camp, Jackson’s friendship with Likely—a 2022 fourth-round pick who emerged in the second half of the previous season following Andrews’ injury—has grown. Likely is not far behind Andrews if he tops all Ravens in camp receptions.
Big day for @Lj_era8 and @DaGorilla4’s connection 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gefvdE2brV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 11, 2024
The former superstar for Coastal Carolina was the highlight of Sunday’s drills, making a number of catches, including a nice one-handed reception. Likely’s effort was merely an extension of his previous outings since training camp began in July. He has made quick passes. He has experience in the field’s intermediate zone. He is even scored on a number of deep balls. One of the joys of camp has probably been Likely’s intensely competitive one-on-one sessions with outstanding safety Kyle Hamilton of the Ravens.
“I would say Isaiah has put together a fantastic training camp,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “He’s been spectacular with the route-running details. I feel like the timing has been fantastic with him. He’s just a very special athlete, comes to work every day ready to go to work. We’re really proud of him, and we’ll keep going.”
Likely scored six touchdowns and averaged just less than 51 receiving yards per game when Andrews was out due to a broken fibula last season. The extent to which Jackson enjoys throwing to his tight ends is widely known. The Ravens still need to demonstrate, though, that they can involve Likely and Andrews both significantly at the same time.
One of the difficulties for offensive coordinator Todd Monken in 2024 will be getting Andrews and Likely on the field together. Monken has admitted the attraction of employing more 12 players.
“He was here all offseason, and he’s embraced that part of it,” Monken said Tuesday when asked about Likely potentially having a bigger role. “You’ve seen other things in his game, particularly in line, that we’ve asked him to do. So, we expect him to have a great year.”
Hamilton back and in good form
Members of the team’s athletic training personnel encircled Hamilton two days earlier as he lay on the practice field. As players began to kneel, the surrounding bleachers became silent as spectators shifted uneasily.
“I was holding my breath,” said Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Following Sunday’s practice, Harbaugh stated that Hamilton did not suffer a major injury and that his left leg remained stable. A day later, Hamilton was exercising on a nearby field under the supervision of a member of the training crew, providing further evidence of that. Harbaugh announced on Monday that the All-Pro safety would resume practicing after recovering from a sprain.
Even so, it was a little unexpected when Hamilton bounded onto the practice field on Tuesday afternoon to thunderous cheers. He not only got back on the field, but he also did not seem to have missed a rep. In addition, he produced one of the best plays of the day, extending to the deep middle of the field to block a deep shot from Jackson to Zay Flowers. Hamilton, on the other hand, gave himself a series of pushups as payback for failing to intercept the ball.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Orr said. “You guys saw that play he made today. That was ridiculous. I’d be hard-pressed to find somebody else in the league that can make a play like that. We wish he would have caught the ball. He’d tell you that too, but it was a heck of a play. He’s one of one.”
Other thoughts, observations
• John Kelly Jr., a seasoned running back who was cut by the Cleveland Browns the day before, was signed by Baltimore. The two players vying for the No. 3 spot in the Ravens’ running back class are rookie Rasheen Ali, selected in the fifth round, and second-year undrafted free agent Owen Wright. Kelly is probably not a serious candidate to make the 53-man roster; rather, he is more of a camp body. With Ali currently sidelined with a shoulder stinger, top backs Derrick Henry and Justice Hill possibly missing the entire preseason, and Keaton Mitchell on the physically unable to perform list, the Ravens might have had just two running backs available for Saturday’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. Kelly ought to be physically fit because he’s
Monken refrained from stating if it was intentional, but the quarterbacks for the Ravens appeared committed to honing their deep ball skills on Tuesday. Whether it was during full-team drills or seven-on-seven sessions, Jackson and the other quarterbacks for Baltimore let loose frequently. Nelson Agholor, Andrews, Anthony Miller, and Deonte Harty all caught deep throws on a few completions. up addition, there were a good number of incompletes mixed up with a few drops. The Ravens appear to realize that in 2024, they will need to use their deep passing game considerably more effectively. Too many big play opportunities were lost by Jackson and his receivers in the previous season.
• Following his Monday signing with the Ravens, Miller had a great practice for the second consecutive day. He added another touchdown in the red zone and caught two deep passes. Maybe it is because he is still getting used to training camp, when the other receivers for Baltimore have been practicing for more than three weeks. However, Miller has appeared to be going more slowly than the majority of his teammates. Conversely, the seasoned Agholor has had a difficult run of practices. It appears that he and Jackson were not in agreement on a number of drops and other plays. Tuesday, Agholor lingered after practice to work with Baltimore’s coaching partner Prentice Gill.
• After missing nearly a week due to what was thought to be a midsection/ribs ailment, Rashod Bateman performed noticeably better during his workout on Tuesday than he did on Monday. During a portion of the full-team work, Bateman appeared more at ease and less hesitant. But he did lose out on a chance to develop a close relationship with Jackson. It was unclear if Bateman lost the ball or if cornerback Brandon Stephens, who had excellent coverage on the play, touched it.
• Justin Tucker, a regular Pro Bowl kicker, began practice on Tuesday by practicing short field goals and then retreating five to ten yards after each successful try. When Tucker attempted a 67-yard try after the ball was pushed back, he performed flawlessly. It is debatable if he succeeded or not. He made the kick, as indicated by a referee standing close to the upright. The kick landed just short, according to the other referee. It was bad, according to Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams, who was in the end zone for a possible short kick return. Tucker and the Ravens offense, however, continued to celebrate what they saw as a
• It should no longer be believed that fourth-year defensive back Ar’Darius Washington was on the “bubble” coming into training camp. Picking intercepting a careless Josh Johnson ball to the flat and returning it for a touchdown, Washington maintained his impressive summer. Washington appears to touch the football every practice at least once. In addition to being certain to make the 53-man roster, he also has a strong possibility of playing defensive in Week 1’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, especially if slot corner Arthur Maulet (knee) stays sidelined.
(Photo: Jessica Rapfogel / USA Today)
