Maryland’s OWINGS MILLS In response to a query on Monday concerning the player taking up front-line center reps while Tyler Linderbaum was out, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reaffirmed that his regular starter does not have any long-term health issues.
“Tyler is out right now, they’re kind of evaluating him. He had some discomfort, and we’re going to hold him out,” Harbaugh said, not providing any specific information about Linderbaum’s injury, which was initially described as soft tissue damage. “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.”
Even if he was fully healthy, Linderbaum—one of just two returning starters on the offensive line and a Pro Bowl selection last season—may not have participated in the preseason. The fact that Linderbaum will play in his first game on September 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs appears to be almost a formality now.
Harbaugh has now described the team’s strategy with the 24-year-old as “conservative” and “patient.” That might also mean that he will not be making a quick return to the practice field, if only as a full participant.
Because of this, it was noteworthy that the Ravens were able to see two additional possible center possibilities on Monday. Connor Williams, a free agent, visited the team’s facilities. He has started 77 games in his six NFL seasons, playing center or guard. Williams most recently started for the Miami Dolphins as their starting center, but an early December ACL tear cut short his 2023 season.
The Seattle Seahawks, who hosted Williams on a visit late last month, are thought to be the front-runners to sign him as he approaches his comeback to the field. But before he made up his mind, the Ravens wanted to see him. While Harbaugh acknowledged that the club needs to find a backup center, particularly if Patrick Mekari, who has started some games at center, starts the season as the starting right tackle, it does not necessarily mean that there are long-term worries about Linderbaum.
“It’s an open competition right now, and you have Patrick Mekari in that mix, too, obviously,” Harbaugh said. “I’m confident that we’ve got guys that can do it and do it well, but we are going to want to hone in there in the next period of time.”
It was Ben Cleveland’s time to showcase his centering abilities at Monday’s practice. Cleveland, a guard by nature, did not appear uncomfortable snapping footballs to quarterback Lamar Jackson. There was one misplaced rip. Cleveland was basically on point the rest of the time.
Since the organized team activities in the spring, the 2021 third-round pick, who has not established himself as a starting guard coming into his fourth NFL season, has been receiving some reps at center. On Monday, however, there was an opportunity to train with Jackson, Ronnie Stanley, Mekari, a rookie, and possible starting right tackle Roger Rosengarten, as well as Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, two starting guards.
“We’re going to work Ben, we’re going to work Vorhees in there (at center),” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to work all of those guys.”
It is another matter entirely whether Cleveland will benefit from getting a shot at center. On the one hand, this might increase his adaptability and increase his chances of making the 53-man roster when the season rolls around later this month. The bad news for him is that his prospects of starting at right guard are very slim if he is trying out for the backup center position. After veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler left in free agency, Cleveland was thought to be the front-runner to start at right guard at one time during the offseason. However, as long as Faalele is given a close examination, that has changed.
Up-and-down day for Bateman
Rashod Bateman was unable to gain any separation from CB Marlon Humphrey and failed to immediately determine the direction of the ball, which prevented Jackson from completing his first long throw attempt during full-team exercises on Monday. From there, things significantly improved with the closely watched relationship between the wide receiver and quarterback, who had trouble coordinating for a large portion of the previous season.
A few plays later, rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was facing wide receiver Bateman, who Jackson found on a crossing route. After that, Bateman continued to make a number of receptions, enjoying himself in the role of Jackson’s go-to target on Monday. It seemed to be the icing on another excellent session for the fourth-year receiver when Bateman went up in the end zone and elevated over defensive backs Jalyn Armour-Davis and Ar’Darius Washington to produce a highlight-reel catch.
After the touchdown, though, Bateman did not stand up right away, so tight end Mark Andrews and cornerback Brandon Stephens hurried over to see how he was doing. When Bateman finally stood up, he seemed to be clutching his midsection/ribs. In the end, he moved alone to the sidelines, where he spoke with a few athletic training staff members before lying down on the distant field. Then he removed his shoulder pads and jersey. There were roughly ten minutes remaining in practice when the play began. It did not seem concerning that Bateman had not returned and that Harbaugh had not provided an update. Another plus is that it did not seem to be a problem with Bateman’s legs.
Still, it was a shame for a misfortunate guy that the talk turned to his health rather than his spectacular touchdown reception or his fruitful practice.
Other thoughts, observations
Jackson brought some humor to an intense and extended exercise. Emory Jones, an undrafted rookie quarterback, attempted a pump-fake but unintentionally tossed the ball backward, sending it flying out of his hands. Jackson emerged from the back sideline, swiftly picked up the ball from the ground, gestured for running back Chris Collier to head down the sideline, and then hit Collier in stride. The play was declared dead. The audience erupted in cheers. Jackson expressed his annoyance during practice earlier when he punted the ball away following Vorhees’ call for a false start. After his passes were incomplete, Jackson later angrily told wide receiver Tylan Wallace and quarterback Andrews what he saw—and expected—of them. Andrews and Jackson withdrew to a tablet.
• It’s hard to say what was more impressive: Washington’s interception against Josh Johnson in which the defensive back stepped in front of receiver Malik Cunningham and returned the ball for a touchdown, or the back flip he did after getting into the end zone. Washington is one of many Ravens defensive backs who are having a really good camp. He can get grabby at times, like he did in his one-on-one rep against undrafted rookie receiver Dayton Wade. But he’s around the ball a lot. He also has the versatility to play in the slot and at safety, and he has special teams experience. He’s a guy Baltimore will want to keep, but will there be enough roster room? With Humphrey, Stephens, Arthur Maulet, Wiggins, fourth-round rookie T.J. Tampa (assuming he’s back from hernia surgery within the next couple of weeks), Armour-Davis, Marcus Williams, Kyle Hamilton and Eddie Jackson all looking like roster locks, that doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for other defensive backs. And that’s before we even mention Washington, Damarion Williams, free-agent signing Ka’dar Hollman, veteran Daryl Worley and rookie seventh-round pick Sanoussi Kane.
• Armour-Davis improved his roster status more than any other player throughout the first two weeks of camp. However, he faced some difficulties on Monday. None greater than the day youngster Devontez Walker scorched him for a long touchdown after he bit on a double move.
Rookie breaks free 🔥@Head8cke ➡️ @DevontezWalker pic.twitter.com/MhRLm5gMrm
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 5, 2024
• Qadir Ismail, a former college quarterback who is now an NFL tight end and wide receiver, may have had most busiest session to date, making a few catches, several of them contested. But his best performance on Monday could have been when he held his own against defensive end C.J. Ravenell, a 6-foot-5, 292-pound player. Ismail may be the team’s most improved player from mid-June’s obligatory minicamp through the first two weeks of training camp, even if he is still low on a congested tight end depth chart.
• The offensive linemen for the Ravens struggled to block defensive lineman Travis Jones during team exercises, and they had few solutions for him during the one-on-one phase. Jackson and a few offensive players surrounded Jones and started playfully pressing him during a workout pause. It seemed fitting to quadruple-team him at that point. On Monday, Rosengarten also had occasional difficulty containing Odafe Oweh’s aggressive rush, which included at least two sacks.
• With Deonte Harty missing so much time in camp due to a lower leg ailment, Wallace is being given a lot of attention as the punt returner. He struggled on Monday, though, as he twice failed to field or pick up a punt cleanly. For Wallace, these exhibition games will be crucial.
(Photo: Nick Wass / Associated Press)
