Quarterback Lamar Jackson obtained the lion’s share of consideration, nonetheless the Ravens had been equally comfortable this week to see broad receivers Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay, every of whom suffered season-ending foot accidents in 2022, once more on the sector for voluntary offseason workouts.
Bateman, a 2021 first-round select, started remaining season as a result of the crew’s No. 1 broad receiver nonetheless caught merely 15 passes in six video video games sooner than he elected to have season-ending surgical process to revive a Lisfranc hurt in early November.
Duvernay caught three touchdown passes inside the first three video video games remaining yr, nonetheless his manufacturing tailed off inside the second half, and he broke his foot in December. He did make his second straight Professional Bowl as a kick returner.
Each had been restricted to explicit individual drills Wednesday.
“‘Duv’ has been on the market working exhausting; he’s sort of constructing his stamina again up,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh talked about. “‘Bate’s’ proper on schedule with what they informed us. He’s chomping on the bit. The trainers are holding him again a bit. We wish to be cautious greater than something proper now. He desires to be on the market. I be ok with these guys.”
Each incumbents will face stiffer opponents for targets in new coordinator Todd Monken’s offense, with star free agent signing Odell Beckham Jr. and 2023 first-round select Zay Flowers added to the Ravens’ broad receiver mix.
A number of key veterans, along with Beckham, working once more J.Okay. Dobbins, tight end Mark Andrews, correct guard Kevin Zeitler, left kind out Ronnie Stanley, fullback Patrick Ricard, linebacker Tyus Bowser, safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerback Marlon Humphrey missed Wednesday’s voluntary train.
Harbaugh expressed little concern in regards to the absences, saying he was happy with the final attendance.
“I take into consideration what OBJ’s doing on the market in Arizona, I don’t have any downside with that,” he talked about. “Or what Mark’s doing on the market. They’ll be in right here quickly sufficient, each time they’re prepared. They discuss to me and inform me what they’re doing. They’re working exhausting.”
Harbaugh talked about Hamilton, the crew’s 2022 first-round select, was missing on account of he “simply sort of tightened up.” He joked that he had a spy monitoring Hamilton’s offseason workouts at Notre Dame. “He’ll be positive,” he talked about.
Harbaugh added that reserve broad receiver Mike Thomas, who separated his shoulder and might need labrum surgical process, is the one Raven in the meanwhile going by way of a extreme hurt.
‘Widespread sense’ rule welcomed for third QBs
The Ravens favored a model new league rule that will allow teams to have a third quarterback accessible for video video games with out using a recreation day vigorous slot. Harbaugh talked about the crew’s govt vp, Ozzie Newsome, proposed the identical rule that will have gone into impression for the playoffs remaining yr.
“I believe it’s good for the league,” Harbaugh talked about. “You don’t wish to be in a scenario now, with the best way protocols are going, the place a staff is disadvantaged of a quarterback. I believe it’s frequent sense. I applaud the league.”
Many have already dubbed it the “Brock Purdy” rule after the San Francisco 49ers carried out quite a lot of remaining season’s NFC Championship recreation with out a healthful quarterback. The Ravens signed 37-year-old veteran Josh Johnson, who entered in discount of Purdy in that loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, on Monday to compete for his or her backup spot.
The Ravens had been a lot much less enthusiastic a few new rule that will allow opponents to begin out on the 25-yard line after kickoff returners make truthful catches exterior the tip zone.
“We weren’t for it; we voted in opposition to it,” Harbaugh talked about. “We expect it’s going to create extra high-speed head trauma than not having it in there. That’s our place on it, however we’ll see. They wish to give it a shot and try it.”
The rule may also deprive the Ravens of a tactical weapon they’ve used to good impression in newest seasons, with Justin Tucker dropping kickoffs wanting the target line and baiting opponents into temporary returns.
DT Angelo Blackson signed
Harbaugh talked about defensive kind out Angelo Blackson, signed Wednesday in order so as to add veteran depth to a spot group that misplaced Calais Campbell, “will help us.”
Blackson, 30, carried out in 15 video video games and commenced 4 for the Chicago Bears remaining season, making 22 tackles.
“He’s an enormous, bodily, hard-playing, powerful, rugged defensive lineman,” Harbaugh talked about. “Additionally a man that basically needed to be right here. He likes the best way we play.”
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith talked about he developed good respect for Blackson as soon as they carried out collectively in Chicago: “They man like runs to the ball, performs exhausting, so I’m excited simply to be again out right here with him.”
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Originally posted 2023-05-24 20:19:44.