OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked following Thursday’s organized team activity practice whether the players missing the voluntary workouts could fall behind.
A grinning Harbaugh said, “I’m a coach, you know my answer to that. I mean, that’s what we do.”
Earlier in the news conference, Harbaugh declined to say much about the continued absence of his quarterback, Lamar Jackson, from the voluntary workouts. Jackson went to one of the team’s three OTA sessions last week, but he hasn’t been in attendance for either of the two this week. The Ravens have another practice Friday and four more OTAs next week before their three-day mandatory minicamp begins June 11.
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“It’s just this time of year. It’s a voluntary time,” Harbaugh said when asked whether he was disappointed by Jackson’s sparse participation. “It’s really not something that we comment on. So, I can’t speak for anybody that’s not here. I pretty much know the different reasons guys aren’t here most of the time, but not always. Nobody’s required to tell you exactly what’s going on, so I’m not really specifically going to be able to comment on anybody that way.”
Seconds later, Harbaugh did say that newly signed wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty wasn’t in attendance because of a “newborn baby situation.”
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Harbaugh is obviously not going to publicly criticize his franchise quarterback — and a two-time league MVP nonetheless — but he also didn’t go out of his way to dismiss Jackson’s absence. In a lot of ways, Harbaugh is in a tough spot.
He surely can’t minimize the importance of players showing up for OTAs for a number of reasons, including what a poor message that would send to the Ravens’ accomplished veterans who have participated in most or all of the workouts, a group that includes Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews and Roquan Smith.
However, as much as the decision-makers would prefer Jackson and not Josh Johnson getting the first-team reps and furthering his relationship with offensive coordinator Todd Monken while working with the starting offense, publicly criticizing the face of the franchise for not attending workouts he’s not contractually obligated to isn’t a road anybody would want to go down.
The Ravens have never been a perfect attendance OTA team. Many of Baltimore’s top stars over the years have not been regular presences at OTAs. Even this year, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and safety Marcus Williams haven’t been spotted at the voluntary workouts. Their absences have generated zero discussion or questions.
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Still, there’s a different standard with franchise quarterbacks. Jackson knows and accepts that. He’s missed some OTAs in the previous two years. But, at least in 2022, it was a widely understood stance given his contract situation. There are exceptions, but quarterbacks operating in the early stages of massive contract extensions — Jackson agreed to a five-year, $260 million extension in April 2023 — don’t typically stay home for the majority of the OTAs.
Even those who believe that OTA attendance is annually overblown would have to concede that the optics here aren’t good, particularly since Jackson has been visible on social media in recent weeks, attending The Preakness and last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600.
Four months ago, after a stunning AFC championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a composed Jackson vowed that “this offseason, we’re going to get right, get better, grind and try to be in this position again, but on the other side of victory.”
After practicing last Tuesday, Jackson said the Ravens need to learn how to finish, but spoke excitedly about the season ahead. Now, Baltimore awaits his return to the field.
Asked if there’s an expectation that Jackson returns next week, Harbaugh said, “It’s just not something that I’m able to comment on. So, I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
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Getting testy
The select Ravens personal seat license holders, who had the opportunity to attend Thursday’s workout, were treated to a very vocal Harbaugh and an action-packed two hours. It was highlighted by Harbaugh calling out the defense, which pretty much dominated practice, after he was displeased with how it ran to the football during a Johnson scramble.
Harbaugh’s denouncement of the defense’s effort on the Johnson run was complete with a demonstration of what he perceived as lollygagging after the quarterback and a brief exchange with Smith, the defensive leader. His words to the defense extended over a couple of plays.
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These are non-contact practices without pads, but some contact is inevitable in full-team sessions. On one play, inside linebacker Josh Ross and cornerback Damarion Williams collided in the middle of the field while trying to intercept a deflected pass. The collision generated an audible thud, but both players popped off the ground immediately. Williams looked fine a few plays later when he intercepted Johnson on a pass to the flats.
There was also a pile-up at the line of scrimmage that ended with left tackle Ronnie Stanley down briefly holding his knee after he fell over a defensive player. Stanley, though, had no issues finishing practice.
Stephens still fighting for a spot
Veteran Marcus Williams hasn’t participated in OTAs this offseason. Fellow starting safety Kyle Hamilton was here last week but hasn’t been on the field this week. Starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey and projected top nickel Arthur Maulet have come to a few of the OTAs, but not all of them. None of the four were present for Thursday’s practice, yet returning starting cornerback Brandon Stephens was.
“I could be doing a lot of other things right now, but I choose to be here, just to stay consistent and not lose a step,” Stephens said Thursday.
“The mindset going into every year is to elevate the standard.” @BSteve_1 pic.twitter.com/BqReEJGjl6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 30, 2024
Stephens, a third-round pick in 2021, had a breakout season last year, starting every game and racking up 74 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. He started last year’s training camp as a No. 3 safety candidate and ended the season as the team’s most consistent cornerback. However, the 26-year-old said he understands he’ll need to win a starting job all over again. He also will make sure he continues to get a few repetitions at safety in case defensive coordinator Zach Orr needs him there.
“My mindset going into every year is to elevate the standard, take it up a notch,” Stephens said. “Nobody cares about last year anymore. I have to continue to prove myself each and every day and earn the right once again to start.”
This is a big year for Stephens, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract. The Ravens used the 2024 NFL Draft to add to their cornerback depth, selecting Nate Wiggins in the first round and T.J. Tampa in the fourth. A strong season would not only help Stephens make life-changing money, whether it’s from the Ravens or somebody else, but it also could keep at least one, if not both, of Baltimore’s highly-touted rookie corners on the bench for much of the season.
It would be foolish to discount a Stephens return. He has a ton of admirers in the building and his work ethic and football character are big reasons why.
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Other thoughts
• It wasn’t a surprise, given the list of guys not participating Thursday included the starting quarterback, the top three running backs (Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell) and the starting tight end (Andrews). However, it was a difficult day for the offense. There were several interceptions, quite a few deflections and many errant throws. It seemed fitting that arguably the offense’s best play of the afternoon, Johnson’s touchdown throw to Zay Flowers to end a two-minute segment, was disputed. It appeared that blitzing cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis had gotten to Johnson for a sack before the quarterback unloaded the ball. Johnson did connect with Rashod Bateman for a touchdown, and Emory Jones hit fellow rookie Devontez Walker for a touchdown.
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• Flowers acknowledged last week that he hasn’t gotten over his key fumble against the Chiefs in the AFC championship. The Ravens’ coaching staff hasn’t forgotten about it, either. When Flowers made a catch early in Thursday’s workout, there was an immediate call from wide receivers coach Greg Lewis for Flowers to tuck the ball away. Harbaugh then called Flowers over a few plays later for a discussion about ball security that had the head coach demonstrating the proper way to hold the ball in traffic.
• Rookie sixth-round quarterback Devin Leary doesn’t have much to prove when it comes to his arm strength. He can really sling it, and that’s been clear in the OTAs. The ball comes out with velocity. Leary, however, will have to work on his touch and accuracy. He had a rough stretch of practice Thursday that started in goal-line sequences. Leary overthrew a wide-open Sean Ryan in the back of the end zone after the wide receiver created some separation from Wiggins. On the very next play, Leary sailed a throw out of the back of the end zone. Moments later on another field, Leary was intercepted by rookie safety Sanoussi Kane and nearly picked off by Malik Hamm on an errant screen pass.
• Defensive back Tre Swilling was the clear practice standout, taking advantage of the front-line reps he’s getting with several Baltimore starting defensive backs not on the field. A natural cornerback, Swilling has been playing safety. On Thursday, he had pass breakups on three consecutive snaps. First, he slapped the ball away from Flowers. Then, he broke up a pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, finishing the sequence off by stopping tight end Charlie Kolar from making a catch. After the final one, Orr excitedly met Swilling near the field to congratulate him. There will be jobs up for grabs in the Ravens’ secondary this summer, and Swilling, the son of longtime New Orleans Saints standout pass rusher Pat Swilling, is making an early statement.
(Photo: Todd Olszewski / Getty Images)
