Ravens OTA notes on wide receivers returning, attendance, reaction to new rules and a veteran addition
Quarterback Lamar Jackson received the lion’s share of attention, but the Ravens were equally pleased this week to see wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay, both of whom suffered season-ending foot injuries in 2022, back on the field for voluntary offseason workouts.
Bateman, a 2021 first-round pick, started last season as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver but caught just 15 passes in six games before he elected to have season-ending foot surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in early November.
Duvernay caught three touchdown passes in the first three games last year, but his production tailed off in the second half, and he broke his foot in December. He did make his second straight Pro Bowl as a kick returner.
Both were limited to individual drills Wednesday.
“‘Duv’ has been out there working hard; he’s kind of building his stamina back up,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “‘Bate’s’ right on schedule with what they told us. He’s chomping at the bit. The trainers are holding him back a bit. We want to be cautious more than anything right now. He wants to be out there. I feel good about those guys.”
Both incumbents will face stiffer competition for targets in new coordinator Todd Monken’s offense, with star free agent signing Odell Beckham Jr. and 2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers added to the Ravens’ wide receiver mix.
Several key veterans, including Beckham, running back J.K. Dobbins, tight end Mark Andrews, right guard Kevin Zeitler, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, fullback Patrick Ricard, linebacker Tyus Bowser, safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerback Marlon Humphrey missed Wednesday’s voluntary workout.
Harbaugh expressed little concern about the absences, saying he was happy with the overall attendance.
“I think about what OBJ’s doing out there in Arizona, I don’t have any problem with that,” he said. “Or what Mark’s doing out there. They’ll be in here soon enough, whenever they’re ready. They talk to me and tell me what they’re doing. They’re working hard.”
Harbaugh said Hamilton, the team’s 2022 first-round pick, was missing because he “just kind of tightened up.” He joked that he had a spy monitoring Hamilton’s offseason workouts at Notre Dame. “He’ll be fine,” he said.
Harbaugh added that reserve wide receiver Mike Thomas, who separated his shoulder and might need labrum surgery, is the only Raven currently facing a serious injury.
‘Common sense’ rule welcomed for third QBs
The Ravens favored a new league rule that will allow teams to have a third quarterback available for games without using a game day active slot. Harbaugh said the team’s executive vice president, Ozzie Newsome, proposed a similar rule that would have gone into effect for the playoffs last year.
“I think it’s good for the league,” Harbaugh said. “You don’t want to be in a situation now, with the way protocols are going, where a team is deprived of a quarterback. I think it’s common sense. I applaud the league.”
Many have already dubbed it the “Brock Purdy” rule after the San Francisco 49ers played much of last season’s NFC championship game without a healthy quarterback. The Ravens signed 37-year-old veteran Josh Johnson, who entered in relief of Purdy in that loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, on Monday to compete for their backup spot.
The Ravens were less enthusiastic about a new rule that will allow opponents to start on the 25-yard line after kickoff returners make fair catches outside the end zone.
“We weren’t for it; we voted against it,” Harbaugh said. “We think it’s going to create more high-speed head trauma than not having it in there. That’s our position on it, but we’ll see. They want to give it a shot and take a look at it.”
The rule could also deprive the Ravens of a tactical weapon they’ve used to good effect in recent seasons, with Justin Tucker dropping kickoffs short of the goal line and baiting opponents into short returns.
DT Angelo Blackson signed
Harbaugh said defensive tackle Angelo Blackson, signed Wednesday to add veteran depth to a position group that lost Calais Campbell, “can help us.”
Blackson, 30, played in 15 games and started four for the Chicago Bears last season, making 22 tackles.
“He’s a big, physical, hard-playing, tough, rugged defensive lineman,” Harbaugh said. “Also a guy that really wanted to be here. He likes the way we play.”
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said he developed great respect for Blackson when they played together in Chicago: “They guy like runs to the ball, plays hard, so I’m excited just to be back out here with him.”
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