Ravens observations: Starting corners expected to return next week; Lamar Jackson sharp

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The Ravens have escaped potential disaster after a week that sorely challenged their cornerback depth.

Starting cornerbacks Nate Wiggins, who was carted off the field Tuesday with an apparent leg injury, and Marlon Humphrey, who left practice early Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, are expected to return to practice soon, coach Jesse Minter said Thursday.

“Both are trending very well to potentially be back next week,” Minter said after the team’s final training camp practice before Saturday’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. “Both just dealing with a couple small things.”

Their absence has given other players a chance to take more competitive reps. Third-year cornerback T.J. Tampa, who has had a strong camp, saw more time against the team’s top wide receivers this week. He made a play Thursday to help break up a short pass to rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, a camp star.

Wiggins, a 2024 first-round pick, underwent offseason surgery to address a lingering groin issue that had limited him over his first two seasons in Baltimore. He’s been the Ravens’ top corner in camp. Humphrey, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, has been less consistent, but Minter has praised his track record of forcing turnovers.

“One of the worst feelings is seeing something like that where a guy goes down and, obviously, you do not know what it is right at the moment,” Minter said. “Again, happy that it is hopefully a good report.”

The Ravens will get a good look at their depth Saturday. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Wednesday that Tampa’s camp has been “tremendous.” He also mentioned veteran Chidobe Awuzie and second-year corner Bilhal Kone, who lost his rookie year to injury.

The Ravens also drafted Chandler Rivers in the fifth round. Keyon Martin, who made last year’s roster as an undrafted rookie, has had a strong camp, along with Amani Oruwariye and Marquise Robinson.

“There are a bunch of guys I think that could step in if needed,” Weaver said. “But, yes, we would love to have those guys [Wiggins and Humphrey] out there, man. Again, thoughts and prayers that they get back as fast as they can.”

Jackson locks in

With wide receivers Zay Flowers (quadriceps) and Rashod Bateman returning to team drills, and Wiggins and Humphrey sidelined by injury, quarterback Lamar Jackson had one of his strongest practices of camp.

Unofficially, Jackson finished 12-for-13 in team drills, going 5-for-6 in seven-on-seven and 7-for-7 in 11-on-11 periods.

He hit Bateman on a deep cross about 40 yards downfield, well in front of a trailing Martin — Jackson’s first of three completions to Bateman. Other passing highlights included a big gain on a Lane crosser, an apparent “hole shot” that Jackson squeezed in between Tampa and safety Jaylinn Hawkins to move the sticks on third-and-long, and a couple of nice reads to beat the blitz.

Quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork said Jackson’s confidence is “growing every single day.”

“He is preparing the right way, asking questions in meetings, taking criticism when he does have negative plays on film, building on the positive and really just having the next-day mentality,” Woolfork added. “Like, how can we stack all these days up and get ready for the season opener?”

Extra points

• Kicker Tyler Loop made all four of his “live” field goal attempts, including a practice-long 43-yarder. He hasn’t missed a kick in four straight practice sessions.
• Quarterback Tyler Huntley gifted Martin an interception as he looked for wide receiver Chris Moore on an in-breaker in seven-on-seven work. Martin barely had to move to make the play.
• Undrafted rookie safety Silas Walters showed impressive instincts on a pick six, one-handing a ball that glanced off wide receiver LaJohntay Wester’s hands after an inaccurate pass to the flat from undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano.
• Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Ethan Burke continued to flash, combining with defensive lineman C.J. Okoye for a would-be sack and sniffing out an end-around near the end of practice. Outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson also seemed to get home a few times in his work against left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
• Defensive lineman Broderick Washington, outside linebacker Mike Green, inside linebacker Trenton Simpson and safety Kyle Hamilton had standout plays against the run.
• Running back Rasheen Ali missed his third straight practice. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell, undrafted rookie wide receiver Octavian Smith Jr., inside linebacker Carl Jones Jr. and undrafted rookie safety Jacquez Robinson were also missing. Inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
• Minter indicated that first-round pick Vega Ioane, the team’s projected starting right guard, is expected to play Saturday.
• Reserve quarterback Skylar Thompson was placed on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday after the Ravens found he was “dealing with a little bit more than maybe we thought,” said Minter, who did not disclose his injury.
• Left guard John Simpson, who was limited in team drills Wednesday and Thursday with an apparent lower-body injury, “is working through something small,” Minter said, but his long-term availability is not expected to be hindered.

This article has been updated.