Ravens risers and fallers: Rookies impress vs. Eagles as Jesse Minter wins easily in debut

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In his first game in charge, Ravens coach Jesse Minter got what he needed from a team resting most of its projected starters: stifling defense, little injury drama and a convincing result.

The Ravens coasted to a 24-7 preseason win Saturday night over the Eagles, holding the defending NFC East champions scoreless for over 57 minutes and outgaining them 440-159 in total yardage.

“Great first opportunity for our guys,” Minter said. “Really happy, proud of ... the way that we played. That was our main focus, was a play style. I thought we had that on both sides of the ball and on special teams: physicality, line of scrimmage, dominant. And so great to see a ton of young players get an opportunity, especially our young playmakers on offense. I thought all those guys really showed some good stuff, and it’ll be a good initial step for them to continue to build on.”

Here’s a look at who stood out at M&T Bank Stadium, including a promising rookie class.

Risers

TE Matt Hibner: Hibner entered the draft as more of an athlete than a polished route runner, but offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is finding creative ways to highlight both skill sets. Hibner finished with five catches for 61 yards in just over a half of action. The fourth-round pick’s first catch came on a double move, faking a route to the flat before buzzing down the left sideline, away from Eagles outside linebacker A.J. Epenesa. He followed that 29-yarder with an 8-yarder for a first down, a 13-yard catch-and-run for another first down, a 2-yarder on a check-down and a 9-yarder for another first down. If Hibner can hold up as a blocker, his speed (4.57-second 40-yard dash) could make him an intriguing check-and-release and screen option for Doyle.

“It was just an unbelievable experience being out there for the first time, trying to make the most of it, the most of every opportunity,” Hibner said. “The coaching staff put me in a great position, and so just making the most of every opportunity, coming down with those catches, it was a great feeling.”

WR Ja’Kobi Lane: Of course Lane scored the Ravens’ opening touchdown. Could it have been anyone else? The breakout star of training camp opened his preseason account with a tough 18-yard catch on an in-breaker from starter Tyler Huntley, then made himself available to Joe Fagnano for a short first-down catch on third-and-1. But the highlight of the rookie’s 38-yard night was his 16-yard catch on another in-breaker, pulling away from Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. At this rate, Lane could be playing himself out of snaps in the Ravens’ next two preseason games. Why bother with the injury risk?

“He doesn’t lack confidence, but he’s pretty humble as well,” Minter said. “He works really hard. He kind of knows when to be serious and when he can be himself, which is just a little more out there sometimes. But I love his personality. I want him to shine, and just [telling him], ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, keep doing what got you here.’ It’s been working, and I am really happy with how he’s done so far.”

CB Keyon Martin: If there were any doubts that Martin should be on the right side of the bubble in the next round of 53-man-roster projections, he put them to bed. Special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr. clearly values what Martin offers in that phase; he started opposite linchpin safety Keondre Jackson as a gunner on Ryan Eckley’s first punt. And, as an undersize slot corner, he showed up in the Ravens’ run defense, dropping Eagles running back Will Shipley for a 3-yard loss in the third quarter. Two plays later, Martin came through unblocked for a drive-ending sack of quarterback Tanner McKee. Martin has struggled at times against the Ravens’ top wide receivers, but his dogged approach embodies the kind of defense Minter wants in Baltimore.

“This is a guy that plays the game a certain way — plays with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s got a knack for making plays,” Martin said. “That’s all he does, is he keeps doing it. He makes plays [in] practice, games [when] his number’s called, and you love to see that from guys.”

QB Joe Fagnano: A week ago, Ravens coaches probably weren’t expecting the undrafted rookie to attempt 28 passes in his preseason debut. But, after third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson was lost unexpectedly to a season-ending injury, Fagnano was pushed up the depth chart. He made a strong case for the practice squad, playing on time and finding the open receivers downfield as he finished with 224 yards and a touchdown. Fagnano’s lone blip was a red-zone interception, but turnovers at Connecticut were rare. He had 28 touchdown passes and just one pick last year. He threw just four interceptions the previous season.

“The more opportunities he has gotten over the last week, the better he has played,” Minter said. “And it is a credit to him, because he did not get a ton of reps, and he has never gone in there and not known what to do, not known how to operate, not known how to run the huddle. So major props to Joe.”

WR Elijah Sarratt: Fumbling is the best way to earn a spot in the doghouse. Sarratt, who never fumbled during his standout 2025 season at Indiana, had the ball jarred loose during a third-quarter catch-and-run, a rare breakdown for a player so fundamentally sound. But that was the only blemish on a promising preseason debut. Sarratt, dinged for quiet performances against Ravens reserves in training camp, finished with six catches on seven targets for 66 yards, all game highs. He also coolly handled a couple of punts and showed his surprising after-the-catch ability.

“That was my first fumble since — I don’t know how long. Years ago,” Sarratt said. “But it’s a learning lesson. I’m glad I got it out the way now, man. ... I know it won’t happen again.”

Fallers

K Tyler Loop: Loop’s up-and-down summer is fertile territory for armchair psychologists. In Owings Mills, he’s been Mr. Reliable; Thursday’s practice was his fourth straight day of training camp without a miss during “live” field goal periods. Outside Baltimore County, however, is another matter. He appeared to miss two of three field goal attempts at the end of the Ravens’ practice in College Park. And on Saturday, after struggling before the game with longer kicks, Loop missed a 49-yarder, his first real attempt at a make-good since his season-ending Week 18 misfire in Pittsburgh. Loop later made a 42-yarder in the third quarter and was solid on his kickoffs, a weakness last year.

“I feel like training camp has been great,” Loop said. “We were, up to this point, 40-to-42 on field goals with the team. Training camp is all about setting building blocks, and tonight, obviously, had a miss, but felt foot-to-ball was really good. Ryan Eckley did great holding — good job stepping in on our operation, which was awesome. It is all about how you respond. Missed my first kick, but who cares — got to go make the next ones. I felt good about the rest of the hits that night.”

P Ryan Eckley: Small samples can be cruel in the preseason. Eckley, whom the Ravens picked in the sixth round to succeed All-Pro Jordan Stout, got just two punts. The first went 27 yards on a wayward kick out of bounds, wasting an opportunity to pin the Eagles deep in their own territory. His next punt was better, forcing a fair catch after a 40-yard delivery.

ILB Jay Higgins: Higgins, one of the pleasant surprises of last year’s preseason, made the Ravens as an undrafted rookie and went on to appear in 11 games. But he was knocked out of Saturday’s game in the second quarter after an open-field tackle because of a concussion. With undrafted rookie Dominic DeLuca flashing this summer, Higgins can’t afford to miss much time. Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchnanan and Trenton Simpson are roster locks, and the Ravens might keep only one more inside linebacker.

OL Corey Bullock, Ethan Pocic: Both entered camp after less-than-ideal offseasons. Bullock missed most of the Ravens’ offseason workouts and the start of camp while recovering from an illness, while Pocic is working his way back from the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in December. Neither has lined up with the first-string offense in camp, and neither played until the fourth quarter Saturday. Pocic’s track record will give him a good shot at making the season-opening roster, but Bullock’s low snap count — and deployment as a guard, not a center, where he impressed last preseason — does not bode well for his chances.

This article has been updated.