Ravens observations: Defense strikes back in frustrating day for Lamar Jackson, offense

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Ravens coach Jesse Minter has called quarterback Lamar Jackson one of the NFL’s most talented players. On Friday, Minter’s defense offered a reminder of its own considerable abilities.

After Jackson starred in the Ravens’ first two days of training camp, the defense got the upper hand in practice and kept it. The Ravens’ first-, second- and third-string offenses struggled to move the ball consistently in the open field and found little daylight in red-zone drills.

Jackson, bothered for much of the morning by solid coverage and an energetic pass rush, ended practice with a hopeful fourth-down throw under pressure. Tight end Mark Andrews was closest to the ball, but he wasn’t in the same ZIP code as safety Malaki Starks, who collected an easy interception.

Unofficially, Jackson finished 5-for-8 in 11-on-11 drills and 3-for-6 in seven-on-seven drills, but explosive pass plays were rare. His first two attempts were check-downs to rookie tight end Matthew Hibner and running back Justice Hill. Jackson’s first deep pass attempt — to wide receiver Devontez Walker, well covered by cornerback Marlon Humhprey — was misplaced and long.

Jackson had opportunities for big plays. On his first seven-on-seven drop-back, wide receiver Rashod Bateman was running open down the left sideline, a stride or two clear of cornerback Nate Wiggins. But Jackson’s pass was slightly underthrown and Wiggins’ makeup speed helped him get back in phase to break up the pass. (Bateman got his revenge two plays later, separating easily from Wiggins on a deep out for a gain of about 20 yards.)

In the red zone, drives petered out quickly for the offense. On a third-and-short, Jackson threw a screen pass out wide to wide receiver Zay Flowers. But Wiggins buzzed past Bateman’s block attempt and ended the play before Flowers got past the line of scrimmage.

Pass rush pressure was consistent throughout the practice. Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson and Mike Green stood out against the first- and second-string offenses, and fellow outside linebacker Ethan Burke, an undrafted rookie who had 10.5 career sacks at Texas, continued to flash against the run and pass in third-string action.

Martin brings ‘juice’

Cornerback Keyon Martin was a surprise find for the Ravens as a rookie, making the team as an undrafted free agent and appearing in 13 games, including one start.

But he was well within the Miami Dolphins’ grasp last offseason, too. Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver recalled that Martin, a South Florida native, worked out at the Dolphins’ local pro day last year, when Weaver was the team’s defensive coordinator.

Martin went undrafted, then unsigned, catching on with the Ravens only after getting invited to rookie minicamp.

“So, I mean, we f----- that up, right?” Weaver joked.

The 5-foot-9 Martin was tested often in the red zone Friday. He rarely lost.

Early in practice, Martin ran step for step with wide receiver LaJohntay Wester on a vertical route, forcing an overthrow from quarterback Tyler Huntley in one corner of the end zone in 11-on-11 action.

Later, in a seven-on-seven drill, Martin broke up a back-shoulder pass from Jackson to Bateman on the other side of the end zone. A few plays later, with Huntley back in at quarterback, Martin chopped down on Walker’s arms as he a tried to secure a pass a few yards from the goal line, jarring the ball loose for another breakup.

“I love the kid,” Weaver said of Martin, who enters camp on the roster bubble. “He’s out here. He just competes every day. And he’s one of those guys where he’s not a big dude, right? So when you’re happy with those guys, sometimes they always play with a chip, and he carries it, right? He’s having fun. He’s energetic. You can feel the juice and the energy, and people feed off that. But he wants to rip your face off, right? He may not say it, but when he’s out there, he competes every single snap.”

Injury report

Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac and cornerback Bilhal Kone were activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list and returned to practice Friday as limited participants.

Isaac, wearing a brace to protect his surgically repaired left elbow, took mostly mental repetitions during positional drills and did not participate in team drills. The 2024 third-round pick missed last season after injuring his elbow in the preseason, then was sidelined for most of offseason workouts. Isaac will need to show promise this preseason to secure a spot as the Ravens’ fifth outside linebacker.

Kone, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason as a rookie last year, was also limited in positional drills and did not participate in team drills. He worked on movement and technique with defensive backs before joining Isaac for conditioning work. Kone, a sixth-round pick in 2025, impressed in camp last year but faces stiff competition at cornerback to make the roster.

Defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who has not practiced as he tends to personal matters in the wake of his mother’s murder, watched the end of Friday’s workout from the defense’s sideline.

Extra points

• Kicker Tyler Loop went 3-for-3 in his first “live” field goals of training camp. He made a 35-yarder from the left hash, a 34-yarder from the right hash and a 56-yarder from the right hash.
• Rookie defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny, a seventh-round pick, had a nice two-play sequence early in 11-on-11 action. He slipped his block to stuff a run by rookie running back Adam Randall, then got into the backfield to pressure quarterback Skylar Thompson.
• Wide receivers Elijah Sarratt, Dayton Wade, rookie Octavian Smith Jr. and Wester were returning punts early in practice. Wester is the favorite to retain the job. Special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr. said rookie Ryan Eckley, the only punter on the 90-man roster, is “doing a great job.”
• Walker had a bobbled touchdown catch in the back of the end zone called back because of a procedural penalty on the offense. Walker had beaten cornerback Amani Oruwariye on an in-breaker and got the red-zone target from Huntley.
• Maryland’s coaching staff, including head coach Mike Locksley, attended Friday’s practice. The Ravens will practice at SECU Stadium in College Park on Saturday.