OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Aside from one of the early organized team activity sessions, quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry have missed each other during the voluntary workouts this offseason. Henry was on hand for the early ones, yet Jackson mostly stayed away. Jackson attended the final couple, but by then Henry wasn’t on the field.
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It seemed fitting that one of the first plays of Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp was a Jackson handoff to Henry, the Baltimore Ravens’ prized offseason acquisition who gives the quarterback the most dynamic ball carrier he’s ever had.
“It definitely brings a different aspect, because he is a dual-threat quarterback, and he’s dangerous with his legs just as he is with his arm,” Henry said following Tuesday’s practice. “It’s going to be fun and a breath of fresh air not being the center of attention, knowing that eyes are going to be on him, as well. But I’m just excited to get to work and put the work in out here and let it all come together.”
Henry has been consistent with his message since he signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens in March after playing his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The 30-year-old and four-time Pro Bowler has said he’s focused on fitting in and learning a new offense. He described himself as a “sponge.”
That process is ongoing, and this week is just another step. Still, it felt notable for the Ravens because it was the most extensive opportunity to see Jackson and Henry in the backfield with receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman out wide and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely heavily involved.
Just having Jackson hand the ball off to Henry was enough to get Baltimore players imagining the possibilities.
“@Lj_era8 hands it off to @KingHenry_2…” 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/lcKsrN5VhB
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 11, 2024
“It’s a lot more chill right now because it’s OTAs, minicamp. He doesn’t have on his pads, so this is not his strong suit,” said Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith. “When he puts his pads on, that’s when he becomes that demon, but it’s great being able to line up across from that guy — one of the best backs of our generation. I have mad respect for him and all the things he’s accomplished, and I still see he has a lot of tread left on the tire, so I’m just excited for him to show the world exactly what he can do.”
Henry averaged just over 17 carries per game during his time with the Titans. In recent years, the Ravens have relied more on a running back-by-committee approach with Jackson doing a chunk of the running. Their leader in rushing attempts last season, Gus Edwards, logged under 12 carries a game, prompting a question to Henry about whether he could be as impactful without the type of workload he was accustomed to in Tennessee.
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Henry made clear that he expects to be impactful every time he touches the ball.
“My job is being explosive, making explosive runs, being a threat in the run game and anywhere else they ask me to help out this offense,” Henry said. “So, it’s just on me to focus on doing my job, just so I’m a threat to opposing defenses.”
GO DEEPERHow do AFC running back groups stack up heading into the 2024 season?Stanley dialed in
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said his preference is to have a relatively good idea of who will be his five starters on the offensive line by the second week of training camp. But he acknowledged, “The sooner, the better.”
There are only two certainties: Tyler Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl selection last season, will be the starting center. And if healthy, veteran Ronnie Stanley will start at left tackle. It’s the “if healthy” part that will surely give some pause. Stanley has missed 36 regular-season games over his past four seasons. The 30-year-old only missed four games last season, but he also took certain series off during games in the second half of the season to keep him as fresh and healthy as possible.
“It was killing me,” Stanley said. “We may have been playing well, but it was really killing me on the inside just knowing that I wasn’t playing to my potential. That’s something that is harder for me to live with. But, moving on from last year, I feel very good about this upcoming season.”
Stanley said one reason he took a significant pay cut this offseason was that he would have had regrets about how his time with the Ravens could have ended. Not only is he back, but Stanley also said he feels healthier and better than he has since 2020 when he sustained the first of several injuries.
“I feel great,” Stanley said. “I feel like I’m as strong and as quick and as athletic as I’ve ever been. So, I’m ready to put that all on the field.”
GO DEEPERRavens roster competitions that will pick up steam at mandatory minicampOther thoughts
• The Ravens had 85 players participating in the minicamp practice. The five who weren’t either had excused absences or were sidelined with injuries. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, who watched practice, recently had “loose bodies” removed from his elbow, according to Harbaugh. He’s expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks and return in time for the start of training camp. Running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) is still a ways away from returning to action, while defensive back Christian Matthew has been sidelined in recent weeks with an undisclosed injury. Third-round pick Adisa Isaac worked out with a member of the athletic training staff during practice as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain he sustained during the rookie minicamp. Harbaugh said the 5-week-old daughter of wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty has needed to return to the hospital, so the offseason signing will remain home with his family this week.
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• Even during practices, Smith continues to be the tone-setter for Baltimore’s defense. After the Ravens broke up into their position groups, Smith led the inside linebackers through their first drill. As he powered through a blocking pad, he yelled, “I love this s—.” Smith doesn’t have an “off” button, even in practice. He was active all afternoon, intercepting Jackson late in practice and returning the ball close to the end zone.
• The offensive tone-setter this time of year is Andrews, who puts extreme importance on every play. In the first 90 minutes of practice, Andrews got after one of the referees after defensive back Tre Swilling wasn’t flagged for pass interference. Andrews and Harbaugh exchanged words about the tempo of the offense. Andrews also made several plays. Per usual, he was Jackson’s favorite target throughout practice.
• Likely also had an impactful practice and made the play of the day. He adjusted his body and went up high to make a one-handed snag of a Jackson pass in the middle of the field. Likely watched the last couple of OTAs from the sideline, an indication that he was dealing with a minor injury. However, he was in very good form on Tuesday.
• The offense had its moments. Not only did Andrews and Likely have productive days, but undrafted rookie wide receiver Isaiah Washington caught two deep passes, plucking one just over the helmet of rookie corner T.J. Tampa, who was in good position but didn’t make a play on the ball to avoid a collision. However, there was also a lot of offensive sloppiness, which is predictable this time of year. Jackson was picked off by Smith, Arthur Maulet and Brandon Stephens. Flowers was victimized by a Maulet punch out of the ball and fumble recovery. There were also a bunch of pre-snap penalties with the offenders being required to run a lap. Flowers, Bateman, Josh Johnson, Stanley and Daniel Faalele were among those who had to take a lap because of false start penalties. “There’s a real way to stop it: don’t be offsides,” Harbaugh quipped.
• The Jackson interception by Stephens, who earlier was called for pass interference while in deep coverage against Tylan Wallace, was not the fault of the quarterback. Jackson threw a pass out in the flat to Henry, who bobbled it. Stephens picked off the deflection and headed the other way for a touchdown.
• Baltimore hosted 80 of its former players and their families at practice Tuesday as part of a week of team alumni activities, which included a trip to Topgolf and a return to M&T Bank Stadium. Former Ravens watched, including Ray Rice, Jacoby Jones, Trevor Pryce, Corey Graham, Dawan Landry, Torrey Smith, Edwin Mulitalo, Gary Baxter, Kim Herring, Anthony Mitchell, Harry Swayne, Kamar Aiken and Mark Clayton. They also met with Harbaugh and other team officials during practice and then attended a cookout at the team facility. Jackson and some other players stayed on the field after practice to spend time with some of the ex-players and their kids.
(Photo: Nick Wass / Associated Press)
Jeff Zrebiec is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Baltimore Ravens. Before joining The Athletic in 2018, he spent the previous 18 years as a writer for The Baltimore Sun, 13 of them on the Orioles or Ravens beats. The New Jersey native is a graduate of Loyola University in Baltimore. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffzrebiec
