CAMP NOTES: Harbaugh Reveals Much in Saturday’s Presser

John Harbaugh was unusually forthcoming after Saturday’s practice, revealing that the Ravens’ kicker and left guard battles both had clear leaders.

Let’s start at kicker, where sixth-round pick Tyler Loop has been competing with undrafted rookie John Hoyland. Hoyland was waived on Saturday, indicating that Loop had taken a decisive lead.

Harbaugh ascribed Hoyland’s release to the Ravens’ need to make other roster moves to have enough depth for the preseason. The team added two tight ends, Scotty Washington and Baylor Cupp, in the wake of Isaiah Likely’s surgery, as well as veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson with Marcus Majors in concussion protocol. (Harbaugh’s announcement of Majors’ concussion was another candid moment at the podium.)

Still, the Ravens wouldn’t have risked losing Hoyland on waivers unless they were comfortable with Loop moving forward.

“He’s kicking well enough to win the job,” said Harbaugh.

Harbaugh also admitted that the kicking competition has been Loop’s to lose since the team used a draft pick on him in April. Originally, the plan was for Hoyland to compete with Loop for the job well into the summer with special teams coordinator Chris Horton previously saying that both would kick in the preseason. Now, Loop is the only kicker on the roster with a little more than a month before the regular season kicks off.

“If you’re the drafted kicker, you certainly have the edge, right?” said Harbaugh. “We wanted to keep the pressure on both of them.”

Harbaugh didn’t rule out bringing Hoyland back later in training camp, but the job is clearly Loop’s to lose heading into August. Coaches have praised both kickers since they arrived in Baltimore – Loop for his powerful leg and Hoyland for his consistency – but only one of those can be taught. Accuracy between the two has been virtually indistinguishable in training camp, but Loop has dazzled from distances Hoyland can’t reach.

Harbaugh also offered a frank assessment of the left guard competition when asked about a timeline to pick a starter.

“I think we’ll know by the end of this next game, probably,” said Harbaugh, who paused for a moment before going a step further.

“Andrew Vorhees is in the lead,” he said. “Something would have to change.”

Harbaugh’s statement was a marked difference from what Todd Monken on Thursday called a “great battle” between Vorhees and Ben Cleveland. That doesn’t mean that Saturday’s practice swing the competition; rather, Harbaugh was once again admitting something that most already suspected.

After all, it would be ideal for the Ravens if Vorhees starts this season. The team may already need a new center and/or right guard for 2026, so carrying Vorhees over at left guard would ensure continuity along the interior. With a full year of in-game development, Vorhees could even turn left guard into a strength.

Cleveland, meanwhile, will miss out on a starting guard job for yet another year. The 2021 third-round pick spent some time in Harbaugh’s doghouse due to conditioning woes, but he was often the Ravens’ next man up at guard and performed admirably when called upon. At times, Cleveland looks like he has the makings of a starting guard, but the Ravens haven’t seen that consistently enough.

Indeed, Harbaugh said that Cleveland had a rough start to training camp before bouncing back this week, but Vorhees “has looked good all the way.”

The Ravens had an exciting practice on the field before Harbaugh’s surprising declarations from the podium. Here are a few highlights:

• Lamar Jackson ripped off another long touchdown run, this time with Jaire Alexander trailing in his dust. Alexander got his friend back with two interceptions, one each in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 work. The first one was partially caused by Travis Jones bowling over Tyler Linderbaum to get in Jackson’s face.
• Keith Kirkwood got a step on Nate Wiggins and Jackson didn’t hesitate before launching a pass 60 yards through the air right into Kirkwood’s arms for a touchdown. Tylan Wallace also beat Wiggins on a deep out route and reeled in a good anticipation throw from Jackson.
• Adisa Isaac came flying in on a blitz with Beau Brade and batted down a Cooper Rush pass behind the line of scrimmage.
• Reuben Lowery appeared to wrestle an interception away from Xavier Guillory, but the referee ruled in favor of the offense. On the next play, Devin Leary threw another almost-interception targeting Guillory, this time with Keondre Jackson getting his hands on the ball.

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