CAMP NOTES: Storylines From One Winning Drive

Top Storylines 2 Weeks Into Training Camp

The pads came on in the second week of Ravens training camp, and the defense responded with a strong week. Lamar Jackson still made some excellent plays on the ground and through the air, but swarming pressure and tight coverage hounded the offense all week long.

Here’s one storyline from each side of the ball after the first two weeks of training camp.

Todd Monken has two problems to solve. One good, one not so good.

Bad news first: the Ravens are still struggling with pre-snap penalties. After Thursday’s practice, Todd Monken said there were seven flags on the offense, and the weekly total was close to 20. After Sunday’s stadium practice, Roger Rosengarten called himself “mentally weak” for committing a false start on the first rep of 11-on-11 work.

Monken has stressed the importance of patience with the process. Using cadence at the line of scrimmage is another tool of misdirection that he wants in his bag. Beyond drawing defenses offsides, cadence can keep them off balance and unable to time the snap.

Adding in pre-snap motion only adds to the deception, but that requires all 11 players, especially the five eligible receivers, to know their precise alignment. That’s another wrinkle that can lead to penalties, either for illegal motion or formation. Young players in training camp are largely focused on doing their jobs; in some cases, they’re amped up to fire off the snap and make a play.

There are two positive takeaways: One is that the issues with cadence should get smoothed out as the first-team reps are streamlined closer to the season. The other is that the Ravens defense has been impressively disciplined at the line of scrimmage thus far.

The good news for Monken is that his other problem is among the best an offensive coordinator could ask for: too many weapons. The Ravens have proven players at running back (two), wide receiver (three), and tight end (two), plus blocking weapon Patrick Ricard. Blocking will also get Tylan Wallace on the field, but the Ravens’ youngest skill players are blocked on the depth chart.

Charlie Kolar will get plenty of early-season snaps as Isaiah Likely recovers from foot surgery. The Ravens’ signing of two depth tight ends suggests that Kolar may not play much in the preseason as the team tries to protect as many veterans as they can.

Devontez Walker and Keaton Mitchell have more complicated paths to playing time, especially with tough matchups for five of the Ravens’ first six games. Tighter games will keep the stars on the field.

Walker has performed well throughout training camp, but the Ravens are no stranger to young receivers flashing in the summer and fading in the fall. Wallace grew into the team’s best wideout drafted on Day 3 in recent history the hard way: run blocking and special teams. Walker will likely have to do the same.

Mitchell’s early contributions may also come on special teams as the Ravens’ primary kick returner. His athleticism has been a highlight of the summer, but Monken may lean on Derrick Henry to get through an early stretch of tough defenses. It will be hard to keep Mitchell off the field for too long, though. He can serve as a change-of-pace back and a receiving weapon out of the backfield, potentially in two-back ‘pony’ sets with Justice Hill.

Cornering The Defense

Do the Ravens have enough corners for the 2025 season?

You can never have too many corners, as various team personnel often say.

However, the Ravens may have four cornerbacks playing starting-caliber football in 2025. Nate Wiggins is expected to take a massive Year 2 leap, and Marlon Humphrey is coming off a resurgent season after moving into the slot. Zach Orr said on Monday that Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie aren’t competing to start on the boundary opposite Wiggins, as both will have a role in the secondary and may even see the field at the same time.

Alexander’s personality has lived up to expectations since arriving in Baltimore. He brings his swagger to every part of practice, starting with his own special take on positional drills.

Jaire Alexander brings energy and attitude to everything he does. Here he is during today’s defensive back drills. pic.twitter.com/S0NXmv1kRu

— Nikhil Mehta (@nikknowsball) July 30, 2025

Alexander carries that energy into all of his matchups against the Ravens’ receivers. Zay Flowers said that his new teammate “plays unorthodox,” a fair description of various ways that Alexander mixes and matches techniques at the line of scrimmage and in coverage downfield. He’s logged a number of interceptions, including a few thrown by Jackson that he celebrates with extra gusto.

Awuzie was quiet in the spring but came on strong in the second week of training camp, notching an interception and several pass break-ups. His veteran savvy has shown up in multiple ways: recognizing repeated patterns from the offense and out-positioning receivers at the catch point. Chuck Pagano said that Awuzie has worked at multiple spots, including dimebacker, which may be one way he plays alongside Alexander.

However, getting full seasons out of the two veterans is no guarantee, and injuries are also a concern for the next man up: Jalyn Armour-Davis.

Armour-Davis has been lining up all across the secondary in training camp. He hasn’t made many highlight plays, but he hasn’t been getting exposed in coverage, either. With the Ravens’ roster math tightening at other positions, especially in the trenches, a competent, multi-positional backup in the secondary is especially valuable.

Zach Orr praised the fourth-year corner’s versatility and football I.Q. last week, but that excitement was tempered by a frank acknowledgement of his need to stay healthy.

“His thing is – just God willing – he stays healthy,” said Orr. “If he stays healthy, I think that he’s going to do really good things for us, so we hope he can stay healthy.”

Armour-Davis said that he “drastically” changed his offseason routine and has continued the new approach into training camp. Needing an early MRI was worrying, but he quickly returned to the field and hasn’t looked hindered since.

A healthy Armour-Davis feels like the Ravens’ CB5 right now, partially because the team’s younger depth hasn’t stepped up in camp. Hopes were high that a full offseason for T.J. Tampa could help him grow into a rotational role, but he’s had an up-and-down summer. His length and ball skills have shown up at the catch point, but he’s also given up too much separation downfield. Health will also be important for Tampa after stints on the PUP list and injured reserve last year.

Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam, the Ravens’ two drafted rookie cornerbacks, have largely been outshined by UDFA Reuben Lowery. He lit up spring practices with his playmaking abilities and has continued to find the ball this summer, albeit at a lower frequency. Like Armour-Davis, Lowery has been lining up at multiple spots; if he can hold up on special teams, he could be a dark horse to make the team.

Both Kone and Longerbeam have missed a few practices, and neither has stood out in coverage. They’ll need to contribute on special teams to help their 53-man roster chances, and since both were available late on Day 3, the Ravens could try to sneak them through waivers and onto the practice squad for further development.

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