Tylan Wallace and Charlie Kolar were popular targets for Ravens quarterbacks during the second day of mandatory minicamp Wednesday. Lamar Jackson found Wallace outside the numbers often, and the star quarterback lasered in on Kolar over the middle of the field throughout practice for most of his completions.
Both pass catchers punctuated their days with several leaping grabs. Even with players in only helmets and defenders unable to hit ball carriers, Wallace and Kolar flashed their chemistry with Jackson in extended looks.
“We’re taking a step in the right direction,” the quarterback said. “Guys are moving good, running great routes.”
That hasn’t been true for Rashod Bateman, who has struggled to receive attention from any quarterback through two days of minicamp. The fourth-year receiver was targeted just twice during the 11-on-11 portion Wednesday. The first was an overthrow from Jackson that cornerback Trayvon Mullen broke up. The second was intercepted by cornerback Ka’dar Hollman on a pass to the end zone from backup Josh Johnson, a result that made Bateman visibly frustrated.
After both failed attempts, and most pass plays in which the ball ended up in someone else’s hands, Bateman dragged back to the huddle with his helmet off and head hung low. The 2021 first-round draft pick hasn’t formed the connection with Jackson that the Ravens’ other veteran pass catchers have. Wednesday was no different.
Coach John Harbaugh said in March that he expects Bateman to take a “big step” this season. Baltimore signed the 24-year-old recevier to a two-year extension this offseason in hopes that he does just that. It’s difficult to form strong takeaways from minicamp, when the route concepts are bland and the pads are off, but the first two days have done little to show Bateman’s role will drastically change in 2024.
Offensive line competition taking shape
The Ravens have three spots on the offensive line to fill after guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson left in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets. Wednesday offered a hint at who Baltimore is considering there.
Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele manned both guard spots for large portions of Wednesday’s practice. Offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris said the team is working with Vorhees at left guard and center and training Faalele at right tackle and right guard, giving both of them looks at open positions.
Josh Jones also got significant playing time. Second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten and Ben Cleveland rotated in frequently.
“I move them around quite a bit, for their benefit,” D’Alessandris said. “The more they can do, you get to stay in this league longer because you can play multiple positions. They’ve all accepted that role.”
Patrick Mekari is an option to start at any of the three openings, but D’Alessandris said his versatility is an attractive quality to have as a reserve, the role Mekari’s been in for much of his Ravens career.
Harbaugh said Tuesday that he’d like the open competitions to be settled before the preseason, ideally within the first couple weeks of training camp. For now, the Ravens continue to tinker with and narrow down their options.
“I’ve seen good competition,” D’Alessandris said. “The contact isn’t there. Training camp, that’s what that’s built for. We’ll see how it plays out from there.”
Attendance report
Marlon Humphrey was a new absence from team drills Wednesday. The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback participated Tuesday, but he only went through individual workouts with trainers on a back field for the penultimate day of minicamp.
Jalyn Armour-Davis was used heavily opposite Brandon Stephens during full-team drills with Humphrey out. First-round pick Nate Wiggins also got time there.
Kyle Hamilton was sidelined again Wednesday, sporting a compression sleeve on his right arm. The All-Pro safety underwent a procedure to remove “loose bodies” from his elbow, Harbaugh said Tuesday. The coach expects Hamilton to be ready for training camp in July.
“It’s a two-to-three week thing,” Harbaugh said Tuesday.
Keaton Mitchell, who is still recovering from his December ACL tear and is months out from returning, did not participate again. Third-round pick Adisa Isaac worked individually with a trainer again Wednesday as the outside linebacker recovers from a hamstring injury suffered in rookie minicamp.
Deonte Harty, a wide receiver and return specialist who Baltimore signed to a one-year deal in April, hasn’t been present. Harbaugh said Harty is tending to his 5-week-old daughter in the hospital. The former Archbishop Curley star also missed all of organized team activities for his daughter’s birth.
“He felt like he couldn’t really leave his family, so we understood and we excused him for that,” Harbaugh said.
Undrafted free agent and former Maryland standout Beau Brade returned Wednesday after being absent Tuesday.
Offensive lineman and seventh-round selection Nick Samac was absent Wednesday. Cornerback Christian Matthew and defensive lineman Rayshod Nichols have missed both days.
