{"id":11575250,"date":"2025-07-23T18:19:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T22:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11575250"},"modified":"2025-07-23T20:07:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T00:07:49","slug":"ravens-observations-training-camp-opening-day-mike-preston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/07\/23\/ravens-observations-training-camp-opening-day-mike-preston\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravens observations from opening practice of training camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ravens opened training camp for the 2025 season Wednesday with a 90-minute session that amounted to a glorified offseason practice \u2014 except the top players were in attendance.<\/p>\n

As expected, coach John Harbaugh declared it a good practice and certain things were clearly noticeable. It appeared that most of the players reported in good shape and were ready to go, even 6-foot-8, 370-pound starting right guard Daniel Faalele. Linebacker Jake Hummel, who will be out a week with a cut on his hand, was the only unexpected absence.<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the coming days as the temperatures get hotter, but that\u2019s plus for the offensive line. Other starters who looked good were veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who has rebuilt the lower half of his body recently, and second-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten, who looks bigger and thicker compared with his rookie campaign.<\/p>\n

The full pads go on Monday. Here’s what else we saw from the opening day of camp:<\/p>\n

Nice hands<\/h4>\n

There were several top catches on Day 1. Even though he was out of bounds, veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins hauled in a one-handed, quick 15-yard out after the ball rolled along his back.<\/p>\n

Tight end Mark Andrews caught a long touchdown pass while streaking down the right hash mark. Andrews completed the play with a 20-yard run, something he couldn\u2019t do last season.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a good sign.<\/p>\n

New-look secondary<\/h4>\n

The Ravens used various starting combinations in the secondary, which included cornerbacks Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander. The Ravens are hoping the injury-prone Alexander can stay healthy<\/a> for an entire season and return to the form that made him one of the best in the NFL in 2020 and 2022.<\/p>\n

Alexander is cocky, and that\u2019s desperately needed. He knocked down a pass intended for receiver Dayton Wade in the middle of practice and then did one of those signature celebrations.<\/p>\n

You didn\u2019t see much of that last season when the Ravens had the No. 31-ranked pass defense in the NFL. I will wait to see if that happens consistently throughout training camp, but it was nice to see some swag back on defense from another player besides Humphrey.<\/p>\n

Ravens receivers didn\u2019t get much separation Wednesday, but the defense is always ahead of the offense early in the season.<\/p>\n

Injury scare<\/h4>\n

Fans were holding a collective breath when slot receiver Zay Flowers went down with either a knee or ankle injury after a catch along the left sideline during a 7-on-7 period. Flowers sat on a water cooler for about 10 minutes before returning to action.<\/p>\n

Within minutes of returning, he caught a short pass over the middle, made a jump cut and then juked past a defender, so apparently he was OK. Of course, we\u2019ll see if he is on the field Thursday because a lot of swelling might occur overnight.<\/p>\n

Flowers, though, looked healthy.<\/p>\n

\"Baltimore
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews showed his speed on a long touchdown catch. (Karl Merton Ferron\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Missed opportunities<\/h4>\n

The Ravens had two big misses in practice as second-year receiver Devontez Walker failed to hold onto a pass after diving over rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone and falling to the ground.<\/p>\n

Third-year running back Keaton Mitchell simply dropped a pass from backup quarterback Cooper Rush in what should have been a 40- to 50-yard touchdown reception. Mitchell is in a battle to be the third-down back with Justice Hill, but Hill\u2019s ability to block gives him the edge in passing situations.<\/p>\n

Mitchell might have made the play if he didn\u2019t stop running because he didn\u2019t think that he was going to get the ball.<\/p>\n

READER POLL: Who has the best team in the NFL?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n