Ravens pass-catchers shine at OTAs regardless of Lamar Jackson’s absence
No suspense here, folks. Lamar Jackson was not at the Ravens’ OTAs on Tuesday, giving Tyler Huntley , Skylar Thompson, and undrafted rookie Diego Pavia more opportunities in full-team reps. None particularly stood out, though Huntley, as usual, was all smiles, all day, especially when he faked out the entire defense on a QB keeper and laughed at how much open space there was on the left side. On the other end, the Ravens’ new-look group of pass-catchers made a number of plays throughout practice. Zay Flowers often looked like the best player on the field and certainly the most dynamic athlete. Rookie wideouts Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt each took their turn in the spotlight, with Lane making a few second-level grabs over the middle and Sarratt consistently finding space against zone coverage. There was less to see from rookie tight ends Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas. The 6-foot-5, 251-pound Hibner passes the eye test, and his all-around abilities could help him quickly find a role in the Ravens’ new offense. Head coach Jesse Minter noted how Hibner was more of an inline blocker during their shared time at Michigan, but evolved into a more versatile pass-catcher in SMU’s spread offense. That combination of skillsets should give him a good shot at seeing the field as a rookie, especially when the Ravens want to threaten defenses in multiple ways out of 12 personnel. Cuevas did not look bad; he just did not stand out. With Durham Smythe expected to take on a sizable blocking role, the Alabama project could get edged out of the picture as a rookie. Cuevas was responsible for one of the last highlights of the day, part of a series of practice-ending competitions that Minter said are designed to encourage the team to “be at their best when the best is needed.” On Tuesday, individual offensive and defensive players squared off to throw a medicine ball as far as possible with the losing side doing push-ups. Sarratt beat fifth-round corner Chandler Rivers, Cuevas bested 2025 UDFA Kaimon Rucker , and Vega Ioane completed the offense’s sweep over Zion Young. I’m not sure what I found the most amusing: the offense collectively exploding with each win, Ronnie Stanley wanting to count out the defense’s push-ups military-style, or Ja’Kobi Lane celebrating Ioane’s win with a backflip. Like Hibner, rookie running back Adam Randall passed the eye test, both with his 6-foot-3, 232-pound frame and his downhill explosiveness as a ballcarrier. 2023 fifth-rounder Rasheen Ali also had a nice day. It will be interesting to see how much they factor into the Ravens’ backfield rotation this year. The Ravens were without arguably their three most impactful players on Tuesday: Jackson, Kyle Hamilton , and Nnamdi Madubuike . Hamilton was present but not in uniform, as was linebacker Teddye Buchanan , who is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in December. After practice, Minter said that he had been in touch with Jackson and expected him back soon. He also noted that Jackson “has been one of the leaders of our offseason program.” Madubuike has been participating in the offseason program, too, but his exact status remains unknown following neck surgery in April. The team has been cautiously optimistic in their sporadic updates, but nothing will have the same impact as seeing the seventh-year defensive tackle on the field. The defensive line room was also missing Calais Campbell , John Jenkins, and Travis Jones . Rounding out the list of absentees are cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie , wide receiver Rashod Bateman , and outside linebacker Adisa Isaac . Those are largely standard veteran absences except for Isaac, a 2024 third-rounder who spent most of his career injured with just four appearances as a rookie and none last year. Linebacker Jay Higgins and cornerback Bilhal Kone , who are both recovering from torn ACLs, participated in drills but no full-team work, as did guard Andrew Vorhees . Kone and Vorhess both spent [... truncated ...]
