Mike Preston: 8 takeaways from Ravens' practice at Maryland

Mike Preston, The Baltimore Sun on Aug 1, 2026

Published in Football

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In an effort to court Washington Commanders fans, the Baltimore Ravens held their first practice at SECU Stadium on Saturday on the campus of the University of Maryland.

The Commanders are leaving their old playing facility in Landover, Md., for the new one, which will be built in downtown Washington, in 2030.

“We wanted to pursue this type of environment,” Ravens coach Jesse Minter said. “It was great for us and for our fanbase, and great for our facilities, our people and our front office.”

Actually, both fanbases were hurt by last year’s bad seasons. The Ravens failed to make the playoffs, losing to Pittsburgh, 26-24, in the final game of the regular season to finish 8-9 as rookie Tyler Loop missed a last-second field goal attempt.

Washington was 5-12, and both teams had seasons marred by quarterback injuries, as Washington’s Jayden Daniels and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson missed extensive playing time.

The major problem with having basically a walk-through practice at Maryland was the usual traffic jam. It took hours to get into the facility, and there were many cars parked on the streets leading to the Xfinity Center and SECU Stadium.

The Ravens need to work out the logistics to make this an annual event.

Attendance report

Maybe it was a veterans’ day off because running back Derrick Henry, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson didn’t participate.

Stanley’s replacement was Carson Vinson, while Tavius Robinson and Mike Green started in place of Hendrickson. Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali were in for Henry. If Ali was a better pass blocker, he might become the No. 2 runner behind Henry because he has some excellent cutback runs.

Regardless, Henry is the ox of this offense, and hopefully the Ravens will rely on him more in the postseason than in previous years.

Leading by example

The recently signed Hendrickson didn’t participate Saturday, but he has been in the front of just about every drill.

He’s a great example.

Even more importantly, Hendrickson very seldom has to repeat drills. The same can’t be said for young outside linebackers like rookie Zion Young or second-year performer. But it’s all part of the learning curve, which is why most rookies aren’t judged until their fourth season.

Defensive questions

Veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey has been on the outside for most of training camp, but it will be interesting to see if the Ravens move him inside over the slot receiver or if he stays outside. Humphrey, in his 10th season, had problems with speedy receivers on the outside last season, like Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase.

Also, what do the Ravens do with outside linebacker Trenton Simpson? He is playing the weakside opposite of middle linebacker Roquan Smith, but do the Ravens continue to play him on the weakside or move him to the edge once Teddye Buchanan returns from the physically unable to perform list? Buchanan played well last season, and Simpson was an edge rusher in college at Clemson.

He has been decent as a go “fetch” performer.

Put on the pads

We will learn more about this team Monday, because that’s when the pads go on.

It’s hard to evaluate players basically going at half speed, but it’s different when they start hitting. There will be more of an opportunity to evaluate staying on and getting off blocks. We will get a chance to watch cornerbacks react and how much recovery speed they have.

“It will be a chance to get more of a full evaluation,” Minter said.

Who’s standing out?

Ravens second-year cornerback Kenyon Martin had an interception and played well for the second straight practice. That’s important to Minter, who said two days ago that receivers such as rookie Ja’Kobi Lane need to prove themselves moment to moment, and quarter by quarter.

After Thursday, Lane didn’t play well the next day, but Martin did.

“He is sturdy in coverage, and always seems to be in the right spot,” Minter said. “He had a second strong day.”

Lane has to reappear, but the rookie from USC has some strong dance moves. I haven’t seen a player so smooth since late Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones. Now he was a big-time performer.

Time keeping

I’m not a big fan of practices that last more than two hours, and Minter keeps his in that general time frame.

For the most part, players get tired after about 90 minutes and learn very little past the two-hour mark. They are big, and it’s hot, so it just makes logical sense. Plus, it’s training camp, not the regular season.

‘Sweet feet’

Second-year guard Emery Jones Jr. has some “sweet feet”; the guy can run, but at times he overplays and needs to slow down. Sometimes, he appears to work too hard, almost to the point of exaggeration.

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