Wednesday opened with exciting news for Madden-playing Ravens fans, as Baltimore legend Mo Gaba made his way into the game with the Ravens’ special end zone lettering:
Mo made it into @EAMaddenNFL 💜 pic.twitter.com/VR9txqHsLl
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2022
It’s awesome seeing Gaba’s impact felt beyond just Charm City, as he really is an inspiration. Many won’t know the story behind the gold letters, but we will. Gaba’s influence continues to live on.
Moving onto Training Camp yesterday, Jordan Stout made a bang at the Under Armor Performance Center, literally. Taking over for Justin Tucker, the former Penn State punter knocked a 54-yard field goal through the uprights.
Ravens punter Jordan Stout just made a 54-yard field goal that would’ve been good from much longer.
Justin Tucker, the NFL’s most accurate kicker, gave Stout a high-five afterward.
Tucker actually held for Stout on a successful 45-yard kick earlier.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 17, 2022
With Tucker holding for Stout, this begs the question: is there a kicker controversy in Baltimore?
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Tucker is in my eyes the greatest kicker of all time, and he’s got a choke hold on his position for the foreseeable future, after just extending his contract again.
Really, there can’t be a controversy when your kicker can gritty like this:
JUSTIN TUCKER 🤣🔥😂 pic.twitter.com/pkHOKNllYC
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2022
On a more serious subject, it seems the Ravens were ahead of the curve when it came to evaluating the value of the safety position. As we know, the team brought in Marcus Williams on a massive free agency investment, while also using the 14th Pick in the NFL Draft on Notre Dame product Kyle Hamilton.
Well, as Cole Jackson highlights here, they made those moves just as the positional value of safeties increased.
Seriously though – interesting to look at after the #Ravens made a marquee signing in Marcus Williams AND drafted Kyle Hamilton at #14.
The only 'criticism' I saw was that they were at devalued positions.#RavensFlock https://t.co/f9AbTGlA6u
— cOLe jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) August 17, 2022
Even before a slew of safeties signed extensions, the position’s worth was growing incredibly fast, only outshined by QB, EDGE and OL. Baltimore’s front office continues to be ahead of the curve.
Looking ahead to the Ravens’ next preseason game, Head Coach John Harbaugh made note on Wednesday that QB Lamar Jackson will not play.
"Lamar's not going to play.. Some of the other starters won't play." pic.twitter.com/kzY6hHqxkJ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2022
I’m not incredibly surprised by this, but typically the third preseason game is for roster bubble players to separate themselves before rosters are finalized. If Jackson isn’t playing on the 21st, will he play at all before the Ravens face the Jets in Week 1?
Speaking of Week 1, JK Dobbins’ availability is still in question. There weren’t any changes to that on Wednesday, as Harbaugh also said we’ll have to wait and see if the RB plays in the season opener.
Coach Harbaugh on J.K. Dobbins: pic.twitter.com/rxxoGb7wUu
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2022
If I were a betting man, I’d say Dobbins will be back, especially considering he began practicing this week.
Finally, as teams prepare for the regular season, it seems now-Cardinals WR Marquise Brown feels he’s benefitting his new team more than his old one:
Marquise Brown on leaving the Ravens
"I want to feel like I am a part of something to win. At the Ravens, I just felt like sometimes they really didn't need me. Regardless if I was there or not, they were going to win games…I love the game too much. I want to be involved."
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) August 17, 2022
I do feel Brown helped Baltimore win, but it’s interesting to hear him say that he was expendable when he was the only somewhat proven receiver on the roster.
This season should provide the answer as to whether or not he was right.
