This week for the Flock started with a gut-punch. Tributes from all around Baltimore sports media have continued to pour in for Jacoby Jones, who passed away unexpectedly in his home in New Orleans. He was 40 years old. The Ravens, as always, put together a fantastic video tribute, and as heartbreaking as these last few days have been, I can’t help but smile and get some goosebumps looking back at the amazing moments that Jacoby helped bring us.
Forever in our hearts 💜 pic.twitter.com/ziliDZKXcs
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 15, 2024
My colleagues here at RSR have put together some beautiful and thoughtful reflections about Jacoby, and I want to echo what’s been expressed by so many: Jacoby was one of those people who was a bright light to those around him. I was fortunate enough to interact with him a few times throughout the years, and he had me smiling or laughing every single time. It’s easy to see why Baltimore loved him, and he loved the city right back.
""The City of Baltimore accepted me. They took me in. I walk around here downtown, and people slam on their brakes and blow their horn. I’m like, ‘What’s up?!’ It is love, and I love it. I appreciate it. Everything has to come to an end, but at least it is here, and I thank you.”
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) July 14, 2024
An emotional Ray Rice reflected on his friend & former teammate Jacoby Jones:
"There's some people out there that don't understand the definition of living & existing. … Jacoby embodied what it was to live. … If your light was dim, he could turn it on for you. When my… pic.twitter.com/0h7Oi1kF5f
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) July 15, 2024
Some of the greatest moments in Ravens history don’t happen without him, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the team honor #12 in multiple ways. Despite having only three seasons in Baltimore, Jacoby’s legacy is cemented in this city and this franchise, and it deserves to be preserved.
Jacoby Jones should be inducted into Ravens Ring of Honor in our home opener this season.
— Pedro H. Rhormes (@rhormes_) July 14, 2024
The season ahead that will be spent honoring Jacoby is getting closer every day, too. The rookies reported to Camp this past Saturday, with the vets reporting this coming Saturday, July 20th. The team is generally very tight-lipped about this part of Camp, and we likely won’t see a lot of what goes on with the rookies until well after the fact in some Ravens Wired segments. The social media team does throw us small nuggets every now and then to keep up the anticipation, and it did the heart some good to see QB1 back in the building ahead of schedule.
Back at it @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/WSXTv0JcVO
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 15, 2024
Leave it to the Broward County guy to be sporting a hoodie in 90+ degree heat. The man is good at handling the heat in more ways than one.
Now onto a part of the season that I didn’t miss at all: injury reports. The Ravens made several designations ahead of Camp, some more surprising than others.
Per today's transaction notice, the Ravens placed RB Keaton Mitchell and fourth-round rookie CB T.J. Tampa on PUP list.
Third-round rookie OLB Adisa Isaac was placed on the non-football injury list.— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) July 15, 2024
Keaton Mitchell’s IR designation was expected as he continues to rehab from last season’s ACL injury. Coach Harbaugh had indicated that Mitchell is likely to be a mid-season return, and what little we’ve been able to see of his rehab process looks good so far, with no reported setbacks. Mitchell’s designation couldn’t do anything to dampen his spirits yesterday, though, as like so many football fans, he jumped into EA Sports College Football 25 to represent his ECU Pirates.
Adisa Isaac’s designation is a little more surprising, but not a total shock. The rookie EDGE had been limited for much of OTAs with a hamstring injury, so they’re probably just operating out of an abundance of caution to make sure he’s a full go. With guys ahead of him on the depth chart, I can’t imagine there’s a huge sense of urgency to get him back, but I’d really like to see him get as much time in his rookie Camp to adjust to the NFL’s speed as possible.
Tampa is the head-scratcher from this bunch. Several pundits rightly pointed out that a PUP designation at this time of the year doesn’t necessarily indicate an injury, and could mean that Tampa didn’t pass the conditioning test on the first go-round. I couldn’t say for certain, but since Tampa was a full go in minicamp and OTAs, it’s probably not a bad theory. After all, the conditioning test in Baltimore is a real bear, and it’s not uncommon for at least one guy each offseason to need multiple attempts.
For those wondering what the #Ravens conditioning test consists of:https://t.co/KCEeXoNrQv#RavensFlock https://t.co/fZvcd6lVZH
— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) July 15, 2024
Hopefully by this time next week, we’ll have a lot more player news and fewer injury updates, and we look forward to giving you full report as the Ravens flock back to The Castle!
