Chemistry between Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and TE Isaiah Likely continues to grow
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — There was a break in the Baltimore Ravens’ training camp practice Monday when quarterback Lamar Jackson and tight end Isaiah Likely found a part of the field that wasn’t in use.
Standing in the middle of the field with Likely wide to his left, Jackson took a quick drop back and lofted a pass toward the end zone. A streaking Likely turned one way and the ball went to the opposite side of his body, causing an incompletion and spurring a spirited conversation with the quarterback and one of his top targets.
Jackson and Likely tried again. This time they were on the same page, but Likely was unable to make the catch. The next rep was a completion, and shortly thereafter, both players hustled back upfield to rejoin their teammates.
Everyone knows about the chemistry Jackson shares with tight end Mark Andrews, a three-time Pro Bowler who has caught 347 passes for 4,305 yards and 37 touchdowns in the five seasons since Jackson became the full-season starter in 2019.
However, Jackson’s growing bond with Likely, a fourth-round pick in 2022 who broke out in the second half of last season when Andrews was injured, has been evident throughout training camp. If Andrews leads all Ravens in camp receptions, Likely isn’t far behind.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 11, 2024
The former Coastal Carolina standout was the star of Sunday’s practice with a series of catches, including a nifty one-hander. His performance was just a continuation of what Likely has shown since training camp started in July. He’s caught short passes. He’s worked in the intermediate area of the field. He’s even gotten free on quite a few deep balls. Likely’s highly competitive one-on-one matchups with Ravens standout safety Kyle Hamilton have been one of the highlights of camp.
“I would say Isaiah has put together a fantastic training camp,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “He’s been spectacular with the route-running details. I feel like the timing has been fantastic with him. He’s just a very special athlete, comes to work every day ready to go to work. We’re really proud of him, and we’ll keep going.”
With Andrews sidelined last season with a broken fibula, Likely averaged just under 51 receiving yards per game and scored six touchdowns. It’s well-documented how much Jackson loves throwing to his tight ends. What the Ravens have yet to show, though, is that they can get both Andrews and Likely heavily involved at the same time.
That will be one of the challenges for offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who has acknowledged the allure of using more 12 personnel in 2024 to get Andrews and Likely on the field together.
“He was here all offseason, and he’s embraced that part of it,” Monken said Tuesday when asked about Likely potentially having a bigger role. “You’ve seen other things in his game, particularly in line, that we’ve asked him to do. So, we expect him to have a great year.”
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely show why Ravens should use more 12 personnel groupings
Hamilton back and in good form
Two days earlier, Hamilton was down on the practice field surrounded by members of the team’s athletic training staff. The scene grew silent as players took a knee and fans shifted nervously in the bleachers that surrounded the field.
“I was holding my breath,” said Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Harbaugh said after Sunday’s practice that Hamilton’s left leg was stable and he did not sustain a serious injury. More proof of that came a day later when Hamilton was on an adjacent field doing a workout under the guidance of a member of the training staff. Harbaugh said Monday that the All-Pro safety was dealing with a sprain and he’d be ramped up again in practice.
Still, it was a bit surprising to see Hamilton jog out to the practice field Tuesday afternoon to loud applause. Not only did he make his return to the field, it didn’t appear that he missed a rep. He also made one of the top plays of practice, ranging to the deep middle part of the field and denying a Jackson to Zay Flowers deep shot. Hamilton, however, punished himself for not intercepting the ball with a series of pushups.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Orr said. “You guys saw that play he made today. That was ridiculous. I’d be hard-pressed to find somebody else in the league that can make a play like that. We wish he would have caught the ball. He’d tell you that too, but it was a heck of a play. He’s one of one.”
Other thoughts, observations
• Baltimore signed veteran running back John Kelly Jr. just a day after the 27-year-old was released by the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens are in the middle of a No. 3 running back competition, which primarily features second-year undrafted free agent Owen Wright and rookie fifth-round pick Rasheen Ali. Kelly is likely more of a camp body than a legitimate contender to make the 53-man roster. With top backs Derrick Henry and Justice Hill potentially being held out of the entire preseason, Ali currently sidelined with a shoulder stinger and Keaton Mitchell on the physically unable to perform list, the Ravens could have been down to just two available running backs for Saturday’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. Kelly should be in shape because he’s been at training camp with the Browns, so he could play Saturday or at least serve as insurance if either Wright or undrafted rookie back Chris Collier goes down.
Ravens 53-man roster projection following preseason opener: How will the O-line shake out?
• Monken wouldn’t say whether it was by design or not, but the Ravens quarterbacks sure seemed determined to work on the deep ball Tuesday. Whether it was in seven-on-seven sessions or full-team stuff, Jackson and Baltimore’s other quarterbacks let it fly early and often. There were a handful of completions with Nelson Agholor, Andrews, Anthony Miller and Deonte Harty all catching deep passes. There were also quite a few incompletions with a few drops mixed in. The Ravens seem to understand they have to be much more efficient with their deep passing game in 2024. Jackson and his receivers missed far too many opportunities last year for big plays.
• Miller had his second straight strong practice after signing with the Ravens on Monday. He caught two deep balls and added another red zone touchdown. Perhaps it’s because he has fresh legs while Baltimore’s other receivers have been in training camp practices for three-plus weeks. But Miller certainly has looked like he’s moving at a different speed than most of his teammates. On the other side of things, the veteran Agholor has had a rough stretch of practices. There’s been several drops and a few other plays where it looks like he and Jackson weren’t on the same page. Agholor stayed after practice Tuesday to work with Prentice Gill, one of Baltimore’s coaching fellows.
• Rashod Bateman did significantly more in Tuesday’s workout than he did on Monday when he returned to the field after missing roughly a week with what was believed to be an injury to his midsection/ribs area. Bateman took part in a chunk of the full-team work and looked more comfortable and less tentative. He did, however, miss out on a potential deep connection with Jackson. It wasn’t clear whether cornerback Brandon Stephens, who had good coverage on the play, got a hand on the ball or Bateman just dropped it.
Sign UpBuy Scoop City Newsletter
• There was a Justin Tucker portion of practice Tuesday with the perennial Pro Bowl kicker starting with short field goal attempts and then moving back 5 to 10 yards after each make. Tucker was flawless when the ball was pushed back for him to attempt a 67-yard try. Whether he made it or not remains up for debate. One of the referees next to the upright signaled that he made the kick. The other referee said the kick landed just short. Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams, who was in the back of the end zone for a potential return of a short kick, also said it was no good. But that didn’t stop Tucker and the Ravens offense from celebrating what they believed to be a make.
• If there’s a perception that fourth-year defensive back Ar’Darius Washington was on the “bubble” heading into training camp, that should no longer be the case. Washington continued his strong summer by picking off a lazy Josh Johnson pass to the flat and returning it for a touchdown. Washington seems to get his hands on the football at least once per practice. Not only does it feel like he’s a lock to make the 53-man roster, but there’s a good chance he’ll have a defensive role in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly if slot corner Arthur Maulet (knee) remains out.