Throughout training camp, reports out of Baltimore have indicated rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane could be a significant part of the Ravens’ offense in the coming season.
Reporters have noted how Lane seems to catch everything that comes in his direction, making impressive grab after impressive grab in practice.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked about the USC product in his Wednesday press conference and called Lane an “easy target.”
“Big guy — like 6-4, 6-5 — [he can] catch the ball with the best of them,” Jackson said, via transcript from the team. “I told you, my comparison [is] like Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins with the hands.”
Those are some lofty comparisons, particularly for a rookie. We’ll see if he can live up to them.
A third-round pick in this year’s draft, Lane caught 43 passes for 525 yards with 12 touchdowns at USC in 2024 before catching 49 passes for 745 yards with four TDs in 2025.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was less of a threat running the ball in 2025 than at any other point in his career and he’s playing in a new offense this season, which is a combination that has led many to wonder about how he’ll approach the game in 2026.
Jackson was asked specifically about the running aspect of his game during a press conference on Wednesday and whether he thinks he will get back to the style of play that helped him to a pair of MVPs earlier in his career. Jackson pointed out that he wasn’t healthy last year to open an answer that suggested he’ll be trying to use his legs whenever the opportunity arises this time around.
“I really couldn’t do anything like I wanted to,” Jackson said. “It really wouldn’t put my team in a good position if I was just running hurt — losing yards, things like that would have happened. Whatever it takes to win, that’s what I’m all about. I’ve always been about that too.”
Jackson reiterated “whatever it takes to win” in response to a followup and the chance to see what a healthy Jackson looks like in the new system will be one of the biggest attractions in Week 1 of the regular season.
The Commanders and the Ravens had a joint practice today that reporters on the scene described as an ugly performance from the Commanders’ offense. Jayden Daniels was a little more charitable in his description of it, but admitted it wasn’t good enough.
Daniels said after practice that the offense could have been better, but also described it as a learning experience.
“Not the best day that I thought we could have had, all-around, from myself to everybody else, but these are the opportunities we get to learn from,” Daniels said.
Multiple reporters at the practice described the Commanders’ offensive line as getting dominated by the Ravens’ defensive line, with the absence of Commanders center Nick Allegretti, who is out with a calf injury, causing particular problems for Washington. Daniels said he just has to do his best with the teammates available.
“I’m out here with who’s out here, at the end of the day,” Daniels said. “At the end of the day, I’m just doing my job.”
Commanders fans will hope Daniels and his teammates can do their jobs better when the season starts.
The Ravens officially ended center Danny Pinter’s season on Wednesday.
Pinter tore his patellar tendon while participating in a joint practice with the Vikings last week and the Ravens announced that they have placed him on injured reserve. Pinter signed with the Ravens this offseason after six seasons with the Colts and was competing to be the team’s starter.
Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic remain in the mix for the center job in Baltimore.
The Ravens filled Pinter’s roster spot by signing linebacker Michael Barrett. Barrett played for Ravens head coach Jesse Minter at Michigan and was a Panthers seventh-round pick in 2024. He was traded to the Seahawks ahead of his rookie season, but did not make the team. He has spent time on practice squads in Seattle, Cleveland and Green Bay.
The Ravens’ search for a starting center took a turn last week.
Danny Pinter looked like the favorite to win the job, but he suffered a knee injury in practice last week. Reports indicated that Pinter tore his patellar tendon and head coach Jesse Minter confirmed on Monday that it is a season-ender for the veteran.
Minter also told reporters that Ethan Pocic, who is coming off a torn Achilles and signed with the team in July, will join Jovaughn Gwyn in getting first-team reps as the team tries to find their starter.
“I definitely see him at some point in the next few days — week or so, getting a lot of work. Giving both of those guys chances with the first team and letting that shake out,” Minter said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.
Pocic has far more experience than Gwyn and the coming days will help determine if that’s positioned him to be delivering the first snaps of the season for the Ravens next month.
