Ar'Darius Washington has missed 13 games but sounds ready to return at a crucial time.
The veteran safety said he's recovered from the offseason Achilles injury that has kept him on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List. Washington has been a full participant in practice this week and hopes to make his 2025 debut in Sunday's crucial game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"It feels good being out there, flying around again," Washington said after Thursday's practice. "Finally, being a part of the team again.
"I'm ready to go. Whenever [they] give me the call, whenever they put me out there on the field, I'm going to be ready to go. I didn't come back early to not play at all. I'm ready."
Baltimore's defense came together in 2024 after Washington became a starter eight games into the season. His range, cover skills, versatility, and sure tackling helped Baltimore dramatically reduce surrendering big plays.
The Ravens have a different safety rotation this season after drafting Malaki Starks and trading for Alohi Gilman. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton has been freed to roam and impact the game in many ways, and Washington's return would be a welcome sight to Head Coach John Harbaugh, who pointed out that Washington could play some nickel cornerback
Rehab was a long process for Washington, but he attacked the process aggressively and was determined to return before the season ended. Playing football again may have been the easiest part.
"It's like riding a bike, you know what I'm saying?" Washington said. "Once I got back out there and got that confidence back in my leg, I was like, yeah, it's sweet. I'm good."
Todd Monken Wants Ravens to Be More Efficient in Must-Throw Situations
The Ravens rank 21st in third-down conversion percentage this season (37.7%), compared to 2024 when they ranked second (50.4%). To sustain drives and avoid three-and-outs, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken said the Ravens' passing attack needs more precision in obvious passing situations.
"Where we've got to continue to grow is when you have to throw it – when it's third down, it's two minute, you get in the red zone," Monken said. "When you get in the drop back game, everything comes into play – communication, protections, your disciplined routes, your spacing. All your timing, all your work put in. That's where I think we can improve greatly is in those areas."
Jackson has missed at least one practice for five consecutive weeks, which has presented another challenge to building offensive cohesion. However, Monken said the Ravens can't make excuses.
"I think anytime a player, especially your quarterback, is not able to practice, you're talking not only the mental side of it, but the timing with your receivers and then the physical part of it," Monken said.
"It's not just Lamar. It's any player that misses time. You've got to find a way to overcome that because nobody cares and we can't care. When we take the field, we need the product to look like we want it to look like."
Zach Orr Wants to Dial Up New Blitzes for Joe Burrow
Even though Thanksgiving was his first game back in months, Joe Burrow didn't waste any time catching up from a mental perspective in the teams' meeting two weeks ago.
Burrow was 5-of-6 on third down in the second half of the Bengals' 32-14 victory that night. His one incompletion was negated by a Ravens defensive pass interference. Burrow threw two touchdowns on third-and-9 in the second half, which broke the game open.
Even if the Ravens get the Bengals into third-and-long situations Sunday, they know it's not an easy out against Burrow.
"We have to get off the field on third down," Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said. "We know that when you're playing a quarterback of this caliber, any misstep, any wrong hesitation, [Burrow] is going to make you pay more times than not."
One of Burrow's touchdown passes came against a seven-man pressure in which he connected with Andrei Iosivas for a 29-yard touchdown over the middle.
Orr said it's tough to trick veteran quarterbacks who operate at a high level, as the Ravens also saw against Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers last week. The Ravens got just one sack on Burrow two weeks ago and none on Rodgers.
"You have to keep it moving on them," Orr said. "That's our job as coaches – come up with something new, show them a different look that they haven't seen before."
Zay Flowers Talks About His Big Production But Few Touchdowns
Zay Flowers looks headed for his second straight 1,000-yard season, with 68 receptions for 891 yards heading into Sunday's game.
While he's on track to set career highs for catches and receiving yards, Flowers has just one touchdown catch.
"When you've got Derrick Henry and you've got dominant tight ends in the red zone, it's hard to not give them the ball, you know what I mean?" Flowers said.
"Everybody wants to score touchdowns, I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but as long as we score and we're able to get something done, it's alright."
Flowers, who had four touchdowns last season and five as a rookie, is willing to do whatever he can to solve Baltimore's red zone issues this season. The Ravens rank 30th in red zone touchdown percentage (44.9%) after being first in 2024 (73.9%).
While he's not sure why the Ravens have fallen from the top to almost the bottom in red-zone efficiency, Flowers says they have the players and coaches to change that.
"I think it's definitely a little bit of a shock, but it is not something we can't overcome," Flowers said. "It's a different season. You struggle in different parts and different categories, so we've just got to take care of that and get better."
