The wait is over.
Ravens training camp officially opens today with all remaining veterans reporting to the Under Armour Performance Center.
The first of 19 full-team practices kicks off at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Here's all you need to know at the start of Ravens training camp:
Important Dates
Aug. 1 – Open stadium practice, 7 p.m. @ M&T Bank Stadium
Aug. 2 – Players' first day off
Aug. 6 – Second stadium practice, 6 p.m. @ M&T Bank Stadium
Aug. 7 – Hall of Fame Game, Colts vs. Packers @ Canton
Aug. 11 – First preseason game vs. Carolina Panthers, 7:30 p.m. @ M&T Bank Stadium
Aug. 19 – Camp breaks
Best Position Battles
Inside linebackerThe competition to replace Daryl Smith is still open. Zachary Orr seems to have the inside track, but Arthur Brown and second-round pick Kamalei Correa will push for starting jobs as well. The Ravens want to get Correa on the field, and it may depend on how versatile he can become in training camp.
Wide receiverThe top four to five spots are probably locked up: Steve Smith Sr., Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman and rookie fourth-round pick Chris Moore. After that, it's up in the air. Slot receivers Michael Campanaro and rookie sixth-round pick Keenan Reynolds will compete, along with Jeremy Butler, Chris Matthews and Kaelin Clay.
Running back
Justin Forsett, Buck Allen and rookie fourth-round pick Kenneth Dixon will likely take up three spots. Where does that leave Terrence West, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Trent Richardson? Richardson was one of the more interesting signings of the offseason, but he's struggled to stay on the field because of injuries. In what will likely be a running-back-by-committee situation, everybody is competing for a bigger slice of the pie.
Left guard
John Urschel took the first-team snaps during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp, but he'll continue to get pushed by rookie fourth-round pick Alex Lewis and Ryan Jensen. Replacing departed free agent Kelechi Osemele won't be easy, but if the Ravens want to rejuvenate their running game and do a better job protecting Joe Flacco, they need somebody to emerge from the pack.
Top Questions
Will Flacco be the same?
Flacco will start training camp on time, just as promised. He says his knee feels great and is planning to take his typical share of the reps. But Flacco did acknowledge that he could need a few snaps, or even a day, off to rest his knee. He also says the mental adjustment to having defenders getting in his face again will take time. As much as Flacco downplays his health, the franchise quarterback coming off a torn ACL is something to monitor.
When will the injured veterans return?
Two of the team's biggest starts – Smith Sr. and Terrell Suggs – are still on the mend after tearing their Achilles tendons last year. Considering they are still two big pieces to the Ravens' puzzle, their health reports will be big news. Perriman's health will also be under the microscope.
How will Ronnie Stanley hold up?
The Ravens' No. 6-overall pick took every first-team snap so far this summer, and that's likely not going to change in training camp. Baltimore will give him as much experience as possible to get him ready to be Flacco's starting blindside protector. Stanley has looked good so far, but if Suggs gets back on the field, he'll be in for a whole new level of strength and savvy.
Will the secondary gel?
Baltimore's secondary was the Achilles heel in a slow start last year. It gave up too many big plays. The Ravens have transformed the unit with the hiring of Secondary Coach Leslie Frazier, addition of Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle, position switch of Lardarius Webb and signing of Jerraud Powers. Add that with the recovery of top cornerback Jimmy Smith (foot) and there are a lot of moving parts in the secondary. The unit needs to come together in training camp.
Who will emerge from the pack?
It seems every year one player stacks good practices on top of each other throughout the entirety of camp, then rides that momentum into the regular season. That happened for Aiken last year. Some candidates for that kind of performance this year are defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith and tight end Maxx Williams.
