Practicing as a limited participant for two days this week has made Isaiah Likely feel closer to rejoining the lineup.
Even if Likely doesn't return on "Monday Night Football" when the Ravens host the Detroit Lions, he feels good about his significant progress since his foot injury suffered during training camp.
"Taking it day by day right now," Likely said, when asked if he would play against the Lions following Friday's practice. "Trying to get my feet back underneath me. Being a presence out there is good for me. Y'all know I want to be out there."
As badly as he wants to play, Likely is also thinking about the big picture. He doesn't want to increase the risk of reinjury by rushing into action.
"You always want to look at the long game," Likely said. "In this league, it's a turtle's race. Understand that January's so far away. We just put up 40-plus points back-to-back [weeks]. The offense is well capable to be themselves whether I'm on or off the field. They're not rushing me back. Me [being] limited isn't helping anybody. You guys want to see me be me."
Likely said the Ravens’ New Premium Performance & Wellness Space has been a blessing while rehabbing. He loves the glass windows that allowed him to watch practices, including the Ravens' joint practice against the Indianapolis Colts.
"Hopefully they heard me out there talking a little smack," Likely said. "[Tight Ends Coach] George [Godsey] was kind enough to put the tight ends one-on-one right in front of me at the glass. It was definitely fun."
Ravens Know They Need to Run the Ball Better
It hasn't happened often, but the Ravens had a tough time running the ball against the Cleveland Browns, with 45 yards on 21 carries, including just 23 yards by Derrick Henry.
All parties involved took accountability Friday and talked about the need to improve Monday night against the Lions.
"They're really good and we didn't execute at a high level," Monken said. "Didn't coach well enough, didn't play well enough. The tape tells the story. They're going to make plays on their own. We just can't add to it. We've got to play better."
Henry's 23 rushing yards were his lowest output as a Raven. Henry was asked what he's hoping to see different this week.
"Be better and [let] that never happen again," he said. "Continue to get better. Me, myself first, be better with the football and be more efficient, be more explosive.
"I always look at myself first. I always point the finger at me and say I need to be better. If they're stopping the run and there's nowhere to go, then make one."
The Ravens haven't had many games like that where they struggle to run the ball, and they're looking to turn it around against a Lions defense that has given up 106 yards per game on the ground so far this season.
"Obviously glad that we won, but as an offense, we know we're totally capable of playing better football, which is a good thing," center Tyler Linderbaum said. "You've got to learn from winning, too. Certainly, we did. A lot of stuff to clean up, but we're not going to dwell on one game or have one game define us as a team or a unit. We fully know what we're fully capable of doing."
DeAndre Hopkins' Role Is Growing in Ravens Offense
DeAndre Hopkins has made the most of his opportunities thus far with four catches on four targets and two highlight-reel touchdowns. Now he may get more opportunities.
"With every day, his packages are going to continue to grow," Monken said.
Monken isn't surprised by Hopkins' fast start in Baltimore.
"It's what he's done his whole career," he said. "He's a tremendous football player."
Roquan Smith: Ravens Got a Steal With Teddye Buchanan
Roquan Smith and rookie fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan are spending more time together on and off the field.
Buchanan has become the Ravens' starter next to Smith and played 82% of the defensive snaps in the Ravens' Week 2 win over the Browns.
"I've got a lot of respect for Teddye," Smith said. "He's a very smart player. He doesn't make a lot of the same mistakes and [he's] very advanced for a rookie. [Eric DeCosta] and them got themselves a steal with him in the fourth [round]."
Smith is a foodie who also enjoys travel, and he said he and the rookie have bonded away from the field as well.
"We kick it a lot. Got a lot of similar things we enjoy doing together," Smith said.
"The way he sees and understands the game as a rookie, it's way better than I did as a rookie. Hats off to him. I'm excited to keep growing with him and whoever else they have out there with me."
Linderbaum Contests Wrestling Match Loss to Mike Green
Linderbaum was a star high school wrestler in Iowa. Mike Green was a star high school wrestler in Virginia.
Thus, the two naturally squared off after practice one day this summer in a little tussle with Green claiming victory during an appearance on "The Lounge" podcast.
"I got Tyler," the rookie declared.
Linderbaum was asked about that after Friday's practice and gave a full play-by-play.
"No points were scored, so we were basically done," Linderbaum said. "I give up my leg to Mike, and I'm messing around like, 'Here, take my leg.' I try to do a little roll through and Mike puts me on my back.
"But if I had known that Mike would go on a podcast and air that out, maybe it would have been a little different story. So, in the future, there might be a wrestling match that we're going to have to record or something."
He may be a tad biased, but right tackle Roger Rosengarten said he was a witness and vouched that it was a draw.
