After showing out in front of 26,052 fans in M&T Bank Stadium the day before, Lamar Jackson missed training camp practice Monday for the first time this season for an excused and pre-planned personal reason.
With Jackson absent and the entire team coming off a padded practice in the stadium, Monday's practice was in shells. The younger players received more reps, while some of the veterans had more time on the sideline to rest and recharge ahead of Tuesday's joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts.
Filling in for Jackson, Cooper Rush made the most of his opportunities with the first-team offense. On a new team for the first time in his career after seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, the veteran signal-caller has settled in. During 11-on-11 work, Rush zipped a ball down the seam to Zay Flowers, who had a step on Marlon Humphrey and reeled in the catch for a touchdown.
That was the kind of valuable rep that Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken likes to see from his backup signal-caller, who will see significant preseason action starting Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts.
"[Rush] just gets it," Monken said. "When I was in Tampa [in 2016-2018], we tried to get him there, but we were pretty loaded at quarterback. … You don't make it as long as [he has] without understanding, one, what's asked of you through your system, and yet knowing your liabilities as a player, and I think he's maximized that."
Here are more notes from Monday's practice:
- Rush's second-best throw of the day went to Tylan Wallace in the red zone. Rush put the ball where only Wallace could grab it on a fade route to the end zone, and Wallace used one hand to help haul in the pass for a touchdown while keeping his feet in bounds.
- Kyle Hamilton had a breakup on a short pass intended for Anthony Miller. Hamilton was quick to the ball and knocked the ball out on the tackle.
- T.J. Tampa had a nice day with a takeaway and a pass breakup. Takeaways are a focal point for the Ravens' defense this season, and Tampa lived up to that mantra with a forced fumble on Keaton Mitchell. Tampa punched the ball out of Mitchell's hands after he made a catch in the flat and scooped the ball for a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
- Nnamdi Madubuike had a pass bat down at the line of scrimmage on the first play of 11-on-11 work.
- Rashod Bateman missed practice after participating in Sunday's.
- Jaire Alexander said Sunday that he is about 90% finished learning the defense, and he showcased his aptitude for the scheme on Monday, blowing up a jet sweep to Wallace.
- LaJohntay Wester continued to display his quickness and ability to separate with several catches throughout the afternoon.
