If there was ever a question, Lamar Jackson reminded everyone (including his teammates) about how fast he still is as he enters his eighth season.
During 11-on-11 work, Jackson evaded rushers in the pocket, beat multiple defenders to the sideline, and turned the corner, sprinting the last 50 yards or so and rolling into the end zone. First-round safety Malaki Starks perhaps would have taken Jackson down in a real game, but it wasn't a given.
Offensive teammates and even cornerback Jaire Alexander, Jackson's former college and now Ravens teammate, raced to celebrate with the quarterback. Safety Kyle Hamilton protested to Head Coach John Harbaugh that Jackson should've been considered tackled, but with Jackson, you never know.
"You always have to run to the ball, every play, no matter what, especially if Lamar Jackson has the ball," Harbaugh said. "But we're not going to be tackling Lamar, that's not going to be part of the plan. And I do think, obviously, those types of plays – he's had a lot of those plays in the last two days and those plays do show you what kind of a player he is."
Here are other notes from Tuesday's practice:
- Devontez Walker was a favorite target of Jackson and the other quarterbacks throughout the afternoon. Walker had a sliding catch during 11-on-11 work in front of Starks, who was closing in fast. Walker also hauled in a Cooper Rush pass in the back of the end zone in one-on-one drills, reaching above cornerback Nate Wiggins to secure the catch.
- Starks had a nice pass breakup on a Jackson pass to Mark Andrews in the end zone. Andrews tried to pin the quick throw against his body before Starks swiped the ball out of his hands for an incompletion.
- Second-year safeties Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade both had big hits on the sideline as they compete for the No. 3 safety job. Kane blasted running back Marcus Major out of bounds after catching a dump-off from Rush. A few plays later, Brade knocked down Keaton Mitchell after the tailback sprinted around the edge on a run.
- DeAndre Hopkins nearly had back-to-back days with one-handed catches on Wiggins, but this time the veteran wide receiver couldn't quite complete the catch on the sideline.
- Alexander returned to practice after missing Monday's practice with swelling in his knee. On one of the first plays of 11-on-11 work, Alexander had a pass breakup on a throw intended for Walker on the sideline.
- Undrafted cornerback Keyon Martin has strung together a couple of nice practices. He had what would've been a sack on Jackson on a cornerback blitz and had a pass breakup on a throw to Malik Cunningham over the middle of the field.
- John Hoyland went 5-for-6 on field goal attempts, with his lone miss coming from 51 yards. Tyler Loop did not kick as the two rookie kickers continue to compete for the starting job.
- Rookie defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles flashed with a spin move sack during pass rush vs. O-line drills. David Ojabo also won with an outside speed rush and Broderick Washington had what would have been a sack.
