Lamar Jackson was in mid-season form during Wednesday's practice.
The two-time MVP was dialed in through the air during the Ravens' final padded practice of the week, consistently finding his receivers for chunk plays across the field and deep touchdowns down the field.
Jackson kicked off the first live period of the day with a rocket to Rashod Bateman on a slant between Roquan Smith and Chidobe Awuzie. That was the first of many plays between the two that moved the chains, as the pair continues to build rapport coming off their best season together.
The highlight of the day came when Jackson dropped the ball into a bucket deep down the sideline to Bateman for roughly a 40-yard touchdown. Jackson stood patiently in the pocket and launched the pass to Bateman, perfectly fitting the ball between Awuzie and safety Sanoussi Kane.
Here are more notes from Wednesday's practice:
- Jackson zipped the ball to Mark Andrews for a big gain over the middle with Jake Hummel trailing right behind Andrews. Justice Hill did a nice job picking up a Trenton Simpson blitz to give Jackson time to connect with his veteran tight end. Jackson also found Devontez Walker for a touchdown in the red zone on a fade route. Walker hauled in the pass in the back corner of the end zone with Nate Wiggins tight in coverage. During 1-on-1s, Jackson found Zay Flowers, who beat Wiggins down the field, for a deep touchdown.
- Mike Green put his athleticism and relentlessness on full display throughout Wednesday's practice. In a period focused on gap integrity and run fits, Green was constantly disruptive. On one play, he bulldozed tight end Scotty Washington to the ground. The Ravens wrapped up practice with a pass rush drill in the middle of the field with the rest of the team encircled. Green won his reps, beating Carson Vinson around the edge once and then with an inside move on another. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr smiled after Green's sack and Pass Rush Coach Chuck Smith did some celebratory dance moves. Toward the end of practice, Green was off to the side, tuning up his pass rush moves with former Raven Michael McCrary.
- The Ravens practiced the free kick situation, when a team can fair catch a punt and kick a field goal from that spot on the ensuing play with the defense at least 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage (usually executed at the end of a half). After LaJohntay Wester fair caught the punt from Jordan Stout, Tyler Loop drilled what would've been a 67-yarder on the free kick.
- Not counting the free kick, Loop finished 7-for-9 on field goals, missing from 46 and 48 yards wide right.
- Reuben Lowery found a way to get his hands on the football yet again. The undrafted rookie defensive back had two passes defensed, one on a throw to tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden in the flat and another one in the end zone, where he dove for a breakup on a pass from Devin Leary intended for Walker.
- Malaki Starks and Awuzie broke up a pass intended for Dayton Wade near the back corner of the end zone. Starks was also sticky in coverage with Jay Higgins during a red-zone period when the pair prevented Charlie Kolar from catching a touchdown over the middle.
- Jahmal Banks had an impressive grab in the back of the end zone on a pass from Leary, dragging both feet in bounds with T.J. Tampa in close proximity. Leary did a nice job buying time on the play and squeezing the throw into a tight window.
- Tampa intercepted Rush on a throw intended for Xavier Guillory near the sideline. Tampa also had a breakup on a later pass thrown to Banks in the end zone.
- Kyle Van Noy beat Daniel Faalele with a lightning-quick spin move inside for what would've been a quarterback hit or a sack. Travis Jones was also a big problem in the Ravens' pass rush drill to end practice.
- David Ojabo recovered a fumble on a failed pitch attempt from Jackson to Derrick Henry on an option play.
