The Ravens' wide receivers have stood out at the start of camp, but three are now dealing with injuries as the team prepares to shift into the next phase with padded practices.
Marquise "Hollywood" Brown missed his third straight workout after leaving Thursday's session early. Harbaugh did not give a timetable for the return of the third-year wide receiver.
"Marquise has still got his issues with his hamstring, it turned out to be worse than what they told me it was going to be," Harbaugh said. "He's out until he's back."
Rashod Bateman was also absent Monday, and Harbaugh said the first-rounder was suffering from muscle tightness. Bateman has a strong practice Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium, but he missed some reps and could be seen stretching on the sideline before the stadium practice ended.
"It's just training camp, a lot of running, a lot of tightness," Bateman said Saturday. "No big issue."
Third-year wide receiver Miles Boykin walked off the field Monday accompanied by a member of the medical staff near the end of practice.
"It looks like something with his hamstring. We'll have to see how it is," Harbaugh said.
Colts Quarterback Carson Wentz May Miss Week 5 vs. Ravens
The Ravens will face some top tier quarterbacks in 2021, but they may not see Carson Wentz when they host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. The Colts announced Monday that Wentz will undergo foot surgery.
Head Coach Frank Reich gave a wide estimate for how long Wentz will be out, saying he could miss anywhere from five to 12 weeks.
It's an old injury from high school, and over time the broken bone became loose and has caused Wentz pain.
Behind Wentz on the Colts' depth chart are two quarterbacks with little NFL experience, Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger. Reich said Eason is in the "driver's seat," but Indianapolis may add a veteran quarterback, especially Wentz is expected to be out closer to 12 weeks than five. After trading for Wentz during the offseason, the Colts will have to wait longer than they hoped to see him in the lineup.
Many of the league's top quarterbacks will face the Ravens in 2021.Here's a snapshot of each on the schedule.
Derek Carr, Week 1 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Career stats: 110 games, 64.4% completions, 170 touchdowns, 71 interceptions, 92.1 QB rating _2020 stats: 67.3% completions, 4,103 yards, 27 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 101.4 QB rating_
Carr is 1-1 against the Ravens and he last faced them in 2018 when Baltimore defeated the Raiders, 34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium. His favorite target is Darren Waller, a former Raven who has blossomed into one of the NFL's top tight ends. Carr is the Raiders' all-time leader in passing yards (22,793) and has thrown for over 4,000 yards the past three seasons.
Patrick Mahomes, Week 2 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Career stats: 46 games, 66.0% completions, 114 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 108.7 QB rating 2020 stats:66.3% completions, 4,740 yards, 38 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 108.2 QB rating
Mahomes has been the Ravens' primary nemesis in recent years, winning all three of his starts against them and having his way with 1,136 yards passing, nine touchdowns and one interception. The 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player is the fastest quarterback in league history to reach 10,000 yards passing, and he has led the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning a Lombardi Trophy following the 2019 season.
Jared Goff, Week 3 at Detroit Lions
Career stats: 69 games, 63.4% completions, 107 touchdowns, 55 interceptions, 91.5 QB rating 2020 stats:67% completions, 3,952 yards, 20 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 90.0 QB rating
Goff's only career start against the Ravens was a rough one, when he was picked off twice during a 45-6 loss to Baltimore when Goff was with the Los Angeles Rams. A huge offseason trade sent him to Detroit, with former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford moving to Los Angeles. Goff isn't far removed from reaching the Super Bowl with the Rams (2018), and he wants to prove he's still an elite player in Detroit.
Drew Lock/Teddy Bridgewater, Week 4 at Denver Broncos
Lock's career stats: 18 games, 59.1% completions, 23 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, 79.1 QB rating 2020 stats:57.3% completions, 2,933 yards, 16 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 75.4 QB rating Bridgewater's career stats: 59 games, 66.5% completions, 53 touchdowns, 36 interceptions, 89.5 QB rating 2020 stats:69.1% completions, 3,733 yards, 15 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 92.1 QB rating
Lock and Bridgewater will wage a training camp battle to determine the starter, but neither quarterback has ever faced the Ravens. The 24-year-old Lock has been inconsistent during his two years with Denver, while the 28-year-old Bridgewater is with his fifth NFL team, trying to reestablish himself after a devastating 2017 knee injury.
Carson Wentz, Week 5 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Career stats: 68 games, 62.7% completions, 113 touchdowns, 50 interceptions, 89.2 QB rating 2020 stats:57.4% completions, 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 72.8 QB rating
Wentz has lost both career starts against Baltimore playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, most recently a 30-28 decision last year. His play has declined since his career-best 2017 campaign, when was 11-2 as a starter before a season-ending knee injury. The Colts traded for Wentz this offseason, reuniting him with Head Coach Frank Reich, who was Wentz's offensive coordinator in Philly when he was playing his best.
Justin Herbert, Week 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Career/2020 stats: 15 games, 66.6% completions, 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 98.3 QB rating
The Ravens will get their first look at the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year, who threw more touchdown passes than any first-year player in league history. Herbert's poise for a 23-year-old quarterback is impressive, and it appears the Chargers struck gold with the sixth pick in the 2020 draft. First-year Head Coach Brandon Staley says the team's offense will be built around its young quarterback.
Joe Burrow, Week 7 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Week 16 at Bengals
Career/2020 stats: 10 games, 65.3% completions, 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 89.8 QB rating
Burrow and the Bengals were handled by the Ravens, 27-3, in his only start against them as a rookie. Patrick Queen had a strip sack against his former LSU teammate, and the Ravens sacked Burrow seven times. Burrow is coming off a season-ending knee injury, but had some bright moments as a rookie and he'll have a new dangerous weapon in wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the fifth overall pick.
Kirk Cousins, Week 9 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Career stats: 109 games, 67.0% completions, 190 touchdowns, 84 interceptions, 97.9 QB rating 2020 stats:67.6% completions, 4,265 yards, 35 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 105.0 QB rating.
Cousins is 2-0 against the Ravens, but hasn't faced them since 2016 when he was with Washington. He has dynamic playmakers in wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen and running back Dalvin Cook, but this is a critical year for the 32-year-old Cousins, entering his fourth season as Minnesota's starter. The Vikings drafted former Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond in the third round.
Tua Tagovailoa, Week 10 at Miami Dolphins
Career/2020stats: 10 games, 64.1% completions,1,814 yards,11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 87.1 QB rating
Baltimore didn't see Tagovailoa during his rookie season, when he took over as the starter in Week 7 and Miami won six of its last nine games. The lefty quarterback entered the NFL as the fifth overall pick in 2020, despite suffering a serious hip injury during his final season at Alabama. The Dolphins have made the playoffs just once since 2008, but they are hoping Tagovailoa will change that in 2021.
Andy Dalton/Justin Fields, Week 11 at Chicago Bears
Dalton's career stats: 144 games, 62.2% completions, 218 touchdowns, 126 interceptions, 87.5 QB rating 2020 stats:64.9% completions, 2,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 87.3 QB rating Field's career stats: Rookie
The Bears plan to start Dalton while grooming Fields, the 11th- overall pick. However, it remains to be seen if Dalton is still the starter by Week 11 or if Fields has taken over. The Ravens know all about Dalton from his days as the Bengals' starter. He has faced Baltimore 17 times with an 8-9 record, including last year with the Dallas Cowboys when Dalton dropped a 34-17 decision at M&T Bank Stadium.
Baker Mayfield, Week 12 vs. Cleveland Browns, Week 14 at Cleveland
Career stats: 46 games, 61.9% completions, 75 touchdowns, 43 interceptions, 89.1 QB rating 2020 stats:62.8% completions, 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 95.9 QB rating
Mayfield is 2-4 against the Ravens and has lost three straight, and he's thrown almost as many interceptions against them (8) as touchdowns (10). However, he's coming off his best season after leading Cleveland to its first playoff birth since 2002. Mayfield's an emotional player and can get hot at any time. Baltimore's two games against Mayfield in December will be pivotal in the AFC North race.
Ben Roethlisberger, Week 13 at Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 18 vs. Steelers
Career stats: 253 games, 64.4% completions, 396 touchdowns, 201 interceptions, 94.0 QB rating 2020 stats:65.6% completions, 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 94.1 QB rating
Roethlisberger has faced the Ravens 28 times including the postseason and holds a 17-11 edge. Two victories over Baltimore last season helped Pittsburgh win the AFC North, and the 39-year-old Roethlisberger is still a dangerous player. He's been a huge part of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry for 18 seasons, and he would love to cap his Hall of Fame career with a third Super Bowl ring.
Aaron Rodgers, Week 15 vs. Green Bay Packers
Career stats: 197 games, 65.1% completions, 412 touchdowns, 89 interceptions, 103.9 QB rating 2020 stats:70.7% completions, 4,299 yards, 48 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 121.5 QB rating
The uncertainty surrounding Rodgers' future in Green Bay has been the talk of the summer. The reigning MVP is an all-time great, still performing with peak efficiency at age 37. It's rare for Rodgers to face the Ravens – he's only done it three times (2-1) and hasn't taking a regular-season snap against them since 2013. If he makes up with the Packers and visits Baltimore in Week 15, circle it on the calendar.
Matthew Stafford, Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Career stats: 165 games, 62.6% completions, 282 touchdowns, 144 interceptions, 89.9 QB rating 2020 stats:64.2% completions, 4,084 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 96.3 QB rating
Stafford has not beaten the Ravens in two starts against them with the Detroit Lions, and he has not faced Baltimore since 2017. The trade that sent Stafford to L.A. after 12 seasons in Detroit gives him a fresh start with Head Coach Sean McVay, who wanted a quarterback who could take his offense to another level. Stafford is a gifted thrower and his arrival raises the Rams' expectations.
Marcus Peters Was Happy to Recruit Justin Houston
Baltimore agreed to contract terms with veteran pass rusher Justin Houston on Saturday, pending the outcome of a physical. Houston was reportedly coveted by a host of teams, which is understandable because the 32-year has 97.5 career sacks.
Houston reportedly accepted less money than he could have made elsewhere to join the Ravens.
A player who reached out to Houston while he was trying to make up his mind was Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters, who was teammates with Houston for three seasons (2015-17) with the Kansas City Chiefs. Peters was more than happy to tell Houston that Baltimore was a great place to play.
"I try to do my part," Peters said. "Justin was one of the key factors when I was in K.C. who kind of took me underneath his wing and showed that love, genuine love at that. Great father, great person, great leader for the team. If you get a player like, he's out there on the market, it don't hurt just to call. I'm glad to have him."
Houston and Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell (92) will be vying to reach 100 career sacks this season. But the main priority for both players is to win a Super Bowl, and Peters concurs. He was a member of the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 when they lost Super Bowl LIII to the New England Patriots, and Peters wants another crack at the big game.
"I want to be a champion," Peters said. "I've been to a Super Bowl. Now it's time for me to win one."
Rob Ryan Expects Big Leap From Malik Harrison
Inside Linebackers Coach Rob Ryan, in his first season with the Ravens, brings the same kind of energy to his job that he expects from players. He's pumped to be member of the staff, and he has two second-year players at his position group with plenty of upside, Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison. Queen has openly talked about trying to improve his pass coverage this year, but Harrison has the same goal, and Ryan sees Harrison making significant progress.
"He's a big guy and he is going to make a huge leap," Ryan said. "He needs to finish a little more plays this year and he will. I think he'll be better in coverage. He's got that big long body that can get in throwing lanes, those long arms. I've seen a big improvement. I really like where he's progressing."
Ryan is looking forward to the beginning of padded practices on Tuesday, where he believes Harrison will shine. He earned a reputation as a rookie as a run-stopped and physical tackler.
"Tomorrow, he's going to be denting some helmets out there," Ryan said. "He can't help it. He wants to be physical. He wants to hit something. You've got to slow him down in the meeting room because I think he looks a little violent. I don't want none of that. He's a big kid.
"Linebackers are judged on hits on the ball. Linebackers for the Baltimore Ravens are judged on physicality. It's going to be fun. It started last night. I had a hard time sleeping. I know what it's gong to sound like. You're going to hear a lot of clacking, a lot of popping. That's because it's the Baltimore Ravens playing defense."
