HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "OK, [it's] good seeing everybody. I appreciate you being here. [It was a] good practice. [We are] locked in trying to get ready to play our best football on Sunday. That's our hope and our plan. What questions do you have?"
Do you have any shareable, injury Intelligence on QB Lamar Jackson? (Jamison Hensley) "Oh, don't you want to hear about everybody? No? Oh, that's the one? I appreciate the honesty. I know this – [Lamar Jackson] practiced today; [it was a] full practice today, so that was good. And we'll see where we're at going forward."
Will it be QB Lamar Jackson's decision or a group decision? (Jerry Coleman) "We'll see where it [Lamar Jackson's status] is at going forward. Everybody's involved in the decision, always. It's never [just the player's decision] – the doctors are involved; every party is involved."
Are you more interested in who QB Lamar Jackson could be on Sunday as opposed to what he showed you guys this week? (Jonas Shaffer) "I just think we're going to talk about it as we go and figure out what we have to do to try to win the game. That's really what we're going to try to do. What's our best opportunity to win the football game on Sunday? Where does everybody stand, including No. 8 – Lamar [Jackson] – and anybody else? And that's just how it goes. You do your best. We do talk about it at length, but it's not really a public conversation. We're going to try to put our best team out there and play our best."
When you watch QB Lamar Jackson at practice, is he moving and looking like Lamar? (*Cordell Woodland)* "Yes, like I said, [Lamar Jackson] practiced today, fully, and that's what he did. I appreciate the effort, though." (laughter)
You guys signed DE Carl Lawson to the practice squad. What do you guys like about him and how long do you think he'll need to ramp up to become an option for you? (Luke Jones) "Looks like [Carl Lawson] is in good shape. It won't be this game. He just got here today, but he'll be on the practice squad, and that's a good spot for him to get ready to play. [It] looks like he is in good shape. [It is a] short week next week, so we'll have to see how that goes. But we've played against him a lot, and we have a lot of respect for him. [He's a] really good guy, too. [He's] so smart and an experienced player, so that's a good thing."
What do you think of OLB Mike Green's ascension to the NFL. Do you think he's close to making those impact plays? (Josh Tolentino) "I do. I do think [Mike Green] is ready to make those plays, and I'm ready for him to make those plays. He's practicing really well. He does get better, noticeably better, every single practice and every single game. You can see it in a little things. So, he will break through at some point in time and make a couple big plays for us and get rolling. That's what we're looking for."
Pass rush coach Chuck Smith was saying that you have really asked OLB Mike Green to do a lot that maybe other rookies at his position don't do. Do you see him dropping back maybe in a different context if you guys were healthier, he'd be in for fewer downs and more of those downs would be 'ears pinned back'-type, pass-rush downs. Do you think in some ways he's been limited by that? (Kyle Goon) "No, I don't think that. I think that [Mike Green]'s a complete football player. To me, that's a compliment; that's a plus-side thing. So, is he going to get sacks? Is that what you're asking me? Heck, yes. He's going to get sacks. He's going to get sacks, and we're a diverse defense and a multiple defense. I think if you look at his body type, or if you watch him play, you can see he's capable of doing all kinds of stuff. So, that just makes him a better football player."
If QB Lamar Jackson is unable to play, or he is not able to start, would QB Tyler Huntley be the guy next up? (Jamison Hensley) "Tyler [Huntley] will be the next up. Yes."
We didn't see T Ronnie Stanley out there. Is everything OK with him? (Cordell Woodland) "Yes, we gave [Ronnie Stanley] a rest day. Yes, a 'no practice' rest day. So, he's not [on the] injury report."
From a roster-mechanic standpoint, will QB Tyler Huntley be added to 53-man roster, or will we use an elevation on it? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I'm not going to make that announcement, because I was just instructed not to. But [as you] saw, we cut Zaire [Mitchell-Paden]. Hopefully, we'll get him back on the practice squad or in some form or fashion. I [was] so happy with the way Zaire played for us. His development over the last year here has been phenomenal. [I am] really proud of him, appreciative of him, and we'll see where that goes as well."
QB TYLER HUNTLEY
On how he felt this week at practice: "It felt pretty good, like every week. Just being able to play ball, that's the greatest feeling; just being able to just work on your craft and get better."
On how it felt to play in a game with the familiar faces of the offense: "Like I said, it was great to just be out there and be able to get a chance to just play a little bit. [It was great to] just be able to run around out there a little bit."
On how his previous experience with the team will help if he is the starting quarterback on Sunday: "Just like going down to the Dolphins and being able to just play football, that's the greatest opportunity that I just praise about, because sometimes ... There are a lot of guys out there that want to be just playing, and I'm able to play. It just feels good to be out there."
On how QB Lamar Jackson looked this week in practice: "[Lamar Jackson] looked good. He is getting back into his swing of things, and he looks good."
On how QB Lamar Jackson has been doing as he's working to return from injury: "When he is not able to play, he'll let you know, 'Man, I can't go.' But when he is ready to go, he is ready to go."
On if he has been preparing to start on Sunday: "I always prepare to start. I treat it like every week; I'm studying and drawing out the plays, watching film and everything I need to do to be prepared, like I do every week."
On if he has memories of when he started for the Ravens against the Chicago Bears in 2021: "Yes, it was a little cold like this." (laughter) "It was little windy. It was a little windy, but it was a good game. [We had the] game-winning drive down there. It was pretty good."
On if his previous experience playing the Bears in 2021 has been helpful as he prepares for this week: "[It's just] another team. [The Bears are] another team, just like everybody on the schedule. [I am] just treating it as a one-week Super Bowl. [We have] to be prepared to get a win."
On if the offensive players have been frustrated after the last few weeks and how that has translated on the field: "Just being able to go into the bye [week] and get some time to relax and recoup. Just being able to come back out here, get our minds right, and then just try to do the things that we need to do to get better. I think everybody has a good foot on it this week. Everybody was ready to practice, and we got to it."
On if he is worried about trying to recover after a 1-5 start: "No, not at all. Thinking back to when the Bengals went to the Super Bowl [in 2021], I think they had a pretty bad record starting off that year. I can't remember their record, but I remember them going to the Super Bowl that year, and they didn't have a good record starting off. It's about how you finish."
On if he feels like there is still belief from the team that they can turn things around this season: "Yes sir. We just have to win the games that we need to win, and we'll be right where we need to be."
OLB CARL LAWSON
On his first 24 hours as a Raven: "[I'm] just getting adjusted and getting in the playbook. That was the first thing I wanted to do, but I had to figure out where I was going to stay, get my car, so I skipped a lot of that process and got right to the playbook. Yes, that's been the main things, just getting comfortable. I have a lot of good friends on the team already, just from being around the league. [There are] a lot of good guys in this locker room, so it's been a pretty easy transition for me."
On who he has prior relationships with on the team: "Ronnie Stanley [and I] have been talking about this for a while. John Jenkins is my boy; we were training together, [also] Josh Tupou [and] a lot of guys. Then, I've been a big fan of Kyle Van Noy for a long time, so it's just a great locker room of people."
On the last few months of staying in shape and working out: "It's been really good. It's been a lot of blessings. I can't really complain. It's just been [about] training and then getting really, really healthy. I got a full healthy offseason, so I was really excited about that. My dad passed, but he's in a better place. It was a great celebration of life, so I really, really, really appreciate the time I've had on this Earth, and I get another chance to play football, so I get a chance to make him proud. So, I'm very happy about that."
On if he approaches this opportunity with a different mindset than he might have had in years past: "No, every day, I've had an appreciation for life. Every day, I've had appreciation for football. Every day, I think we all should have appreciation for just being able to go out and smile and help one another. So, I don't think it's been that heavy, because the fact that I even get those things is a blessing, so [I'm] very thankful."
On if he's followed OLB Kyle Van Noy's career and journey to the Ravens: "Absolutely, I've seen it from a distance. It's really good to see, because with every opportunity you get each single year, I think you should always want to get better, whether or not you're an older player, vet [or] young guy. So yes, I've seen that from afar. I told [Kyle Van Noy] today; I was like, 'Hey, I love to see it.' I think at 32 [years old], going out there and having career years, that's something that ... There's a lot of negative talk in the world, and so you might get down on yourself because of that stuff, but then you're like, 'Hey, I don't see an example of that.' So, it is great to have a guy like that in the locker room."
On working with pass rush coach Chuck Smith before he was with the Ravens: "Yes, I worked with [pass rush coach] Chuck [Smith] for eight or nine years now, even before he was [with the Ravens] in Atlanta, because we're all from Atlanta, so he was calling me by my nickname. When I got him on the phone, he [called me by it], so yes, that's family. It was good to see him."
On his first Ravens practice and how it felt to be back at an NFL practice: "It always feels great just to be out there and be able to play football and be around a good group of guys that want to work. So, yes, it was just a positive experience."
On his initial impression of the Ravens' defense: "My impression of the defense is that I haven't been in a three-four [defense] in a while. I've been in an attacking four-three [defense], so [I'm] just getting up, picking up the terminology, just trying to be a sponge as much as possible, learning from anybody who's willing to teach me and learn. So yes, that's been a positive experience."
On if he hopes to be a three-down player or a pass rush specialist: "Whatever. I can do everything at a high, high level. My thing is just always just making sure I'm healthy and consistent with that part of it, but as far as being a three-down player, I'm very, very capable to do that at a high level. Whatever the team asks of me, that's what I'm going to try to go out and do at a high level and just do my best every single day."
On if he was surprised to sign with a team this late in the season after have 5 sacks last year and if that put a chip on his shoulder: "I'm always going to have a chip on my shoulder, but there were [other] opportunities that I didn't think were the best fit for me. I've always been in a rush for certain things, so it wasn't necessarily ... I didn't know how long the process was going to take. I just knew it was going to happen, and I knew I was going to take time to sharpen my axe instead of sitting there worrying about what ifs and whatnot. It's like, 'OK, well you're not here today. Work tomorrow, work the next day and enjoy life,' and just be with my fiancée and family."
On what makes the Ravens a good fit for him: "I, personally, think it's just more so the opportunity to play the [Ravens'] defense, and I also think it's AFC North football. I didn't necessarily know if it was going to happen here for years, but there's always been hints. Coming off the Achilles [injury], the first game I played was [against] the Ravens. Leaving Cincinnati, [the first game I played was against] the Ravens. It's always kind of been one of those things that's like, 'Oh, there are hints there,' but you just never know. I grew up watching [Terrell] Suggs and [Elvis] Dumervil, so just to get the opportunity to follow in footsteps of the guys that I've looked up to is very much a blessing."
