HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "I just want to start off by offering condolences to the Popik family for the passing of Woody Popik, our longtime stadium announcer [and] DJ, who did a great job. For all those years, our stadium was alive and full of energy thanks to Woody and people like Woody. We just really appreciate him. We appreciate his family, and we offer our heartfelt condolences for their loss. What questions do you have?"
On offense, you brought pretty much the same cast of guys back from last year, but they are just not having the same consistency on offense as last year. How do you try to get that consistency back to the offense? (Jamison Hensley) "Just keep chasing it. [We] keep chasing it every day in practice and meetings and try to find it during the game on Sunday."
Bringing in G Laken Tomson, what was the thought behind that? What are your first impressions of him? Is there a path for him to get elevated and be active? (Alex Glaze) "Yes, we'll have to see where it goes. I'm just kind of getting to know [Laken Tomlinson]. He played, obviously, [he's had] a great career [for] a long time. [He is a] very physical, tough and hard-nosed player. I had a chance to speak with him this morning – what a great conversation. He is a great man, a family man and had played some football this year; he played quite a bit. So, we'll see how quickly he gets up to speed and kind of how it falls in with what we're doing."
I know you referenced QB Lamar Jackson's schedule on Monday, was today just a rest day for him? (Jerry Coleman) "[It was a] NIR, rest day, right."
You're going against Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase, what's the key to slowing him down? Because a lot of teams struggle with that. (*Jamison Hensley)* "Yes, [Ja'Marr Chase] is pretty good. Pretty good. You've heard about him? I've heard about him. He is not bad." (Laughter) "And it's not just Ja'Marr. They have a heck of an offense. I think if you look at what they've done – but they've done, really all year – especially when Joe Burrow is out there. They had another big game this last week in Buffalo – it was a shootout. So, they do a lot of good things. He's accurate; he moves around the pocket; he finds Ja'Marr. They've got plenty of other talented guys on offense that they find with their passing game, [and] they run the ball downhill. It's going to be a big challenge."
I know we asked about G/T Emery Jones Jr. on Monday, but is the plan still to try to sprinkle him out there in the rotation plan that he was before two weeks ago? (Cordell Woodland) "No, it's not the same plan as that right now. No."
What have you kind of seen from Carl Jones Jr.? (Brian Wacker) "Yes, Carl [Jones Jr.], that was a pickup that was really good and timely for us. We've kind of been through two linebackers now on special teams, and then Carl becomes available – a guy we played against a few weeks ago. He's young and a very effective special teams linebacker in this league. We had a chance to get him out there today and practice, and he looked good. [He was] picking up our stuff really well, and I expect him to be out there playing really well for us on Sunday."
Do you think S Ar'Darius Washington and OLB Tavius Robinson have a chance for this week? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I do. I do. Yes. They practice today [and] practiced well, so we'll see what happens."
This is the time of year where there are playoff ramifications flashing with every game and scenario. You've talked a lot about keeping the team in the present. How important is that quality right now, given everything that's kind of swirling about the ramifications and stuff? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Well, it's critically important. The ramifications mean nothing. To say we control our own destiny, that's only if we win. You have to win to control your destiny. So, that's what we have to do. And it's been that way the last two weeks, and we haven't been able to pull off a win. It was that way the previous four weeks, and we were able to do it. So, we need to go win. That's it. We need to win. If you win, then you have a chance to control your destiny. If you don't, then it's going to be out of your hands. It's as simple as that."
TE MARK ANDREWS
On if Sunday's game at Cincinnati feels like a "must-win" game: "Yes, it's that time of year with everything in front of us. Being able to dial in and focus on this game is what it's all about. I know the energy and everything in this locker room and this organization is all geared towards that, and so I'm excited to go out and do that and start being the team that we are."
On how this team responds to having their backs against the wall: "We will continue to fight always. And that's the type of guys that we have here are fighters and people that are resilient, humble – and no matter what they go through – they're just continuing to keep their head down and work. I think that that'll pay off in the end, and I'm excited about this last four games of the year and just taking on this first game against the Bengals."
On the message from team leaders heading into this stretch of important games: "The energy today at practice is going to work, working hard, doing our job, focusing on our gameplan and knowing that this is a big game coming up, and we just have to be ready to go."
On volunteering at the Ravens' Holiday Helpers community event: "It was really an awesome experience. I was telling someone that I feel like I got more out of it than the two kids I was shopping with, Armor and Kieran. They were just a blast to be with, and I had a great time with them, and just giving back and having fun, and that's where this time of year is about."
On if he has celebrated since signing a contract extension last week: "No, not right now. It's all just focusing on each and every week, and especially during the season, I'm pretty diligent about taking care of myself, so that will have to wait until after the season. But, I'm extremely fortunate to be in this position and to be here and couldn't ask for a better [opportunity]."
On if it's helpful knowing they haven't tapped into their full potential and that they can still do so this season: "Yes, it is. And we're still not playing our best football by any means, and the type of games that we're playing in are winnable games. So, I think that we're very close to doing our thing, and we have so much talent. It's just about coming together, doing our job, and the offense scoring points, the defense is balling out and special teams doing their job – and if we do those types of things – I think great things will happen."
On the final offensive play on Sunday vs. Pittsburgh: "Yes, I don't know. I felt like [Lamar Jackson's] eyes were pretty much locked on me. But again, I saw that, and there's obviously the classic hate comments and whatever it is – it's crazy – but I'm just trying to make a play. I felt like I was working to get open. I felt like I was getting dragged on a little bit, so I went up to go get the ball. How am I supposed to know 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] is back there? But yes, it's part of football."
On if signing the contract extension was a relief to him: "It certainly is nice to have that affirmation, but I'm going to continue to focus and keep the same mindset that I've had – focus each and every week and keep my head down and not worrying about the things I can't control. I'm extremely thankful to have [the Ravens organization] put that faith in me. I'm going to continue to work, be the best player that I can be and help this team win games, and that's my goal."
On if he feels like the offense is still trying to find its identity: "I don't think so. I think that throughout the games, there have been mistakes, and I think that it's everybody. It's everybody putting in [work], and I think if we just clean those up, good things are going to happen. I think at times, we're moving the ball really, really well, and just limiting the short drives and being able to move the ball. But I'm proud of the guys. I think that we haven't played our best ball, and that's going to come."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On how he is feeling about the University of Notre Dame not making the College Football Playoff: "Obviously, [I am] bummed they didn't make the [College Football] Playoff, but I think it might've been maybe the right decision – the political decision at the end of the day. Head-to-head wins have to matter. So, it sucks they didn't get in, but it's kind of funny they're not going to a bowl game. I guess all the important bowls are taken for the [College Football] Playoff, but [the] 2026 Notre Dame [football team] will still be there."
On what the key is to slowing down Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase: "We do match up sometimes in the slot. They move [Ja'Marr Chase] around so much, and that's part of the reason why they have success; you never know where he's going to be at. You try to scheme your offense and scheme your defense, or whatever it may be, so your best players can shine, and that's what they do very well. Not [just] him, just all the weapons they have on offense. I think a big part of stopping him is just knowing where he is and what they like to do in certain areas where he's at. Obviously, Joe [Burrow] is a heck of a quarterback and can get the ball wherever it needs to be and can make reads and not just force-feeding Ja'Marr, but letting everybody else eat. But it's a challenge that people who've had a problem with for the past – what is this, his fifth year in the league? It's something like that. So, he's a good player, and they're a good offense, but I think we have a scheme, and I think effort a lot of the time makes up for mistakes just scheme-wise. So, I think we definitely have that down pat – just run to the ball, playing hard, it covers a lot of things up."
On if completing their goals after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is harder to accomplish: "Yes, it is a little bit harder. Obviously, we were 6-6 last week, now we're 6-7, so the urgency becomes even more urgent, I guess. But it's not hard, but it's a little annoying – not from you guys – but for myself having to get up here every week and be like, 'We need to turn it on. We need to turn it on.' It's been like that ever since Week 1. It's time that we go out and do it, and there's no excuses that are to be made at this point. But like I said, it is a lot of talk. We can stand up here and tell you our plan every week, but it's a matter of us going out there and actually executing it. So, we feel like we've done that multiple times this year. We just have to replicate it down the stretch."
On which areas he has seen defensive improvement: "I would say No. 1, just playing together and [having the] rush and coverage working together. I think that's a big part of football in general – complementary football. Sometimes the coverage may not look great, but then the rush gets there, and then, like I said, playing hard covers up those mistakes. Or, the pass rush isn't getting home, but the DBs are covering well, [and the] quarterback scrambles, [then] throws it out of bounds, something like that. I think we've been playing very complementary with each other. Also, I think just being resilient throughout a game. We've had a tendency in the past to just maybe come out strong, and then in the second half, kind of wear down, and then not do well in the fourth quarter when it's time to win games. I think last week – I don't know the stats – but somebody said something about how many yards or first downs the Steelers had in the fourth quarter. Obviously, [we] gave ourselves the opportunity to win the game at the end of the day. So, just playing better down the stretch of games. I think our red zone [defense] has been really good, and we've been put in some tough positions [and] we've been going out there and getting stops, holding them to three points and stuff like that. We do a lot of good stuff, and there's obviously some stuff we need to fix, but I think we're in a good spot right now."
On if he's looked at the upcoming quarterbacks that the Ravens will face: "Just one game at a time. Just focus on Joe Burrow right now."
On what it is like to defend Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow when he changes protections at the line of scrimmage: "Yes, there's definitely some gamesmanship going on. I think Aaron Rodgers last week was probably the best example I'll ever get of it. He is taking the clock down all the way to zero and gets his offense to what he wants to be in, and [it's the] same thing with Joe [Burrow]. He's really a younger guy for his position, and the way the offense operates – just the operation down the field – and taking care of the ball for the most part and making plays. There's definitely a cat-and-mouse gamesmanship going on before the snap, just with disguises and bluffing one thing. He has gotten us a couple of times, but we also have gotten him, too. So, I think that's the beauty of football. You are going to have wins and losses, it's just a matter of who stacks more wins at the end of the game."
On if it is hard to fathom the current position that the Ravens are in to make the playoffs: "I would say yes if you [had] asked me this in training camp, not that this is expected or anything at this point in the season, but you play the cards you're dealt, and really, we've dealt ourselves these cards. So, we are obviously not in a position we would like to have been in, but we still have an opportunity to go win the AFC North and get into the playoffs. So, we still control our destiny, and that's not going to change where our mindset is, 'Win, and we're in,'c from here on out. So, that's something we can control and something we have to go do."
On if the message to the team is any different this week with it being an important game in terms of playoff considerations: "Yes, I think so. I think just the way coaches were opening meetings, just by talking from a different perspective. I feel like our perspective changes every time we win or lose a game, and the record changes, the probability and what it means for the rest of the games change. [I am] probably going to go off on a tangent here a little bit, but [this is] kind of a weird relation to your question. I was thinking just about all the sports and all the champions that I've seen recently and just how they got there, and it kind of put things in perspective for me. Like [in] the French Open, Carlos Alcaraz has three match points – he's down three match points – comes back and wins. Rory McIlroy lost the U.S. Open like that last year. He misses a putt on [hole] 18 at the Masters. Everything looks like he's about to choke again and wins the Masters. F1 [Formula One] driver – I don't know if you guys watch that – but Max Verstappen in the middle of the year, it looks like he's not even going to finish in the top three or four for the [F1 World] Championship. He put himself in position last week to win the whole thing. LeBron [James] was down 3-1 in the [NBA] Finals, comes back and wins it. It's like, it never really is the 'Cinderella fairytale season' that it's going to be, and that just is what it is. The Patriots won all those games [in 2007] and then lost in the Super Bowl, and nobody really cares about the undefeated record up until that point. So, it's not about how you get there, it's just a matter of you getting there; I think the mindset that we have to have is kind of like that. All these great sports feats have come with a challenge, and we could be another story along that road. So, that's kind of the mindset I feel like we've taken upon ourselves right now. It's kind of the mindset we need to have – have to have – in order to get where we want to go. But it's going to be a heck of a story; that's what we're telling ourselves."
On if he is going to share that story and sentiment with his teammates: "I kind of did that tangent a little bit at lunch today. So, they can talk about it themselves."
TE ISAIAH LIKELY
On if the NFL overturning his touchdown catch, indicating it wasn't a touchdown, impacts the team from a technique standpoint: "[It's about] just being more focal, just going back to the fundamentals, catching the ball, making sure you got all the league rules down [and] make sure it's a touchdown."
On how many times he has watched that play on film: "I watched it, probably a little bit, before, and then we watched it on film [and] talked about it. That's pretty much it. I'm trying to get ready for the Bengals now."
On the reasoning behind extending the ball away from his body on the catch: "Knowing the type of DB it was, Joey Porter [Jr.], he's a physical, long DB, so knowing that he was going to try to play through the catchpoint at the end. I felt like I beat him at the route, but it felt like he was still close. [It made] me have to jump for the ball. I felt like in my mind, [it was] just a split-second decision, just keeping the ball away from him and getting two feet down. I thought it was going to be a touchdown, but we just have to get back to it."
On if he realized that he needed a third football move in order for it to be ruled a catch: "I thought just putting the ball away from the DB was a football move. I guess now [I know] what a football move is in their terms."
On if, in retrospect, he should have tucked the ball closer to his body like on his first touchdown catch: "I guess, yes, and per se keeping the ball closer to my body. But like I said, [it was] a split-second decision, knowing who you're going up against, I felt like that was the best situation for that outcome. We'll just get back to the drawing board."
OLB TAVIUS ROBINSON
On how it feels to be back out at practice: "It feels so good to get back out there. It's a blessing to be back out there with my brothers, and I'm just excited to go out there and ball with them, for sure."
On the difficulty of missing time after not missing a practice prior to his injury: "It was really tough at the start, especially the first couple weeks there. Not being able to do much watching at home definitely sucked, but there was two ways I could look at it: I could either be frustrated and mad at it or just attack rehab, and really that's kind of what I did. I just put my head down and did everything I could get back as fast as possible."
On what the rehab process looked like for him: "I think it was, again, just weeks of rehab, and now I feel great. I don't even recognize the foot anymore. It just feels normal. So yes, it's just about getting back."
On his excitement to play a game again: "I'm so excited to just play a game again. Like I said, watching on TV was very hard the first couple of weeks just because you want to be out there with your guys."
On his impression of the change within the pass rush group: "I think the addition of vets like 'Dre' [Dre'Mont Jones] were great and getting in the film room with him [has been] great to bounce ideas off of him, watch his play style and all that stuff. I think as a unit, we've come a long way, and we still a lot more to do, for sure."
On the mental toll of dealing with an injury for the first time in his professional career: "I think it's going to make me stronger, honestly. Again, with the rehab part of it, it was just about coming in every day and attacking it like a practice day. So that's kind of what I did, and I think it'll pay off, because I don't really feel the foot anymore. I feel good. So, I think it will definitely pay off."
On if he feels ready to go: "I feel like I'm ready to go, for sure."
On watching the ups and downs of the team while he was out: "It's been great to see the team, like you said, claw back and put ourselves in a position to go win a game this weekend and continue to stack games. So now with me back, I think the message is important to again, take it one game at a time. Right now, all of our eyes are focused on the Cincinnati Bengals."
On what he's hoping to add to the pass rush group: "I'm hoping to get back out there, bring a little juice and bring that energy to this sideline. [I want to] just give the energy to go out there and get it done and affect the quarterback."
On the difficulty of getting after Bengals QB Joe Burrow: "Obviously, [Joe Burrow] is a great quarterback, so it's going to be big on us doing our jobs, executing upfront and making sure we get to him and bring him down."
On if he anticipates playing on Sunday: "I do. Yes, I do."
On what it was like for him not being able to play in games: "Honestly, the first two games were hard for me to watch because I felt like, truthfully, I was letting my team down by not being out there. So, it was hard to even just stomach watching my guys go out there. Once I was able to get on the sideline and have an earpiece in and all that, it was easier to be a part of it. But yes, it was hard at the start, for sure."
On if he learned anything from being forced to watch and not play: "I think, first of all, it's a reminder to never take a snap for granted. I was saying that when I was hurt, I would die to just go out there and play a field goal block snap or anything. So, it's a reminder of never to take it for granted, and [that] every play, every snap has to be [your] full effort and full everything because you never know when it will be taken away."
On how he pushes himself further when he's giving his maximum effort: "I think it's just a reminder, so it's going to be about taking even another step and [giving] even more effort."
