Bateman was seen wearing a boot in the visiting locker room after Baltimore’s 27-19 road win over the Vikings. He told ESPN’s Kimberley Martin that it happened midway through the third quarter. Bateman curled back toward the ball, jetted inside and made a diving effort toward the goal line before Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers yanked him to the turf.

Bateman told Martin he “doesn’t expect to miss too much time” and was surprised Rodgers wasn’t flagged.

Asked about the play, Harbaugh laughed, “What is a hip-drop tackle? It’s an enigma, apparently, that can’t be called during the game.” The longtime coach said he thought, “based on the definition,” Rodgers should have been flagged for a hip-drop tackle, the recently banned technique that results in a 15-yard penalty and possible fine. Harbaugh turned to a public relations spokesperson and asked, “Am I gonna get in trouble for saying that?”

Teammates pulled Bateman right to his feet and he took a few steps without any noticeable limp. He played through any pain, later catching a 2-point conversion pass — his only other reception in the win — that extended Baltimore’s fourth-quarter lead to two scores.

Bateman hasn’t had the encore to his breakout 2024 that some may have projected. The fifth-year wideout who signed a three-year extension this past summer has only 16 catches on 31 targets with two touchdowns. Bateman’s target share is less than half of Zay Flowers’, and his receiving yards rank fourth in Baltimore’s offense.

That’s after posting career marks last season: 756 yards and nine touchdowns on 72 targets.

Still, he’s a proven commodity in a you-never-know-who passing attack, and the shaky Ravens offense needs all the help they can get in this slow climb back to playoff contention. Veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins could see an uptick in targets if Bateman is to miss any time, or one of the tight ends who have gotten more involved in recent weeks.

Injury luck is a fleeting abstract in the NFL.

After maintaining a nearly spotless injury report last week, the Ravens are now without Bateman in the short term. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is also dealing with a finger injury. He played through it, logged his first interception of the season and took to his postgame Instagram Live all with a wrap around his hand. Humphrey could opt to play through the injury, although there’s a chance it will require surgery that could sideline him for a game or two, according to Harbaugh.

Undrafted rookie Jay Higgins IV also appeared to suffer an injury on a special teams play in Sunday’s win. Higgins was seen wearing a significant brace on his right leg in the postgame locker room. Harbaugh said that Higgins’ unspecified injury would hold the linebacker out for “a few weeks.”

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com.

Here are five things we learned:

The Ravens are surging, but they’re not quite where they need to be

Take the bad with the good.

Lamar Jackson wasn’t his usual dominant self on an afternoon that cornerback Marlon Humphrey called a “smoke break” for the superstar quarterback. Derrick Henry spent most of Sunday afternoon running into a barricade. Four different reliable pass catchers dropped the football. For the third time this season, an opposing receiver eclipsed triple-digit receiving yards. In this case, it was Minnesota’s third option Jalen Nailor, who set career marks with 124 yards on five catches. Nailor’s only touchdown nearly set off an improbable fourth-quarter comeback.

And yet, the Ravens prevailed. They squashed a potential game-tying drive in the final minutes, thwarting early-season demons. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop kept them afloat with four field goals until the offense found a groove. And their defense hit the turnover trifecta, which at times this season felt like an impossible feat.

The win, Baltimore’s third in a row, confirmed this post-bye week surge could be for real. It served as a reminder, too, that there’s still plenty to clean up.

Which is why Jackson couldn’t compliment the defense without kicking himself first, “I feel like we should have helped them out a little bit more, but they got it done,” he said.

Getting it done can mask some of the Ravens’ shortcomings. A light midseason schedule (the next two weeks they’ll play teams with a combined five wins) offers a ramp to get that stuff cleaned up by December. Still, Sunday showed what’s possible: a creatively potent offense, an imposing defense and an influential special teams unit.

Safety Kyle Hamilton said he was joking coming off the field that it was one of only a handful of instances since he was drafted “where both sides played well.” And they did it in one of the league’s tougher places to play.

All week, there was talk about how loud U.S. Bank Stadium would be. It’s so cold in Minneapolis this time of year that everyone packs into the downtown dome and screams their heads off to regulate their body temperatures.

The Vikings wound up with eight false start penalties. The Ravens, who have long been plagued by such afflictions, were flagged only once. What did that say about this team in that setting?

“I think that’s what won the game for us,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I really do. I think the poise under pressure, handling the noise, one presnap penalty, no turnovers in this environment.

“And it’s the two-fold noise. It’s the noise of the crowd, which is incredible, and it’s also the noise of the defense and the noise they create with all their schemes and the way they play.”

A pre-bye week version of this team might not have handled such raucous conditions so calmly.

The simple stuff doesn’t work on third down

A throw short of the sticks. Another skipping through Isaiah Likely’s mitts. A ball thrice swatted at the line of scrimmage. Henry going nowhere. Jackson ditching the ball over the end zone.

That’s a sampling of Baltimore’s third-down snafus, all uncomplicated play calls that ended in frustration over stalled out drives. The Ravens went three-and-out six times. As offensive coordinator Todd Monken likes to argue, it’s only a “bad” play call if it doesn’t work. Talent alone failed to get them past the sticks nine times on 15 tries. Converting on third down Sunday required something a tad more unconventional. Monken showed how deep that playbook goes.

When everyone inside U.S. Bank Stadium assumed Mark Andrews lining up under center meant a tush push — the short-yardage play that has troubled the Ravens at times, and been a cheat code at others — Andrews flipped the ball to his quarterback, who snared an off-target toss with his left hand and picked up the yard and more.

Later, on third-and-1, thinking back to a growing sample size of failed Henry runs in such situations Sunday, Monken gave fullback Patrick Ricard his first carry in nearly three years. He tumbled over the imaginary yellow line with ease.

Another funky conversion helped set up a touchdown. On third-and-2 inside Minnesota’s 10-yard line, Monken called for 13-personnel, a (very) heavy formation with one running back and three tight ends. Jackson kept the ball on a sweeper to his left behind a squadron of big bodies.

Still, Jackson, who played in his 100th regular-season game, knows there’s more to be done. His mood postgame showed as much.

A strong defensive showing gives them “a lot of confidence,” he said. “But I’d have even more if we were putting points on the board like we should. Hats off to our defense, because they played a wonderful game.”

Defense is finally delivering on its takeaway promise

Marlon Humphrey is undoubtedly the most eccentric player in the Ravens’ locker room. Anything could have been going through his head. But after intercepting a J.J. McCarthy deep shot, Humphrey looked unsure of himself, as if to wonder, where did this ball come from? What do I do with it? He was perhaps assuming a yellow flag might land near his feet, negating the play.

Nope, Humphrey registered his first interception of the season (he led the Ravens with six in 2024). It was Baltimore’s second of the day, improving the team total to five on the year and at least one in a third consecutive game. Just last month, only the interception-less Jets had fewer.

The Ravens are now at least better than 10 teams in that department, delivering on a preseason promise they had previously failed to deliver on. They’ve forced seven turnovers in three games after stealing three through the first six. It’s hard to blame Humphrey for looking so out of place after the catch, the return and a little bit of celebration.

Sunday was the first time the Ravens’ defense logged two interceptions (rookie Malaki Starks secured the other) in a single game this year.

Tack on the special teams fumble and Sunday was the second time in as many games the Ravens forced three takeaways, the daily goal defensive leaders set for themselves back in August and failed to roll into September or October. They’ve come a long way since. Take it from the new guy, Dre’Mont Jones, whose only thought was, “Wow, this Ravens defense is legit.”

“We’re not satisfied with just getting one or two,” outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “We need to get multiple. We need to get as many turnovers as we can get, and today was a great example of that.”

Linebacker Roquan Smith nearly made it four with an interception that officials narrowly called back. On that one, the defense celebrated in full before the review. It wasn’t until Saturday that they even started to brainstorm how to revel in their success. 

Hamilton had just watched “Coach Carter,” starring Samuel L. Jackson playing a rigid basketball coach whooping his team into shape. The idea was whoever forces the turnover would roam the goal line, hands tied behind their back, imitating the legendary actor while his teammates ran gassers in the end zone. Smith ran them anyway, looking a little unsure he was doing the right thing. A replay review showed the ball had nicked the turf, and it was called back.

“I’m glad that one just got thrown out. We’ll figure something else out,” Hamilton said. “At least we have stuff to celebrate now.”

The Ravens talked a big game about forcing turnovers. They’re finally starting to deliver, which means they’re relearning how to look like they’ve been there before.

It’s too late to buy Keondre Jackson stock

In August, there were three undrafted rookies dominating the discourse. More accurately, they captured the hearts of a fan base eager for football. None of them were named Keondre Jackson. The Ravens cut him loose on Aug. 26. They signed him to the practice squad a day later.

Jackson was a penny stock back then. Ten weeks into the season, the UDFA safety from Illinois State known for backflipping on the sideline is playing like a special teams ace. “He said he was gonna make a name for himself,” Harbaugh said, “I think he’s doing it.”

Jackson’s ascension climaxed on a third-quarter kickoff. He wasn’t first to the ball carrier. But he raced in to finish the tackle and punched the ball from Myles Price’s grasp — his first career forced fumble. Jackson blanketed the ball. “At the bottom of the pile, it was crazy down there,” he laughed. Jackson earned the right to high-step upfield in celebration for having given Baltimore the ball three steps from the red zone.

“This dude loves playing football,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “You turn on that tape, and you watch him play, he’s an impactful player in our phase of the game.”

Jackson’s forced fumble was his loudest contribution this season. But he’s been a steady special teams force in recent weeks. So much so that when Baltimore waived safety Sanoussi Kane (who they signed to the practice squad days later), Jackson took his place on the 53-man roster. Credit his five tackles in three games, including a pair in wins over Miami and Chicago.

“Keondre Jackson’s been great for us since he’s been active,” Hamilton said. “Big ball of energy.”

Ravens embrace early season ‘scar tissue’

When a team endures the kind of turmoil the Ravens did earlier this season, players tend to wax lyrically about a singular focus. Everything is about the game in front of them, they say. One win to snowball the next. After three in a row, Hamilton finally, and reluctantly, admitted what no player had publicly.

The NFL’s highest-paid safety prefaced to say he doesn’t speak for the whole team. But if there is anyone who does, even just for the defense, it would be Hamilton.

“What got us — not trying to bring up the past — partially what got us to 1-5,” Hamilton said, “was the fact that we came into the season maybe thinking, ‘We’re the Baltimore Ravens. We’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do that. Teams are just gonna lay down and let us win games.’”

That sentiment should have been obvious to anyone watching Baltimore’s wretched start. For weeks, opponents waltzed into M&T Bank Stadium, putting on the kind of offensive and defensive showings not seen at the home stadium since the turn of the century. 

The Ravens looked lost. It would be a stretch to say they’ve been found, but a three-game win streak is enough to reckon with their past and acknowledge things have changed. Or as Hamilton put it, “we’re starting to hit our stride” after getting “punched in the mouth” to start the season. “We’ll have that scar tissue going forward,” he said.

Harbaugh admitted to letting his emotions bubble up after the clock wound all the way down. “I didn’t shed a tear,” he clarified. “I wouldn’t let that happen.” But he was proud to see how his team persevered.

The Ravens didn’t fold over when history counted them out. They’ve got a long way to go. They’re at least making things interesting.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

Who will have the advantage in this cross-divisional matchup?

Ravens passing game vs. Vikings pass defense

One errant pass to the feet of Rashod Bateman was enough for Lamar Jackson to realize, and rid, the rust of a month off from football. He said that third-down try in Week 9 ticked him off. By the second half in Miami, Jackson was on his way to a performance worthy of AFC Offensive Player of the Week. That’s the 14th time he’s received the honor, which is third most among active players. Jackson completed 18 of 23 passes for 204 yards with four touchdowns in a crucial win. When the two-time Most Valuable Player is healthy and playing like himself, few defenses are capable of slowing him down.

Minnesota looked like it might belong in the minority after an impressive showing in Detroit. The Vikings sacked quarterback Jared Goff five times and hit him 11 more, both season highs. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores made life tough for a fringe top-10 quarterback by forcing him to get rid of the ball quicker than he’s comfortable. Quicker than Goff has had to in a single outing since his rookie year. Flores did the same thing to Jackson in 2021 when he was coaching in Miami. Four years later, that’s where Jackson thrives. When the pocket closes, Baltimore’s magician is at his best.

EDGE: Ravens

Vikings passing game vs. Ravens pass defense

J.J. McCarthy used to walk around Michigan with a sharpie smiley face drawn on his hand. He was the jovial, playmaking quarterback and won a national championship that way. When the Vikings drafted him 10th overall in 2024, he brought that persona with him. Then injuries sidelined McCarthy for 23 of his first 26 games. He ditched the smile for a new villainous alter ego. He calls him “Nine,” after his jersey number. “I chose to harness [my anger] instead of letting it go into a self-destructive kind of way,” he explained.

It yielded a winning effort last week, albeit not an earth-shattering stat line. McCarthy completed 14 of 25 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He wasn’t much of a threat with his legs, outside of one rushing score, and fumbled once. But “Nine” injected new life into a team that upset the mighty Lions.

As for the Ravens’ defense, consider two things: It has allowed only two receivers to eclipse 100 yards in a game (Chicago’s Rome Odunze and Buffalo’s Keon Coleman). Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson is the best receiver it will have faced all season. He has the fifth most yards of any receiver in the NFL on the fewest receptions in that Tier 1 group. Jefferson will make life difficult but “Nine” would have to turn it up to 10 or 11 to win a shootout.

EDGE: Vikings

Ravens running game vs. Vikings run defense

Harbaugh called this the turning point play in Baltimore’s win over Miami: Jackson scampered through the middle of the pocket into open grass, picking up 13 yards to convert a third-and-medium. Jackson’s first game back from injury stabilized what had been an otherwise shaky sector of Baltimore’s offense. There were times Derrick Henry did things only Hall of Famers can do. And other times when the lack of blocking and subpar air raid made it easy for defenses to key in on Henry. The quarterback’s legs keep the defense honest when he might hand it off and having fullback Patrick Ricard healthy means another blocker to kick the door down. Those three have shared the field one time this season and it produced 150 yards on the ground.

But the Vikings, as Henry said, “give you a lot of different looks. They do a lot of different blitzes, and [they have a lot of] movement in the run game. They just throw a lot at you try to get you flustered, and you’ve just got to focus in and worry about executing, and we’ll be fine.”

The Vikings had their best showing last weekend. Detroit’s run game — Sonic and Knuckles — was a nonfactor. David Montgomery took 11 carries 40 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs managed just 25 on nine attempts.

EDGE: Ravens

Vikings running game vs. Ravens run defense

Vikings running back Aaron Jones is one of the NFL’s premier backs when he’s healthy and on the field. He hasn’t been much of that this season, appearing in four games, held out by injuries. His best performance was a nine-carry, 78-yard outburst versus Detroit — his only showing above 25 yards in a single game thus far. He’s still chasing his first touchdown of the year, too. Jones did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday, which means he’s likely questionable for Sunday. His backup, Jordan Mason, is tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns with four, two fewer than Henry, and is averaging 52.4 yards per game.

Baltimore’s run defense was a point of contention for most of this season but they’ve been sharper in recent weeks — surging from one of the league’s worst in yards allowed on the ground per game to 21st. They’re allowing 4.45 yards per play, which ranks 22nd. Much of that is a credit to the health of linebacker Roquan Smith and bringing Kyle Hamilton into the box after having added safety Alohi Gilman.

EDGE: Vikings

Ravens special teams vs. Vikings special teams

Amid the roller coaster of Baltimore’s offense and defensive showings this season (both have steadied since the bye week), Chris Horton’s special teams unit has been a source of consistency. Kicker Tyler Loop has been near perfect. Punter Jordan Stout is having a career year. And safety Keondre Jackson earned his way onto the 53-man roster with five tackles in three games. 

Menwhile, a special teams highlight helped decide Minnesota’s upset in Detroit. Levi Drake Rodriguez blocked a fourth-quarter field goal, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Vikings kicker Will Reichard is perfect from within 50 yards and his season long is 62. 

EDGE: Ravens

Ravens intangibles vs. Vikings intangibles

Sunday’s game is the first time we’ll see a post-trade deadline version of these two teams. The 4-4 Vikings didn’t make any changes, after injuries forced their hand the last three trade deadlines. But a healthy roster after nine weeks left them comfortable standing pat. Baltimore, on the other hand other hand, addressed a pertinent need — albeit less than some fans hoped. The Ravens signed Carl Lawson in late October. He could make his debut on Sunday. They also traded a conditional fifth-round pick for Tennessee’s Dre’Mont Jones, who’s coming off a four-game heater totaling 4 1/2 sacks and will play on a tight turnaround. Deadline moves won’t decide this matchup but it will be interesting to see how Baltimore deploys the new guys.

EDGE: Ravens

Prediction

It’s going to be loud at U.S. Bank Stadium. Harbaugh called it one of the nosiest places in the league. But Roquan Smith argued it’s “only as loud as you allow it to be.” And this Ravens team, riding a two-game winning streak acting more like the confident but not complacent group that has won them games in recent years, should be an even cleaner version of who they’ve been since the bye week. Here are two keys to a Baltimore win, both of which are feasible: Don’t let Justin Jefferson run rampant and don’t let Brian Flores’ funky blitz package stall out the offense. The Ravens won’t be perfect at either, they’ll do enough to pull within one game of .500. Ravens 28, Vikings 23

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com.

The move from Tennessee to Baltimore happened quickly.

Jones woke up Monday morning a Titan. General manager Mike Borgonzi called around 7 p.m. to deliver the news while Jones was home bathing his two toddlers. Baltimore traded a conditional fifth-round draft pick for him the night before deadline day. Moments later, he was on the phone with his agent, then the Ravens front office. “Next thing you know,” he said, “Baltimore.” Coach John Harbaugh expects Jones to play Sunday in Minnesota.

“It’s been quick, but I’m ready for it,” Jones said, a seven-year pro coming off a hot streak of 4 1/2 sacks in four games.

The Ravens need that level of pass rush help. They traded Odafe Oweh to the Chargers last month in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman. Tavius Robinson fractured his foot days later. They’re short-staffed and underperforming at the position Baltimore only dressed three outside linebackers the past two games. As a team, the Ravens have 11 sacks in eight games, tied for the second fewest in the NFL. Quarterback pressure has been a glaring shortcoming for the better part of this season.

And yet, if the Ravens have it their way, Sunday would be the day they start to turn a corner, debuting Jones and recent outside linebacker signee Carl Lawson.

“We’re just trying to get better all the time,” Harbaugh said, “just trying to improve all the time.”

Lawson joined the Ravens at an awkward point. He stepped into a 1-5 locker room two days before Baltimore beat the Bears, so he didn’t dress on a tight turnaround. Given the short week, Lawson remained on the practice squad through their road trip to Miami. Wednesday was his first normal practice. Lawson’s main focus, he said, was to be as physical as humanly possible. Let the technique and all the studying of the past two weeks fall in line.

Pass rushers have an easier time acclimating to new schemes and new teams than other positions. At the end of the day, they can lean on the same mindset Lawson had his first day wearing purple: “hit, hit, hit, hit, hit, hit, hit.”

The 30-year-old rusher was playing his best football by the end of last season in Dallas, where he registered five sacks in 15 games. He pancaked All-Pro offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs in late December and called it one of the highlights of his career. Lawson, who shied away from opportunities with other teams before the Ravens rang in late October, wants to be a “valuable asset” for a 3-5 team “on the rise.”

Now, there’s a familiar face in similar circumstances sitting across the locker room. Another pass rusher who needs to get up to speed by Sunday.

Lawson worked out in the same gym where Jones prepared for the NFL draft in 2019. Jones used to watch Lawson in Cincinnati playing alongside his former Ohio State teammate Sam Hubbard.

“Carl’s a beast,” Jones said with a smile.

Those two haven’t had much time to reconnect amidst Jones’ whirlwind week. But it helps to have some familiarity for the new guy. Gilman, another midseason acquisition who hasn’t yet said two words to Jones, noticed how quickly he’s getting up to speed with the playbook.

Jones had positive reviews of his first meeting with the defensive coaching staff. He couldn’t say much. He barely knows all their names. But he appreciates the room’s “high energy.” Harbaugh called him a “good fit” in Baltimore, someone who can be a difference maker on passing downs and has the versatility to squeeze inside on run defense. The deal has been in the works for a while, Harbaugh said. It came together just in time, shortly after defensive lineman Broderick Washington underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon. Jones can help pick up some slack.

Asked what he brings to Baltimore’s defensive front, Jones said that he’s someone who is “physical as hell,” taking the field with a “kill or be killed” mindset.

As for Lawson, “the Ravens are gonna get the best version of myself,” he said.

That’s exactly what this Ravens pass rush needs, two guys who can get up to speed and put hands on the quarterback as soon as possible. There’s confidence those two can contribute to a late-season playoff push.

Gilman put it in simple terms: “Ballers will figure it out, and that’s just how it goes. You go out there on Sunday, and you just let it loose.”

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com.

All 53 players on the active roster practiced Wednesday in what was a rare empty injury report.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson left little to the imagination when he emerged from massive steel gates prancing onto the field behind his two backups. Jackson missed three games with a hamstring injury and returned last Thursday in a victory over the Miami Dolphins, putting on a performance worthy of being crowned AFC Offensive Player of the Week. His name didn’t even grace the injury report.

Coach John Harbaugh was asked how satisfying it is to have such a clean bill of health after so many weeks of injury-related woes.

“Well, it’ll be satisfying if we win the game and play great football,” he said. “That’s really — the result is what you feel the most satisfaction with. But it is something that I think is definitely notable. It’s different, and it’s a good thing.”

Baltimore’s injury report included as many as seven regular starters earlier this season, featuring its six highest-paid players. The Ravens are still without Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), Broderick Washington (Achilles tendon) and Tavius Robinson (foot), all on long-term injured reserve stints. But the players on the 53 are in good shape, right in time for what they hope will be a push back into the playoff picture.

It’s tougher sledding in Minnesota.

Star running back Aaron Jones did not practice. The 30-year-old has been held back by injuries for most of this season. He went down in Week 2 for a hamstring injury that put him on injured reserve until Week 8 against the Chargers. Jones made his return in earnest last week against the Lions, taking nine carries for 78 yards, but suffered shoulder and toe injuries. Jones’ status could have major implications in how Sunday afternoon unfolds.

Defensive backs Theo Jackson and Jeff Okudah both missed practice with concussions. Tight end Josh Oliver, a former Raven, was absent for a foot injury. And safety Harrison Smith missed practiced for a rest day.

Four other Vikings were limited: guard Will Fries (calf), fullback C.J. Ham (hand), safety Josh Metellus (foot) and defensive lineman Jalen Redmond (shin).

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

Here are five things to know about Baltimore’s new player:

Jones brings versatility up front

The 6-foot-3, 281-pound Jones is in his second season as a full-time edge rusher. That’s after playing more interior defensive lineman early in his career, as he did in college. Jones can do both, playing up on two feet or with a hand in the dirt. The Ravens need that versatility, with long-term injuries to Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington on the inside and Tavius Robinson on the outside.

Former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who coached Jones in Seattle for one season, had this to say last summer: “I think his skill set lends to trying to play a little matchup ball with him or setting another guy up. He can do a lot of things. We’ve talked about it, but we’re really excited about Dre’Mont.”

Jones had four sacks in 2024 while playing through a shoulder injury. He started slow this season, then rattled off 4 1/2 sacks in four games before being dealt to the team tied for the second fewest sacks in the NFL (11). Jones’ 19 pressures this season are four more than Travis Jones, who leads the Ravens, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jones arrived in Tennessee with a chip on his shoulder

When the Seahawks signed Jones in 2023, his three-year deal worth up to $51 million became the largest contract in terms of annual average value Seattle had agreed to with another team’s free agent under coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider. They waived him two years later to create cap space.

Jones has said that he has no hard feelings about how his time in Seattle ended. He landed in Tennessee with a chip on his shoulder.

“I am seven years in now,” he said in August. “I need to be a tone-setter, I need to be a leader. It’s what I want to do, and it’s what I want to be — I want to be that guy. I am ready to embrace it.

“I am not old; I am 28. It’s not like I am 32, heck, 32 isn’t old. I’m not 36 or 37. But I definitely want to prove myself, and I want to remind other teams who didn’t want me anymore that I am still a hell of a player.”

Baltimore’s deal comes with a twist

The Ravens sent Tennessee a 2026 conditional fifth-round pick in exchange for Jones. That pick was originally the New York Jets’ fifth-rounder. But if the Ravens make the playoffs, completing a turnaround after their 1-5 start, and Jones contributes at least two sacks in the final nine games of the regular season, it will reportedly become a fourth-round pick for the Titans.

On Monday, hours before the deal for Jones crossed the finish line, Harbaugh was asked whether the defensive line would be an area he’d like to add depth. He was curt, saying, “Yes, we’ll see.”

A freak injury brought Jones back to Ohio State for an extra year

After one Buckeyes practice in 2017, Jones was partaking in what he called “normal after-practice shenanigans.” The roughhousing ended when Ohio State’s star defensive lineman ran into a nail jetting out from a locker that tore into his leg so deeply that the bone became visible. Jones needed 50 stitches and missed three games.

He returned to finish out the season and was still a projected top-50 draft pick. But the freak injury complicated his draft stock. Losing his grandmother that same year made a hard season that much tougher.

Jones chose to stay for a third and final season at Ohio State, where he played primarily as an interior defensive lineman between two elite pass rushers, Nick Bosa and Chase Young. Jones finished the year with 43 total tackles and 8 1/2 sacks. He capped his college career with a Rose Bowl win on New Year’s Day 2019 and was drafted in the third round by the Denver Broncos a few months later.

Jones is very, very strong

In December 2024, the Seahawks posted a clip on social media following what became a popular trend around the NFL: testing players’ grip strength.

One Seattle tight end was hyped to hit 112 pounds. An offensive tackle got 146. A defensive tackle needed two hands to reach 170. Then Jones stepped up, put all his might into that little machine and cleared 200.

For reference, the Ravens did the same trivial challenge last August. Washington touched 180 and Robinson got to 169. Ben Cleveland was the only one to top 190. No one matched Jones’ grip strength. Surely that helps in evading offensive linemen to get hands on the quarterback.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

The energy is shifting

A week ago, the Ravens were 1-5. Uncertainty clouded the health of their star quarterback. Players were tense in their proclamations that the locker room’s confidence had not budged. That’s because their play hadn’t yet shown it. The team hired a motivational speaker, willing to try anything to move the needle with a fresh voice.

Some pundits wrote the Ravens off. Others, at the very least, remained skeptical.

But football “is a crazy game. It’s a crazy business to be a part of,” safety Alohi Gilman said. Things can turn quickly.

The Ravens are now 3-5, a game out of first place in the AFC North. They’ve allowed one touchdown in two wins. Baltimore is as healthy as it has been all year. Even though the Bears aren’t among the NFL’s elite and the Dolphins are firing their general manager days before the trade deadline, the Ravens are playing a more characteristic brand of football than the one that dug them into this hole.

“Vibes are high with the team,” running back Derrick Henry said inside the visiting locker room at Hard Rock Stadium. “In all three phases, guys just focused and locked in. I think it showed today in another win for us.”

Lamar Jackson put it bluntly, “it’s do or die.” 

For these Ravens, who have proven all they need to in the regular season and are solely judged on postseason results, that’s not messaging they’re used to. “We never behind,” Jackson said. “But right now, we’re behind, and we all have to step up.”

“All” is the operative word.

Baltimore’s win Thursday night got all three tight ends involved, which opened up the run game. Two rookies and the new guy had hands on forcing turnovers. The offense managed to score in the red zone, a point of contention this season, and the defense walled up where it mattered most. They even converted on a pair of tush pushes. Take the two-win opponent with a grain of salt.

But the energy is shifting. The Ravens entered the season on their high horse about two years of AFC North titles and almost-big-wins in the playoffs. Five losses humbled them. While far from perfect, they seem better equipped to climb the mountain. Baltimore knows where it stands.

“It just means we’re two games under .500. That’s all it means,” coach John Harbaugh said. “But we’re two games under .500. We were four games under .500, so that’s where we’re at.”

Lamar Jackson hadn’t played in a month and it showed … at least to start

Jackson might have fibbed.

Asked whether he may require a few plays to find a rhythm in his first game back after four weeks on the shelf, the two-time Most Valuable Player was quick to say no, “That’s what practice is for.” Two walk-through practices and one normal day of reps on a short week didn’t seem to do the trick.

Jackson’s “we’ll just fly” prediction didn’t manifest until after halftime. Then they strapped into a fighter jet and hit 600 knots. Jackson threw for more than 200 yards with four touchdowns and a 143.2 passer rating without a turnover. Versus Miami’s blitz, he completed 9 of 11 passes for 90 yards with three touchdowns. That’s vintage Jackson.

The Ravens had only three first downs in the first quarter. None in the second. Before the break, they went three-and-out on four of six drives. Jackson ran the ball once and went nowhere. They needed all four tries at the goal line to punch in a touchdown. Former Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said on the Prime Video halftime show that he thought that Jackson looked uncomfortable, as if he was testing out the newly healthy hamstring. He came back in the postgame show to call him “dominant.”

Jackson acknowledged feeling some rust in the early going. A low throw incomplete to Rashod Bateman on third down had him ticked off the rest of the night. But he settled in on Mischief Night, at one point completing nine consecutive passes, looking less like Jack Skellington in the pocket and more like Freddy Krueger. There was a third-down scramble to start the second half, the “key play of the whole game,” as Harbaugh said, in which the superstar quarterback found his groove.

His teammates certainly noticed.

“We’re definitely a better team when he is out there,” Bateman said. “So it’s good to have him in the back out there.”

Added Gilman: “Obviously, he has talent on the field, but the mentality, the confidence he brings around and he elevates everybody.”

And tight end Charlie Kolar: “I think God messed up and put too much goodness in one person.”

Ravens don’t need to be perfect to get through this modest midseason schedule

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s face flushed bright red. Smoke came fuming from his ears. Any lip readers on hand? Surely a few expletives were involved after such a sloppy sequence.

Tahj Washington had his first career catch ripped from his grasp by Gilman. The former Charger jumped on the loose ball and the Ravens scored four plays later. The Dolphins got the ball back, took 10 plays to get within 12 yards of the end zone, then, on fourth-and-short, Larry Borom’s false start pushed them out of go-for-it territory. And Riley Patterson pushed the 35-yard field goal attempt wide right.

McDaniel was rightfully furious. Sloppy football will do that (home fans booing is never a good sign). Expect more of that mediocrity on Baltimore’s schedule, which from this week through January is the sixth easiest in the NFL.

They can afford to play imperfect football in the short term, with shoddy offensive and defensive line play. They don’t need to be one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, as they were in 2024. And they don’t need to be among the toughest defenses, which they were in the final third of last season. 

Baltimore just needs to be good enough against overmatched teams, like the Vikings (3-4), Browns (2-6) and Jets (1-7), to get above .500. That’s three games versus divisional bottom feeders. There’s enough runway to clean up the little stuff to be playing their best football in January, which could put this season back on schedule.

“This is just two [straight wins],” linebacker Roquan Smith said, “and we’re on our way to many more.”

Thursday night’s win might not have been so comfortable if not for plays like this: Miami had a fourth-and-2 from inside the red zone. De’Von Achane was matched up one-on-one with Kyle Hamilton, who has a 7-inch height advantage. Achane tried a fade route to the right corner. Tua Tagovailoa sailed the pass.

Right on cue, McDaniel’s head slumped. Not all coaches are so emotive, but Baltimore’s crawl back to relevance seems as though it could be aided by teams selling off their roster, out of playoff contention.

Defense is capable of doing the thing they spent all summer preaching

During training camp, defensive coordinator Zach Orr delivered a daily sermon about takeaways. His players were disciples, preaching the gospel of interceptions and forced fumbles. One player called it “the theme” of this season — which is laughable in retrospect. Another said if they didn’t force a turnover in practice, “it wasn’t a good practice.” That’s all nice and good when it’s preseason fodder. Less so when their takeaway total ranked near the bottom of the NFL.

It took eight games in nine weeks to finally put their money where their mouth is. Baltimore forced a trio of takeaways Thursday night. “That was really big,” Harbaugh said.

Gilman wrestled a ball loose that set up a touchdown. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey shut down a long drive inside the 15-yard line by recovering a fumble forced by rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan. And rookie safety Malaki Starks hammered the final nail on a fourth-quarter interception that sent Dolphins fans toward the exits.

Harbaugh said they call them “ball assaults.” They’ve been trying, just haven’t finished the job. Sometimes Humphrey looks like he’s throwing haymakers at the football. As a group, those are finally starting to show, now with four forced fumbles on the year.

“I know how the defense has been talking about takeaways and all that, so it was good to see them,” Bateman said. “Pregame, they came in and said that they want to have a lot of takeaways, and I definitely think they made that happen tonight.”

Baltimore’s defense doesn’t deserve rose petals thrown at their feet for this performance.

Tagovailoa averages more than one interception per game. He was bound to have a misfire. Smith almost made him pay for a second. The Ravens were sharp at times, particularly in the red zone. They were bailed out at others. If anything, those “ball assaults” are the note to write home about. Those are the kind of plays that they spent all season promising they’d make. Buchanan, who had a hand in the first forced fumble and caused the second, called them “contagious.”

Now three games in a row with a takeaway, perhaps this is a corner finally turned.

A win saved the Ravens from selling at the trade deadline

First of all, the notion of Baltimore selling off chunks of its roster at the Nov. 4 trade deadline always sounded a little far-fetched. Then again, so did a 1-5 start. But back-to-back wins after the bye week and as healthy a roster as they’ve had all season, including the star quarterback, should give general manager Eric DeCosta more confidence financially investing in a potential playoff push.

The Ravens made one deal already in addressing an injury-riddled secondary. DeCosta sent Odafe Oweh to the opposite coast in exchange for Gilman, a deal that wound up leaving Baltimore’s pass rush low on warm bodies up front but that bandaged the defense’s second and third levels.

Through five games, opponents averaged 35.4 points. Since adding Gilman and getting closer to full health, opposing teams have combined for 39 points over their past three games.

DeCosta also added defensive end Carl Lawson, who figures to help up front, in free agency. Lawson joined the team days before Baltimore beat Chicago. He wasn’t activated on a short week before going to Miami. Lawson likely makes his Ravens debut next weekend in Minnesota.

The trade deadline is four days away. Baltimore still has holes to plug up. Watching from the visiting sideline at Hard Rock Stadium, DeCosta might have noticed Miami outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips sack Jackson and pancake Pat Ricard and think maybe he’d look good in purple. Or defensive end Bradley Chubb, who also put Ricard on his butt Thursday night.

Losses to Chicago and Miami would have raised serious questions about where on this roster DeCosta should unload to start thinking about 2026. Having beat both kept their season from completely crumbling before the halfway mark.

How much faith does he have that this is real? We’ll know more by 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

If the Ravens get out of Miami on Thursday night with a win, which would improve them to 3-5, 4,000 simulations have Baltimore reaching the postseason two out of three times. One could argue it’s a big game. Every game is for a team scaling out of the NFL’s abyss.

Who will have the advantage Thursday night in South Florida?

Ravens passing game vs. Dolphins pass defense

This week, Lamar Jackson addressed reporters for the first time in a month. He spoke for nine minutes, answering more than two dozen questions. Rehashing the hamstring injury was a thread he quickly soured on. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s eyes are pointed forward on the need to kick-start a win streak. “I’m ready to go,” he said, eager to “touch the grass with my guys. It’s been a while.” Through 3 1/2 games, Jackson threw 10 touchdowns with one interception. Despite a few stalled-out drives and goal-line shortcomings, the Ravens, under Jackson, owned the league’s top-scoring offense. He doesn’t foresee the need to shed any rust. Jackson said he’s ready to pick up right where he left off.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, rank in the bottom 10 in yards per game (344.4) and points per game (26.9) with a secondary eviscerated by injuries. All five safeties on Miami’s roster are dealing with injuries to varying degrees. And since the preseason, five Dolphins cornerbacks have sustained season-ending injuries. “Worry isn’t going to do me any good,” Miami defensive coordinator and former Ravens assistant Anthony Weaver told local reporters. “We’ve got to find a way to get it done.”

A rejuvenated offense with its back against the wall isn’t a good matchup for a banged-up defense on a short week.

EDGE: Ravens

Dolphins passing game vs. Ravens pass defense

Days before the Dolphins beat the Falcons, Miami coach Mike McDaniel had to clarify that Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a hefty four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July 2024, was still their starting quarterback. Tagovailoa was benched the week before against Cleveland, the latest checkpoint in a confounding season. His 10 interceptions are tied for the worst mark in football. He’s also top-eight in touchdown passes (8). Tagovailoa has the fifth-best completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 250 plays. But his expected points added per play is a fat zero, slightly worse than Chicago’s Caleb Williams.

Baltimore’s pass defense seems to have found a groove. Nate Wiggins is playing some of his best football. And newly acquired safety Alohi Gilman allows for the three-safety look that the Ravens thrive in, pushing Hamilton into the box. The Ravens are still one of five teams allowing more than 250 passing yards per game, but the past two games showed signs of progress. Thursday night will come down to whether they can quiet Jaylen Waddle.

Perhaps more importantly, can the defense with only two interceptions this year snag one from the quarterback averaging more than one a game?

EDGE: Ravens

Ravens running game vs. Dolphins run defense

“I know y’all seen that block [Patrick Ricard] had on 53,” Jackson said, when asked about returning their All-Pro fullback. “It’s self-explanatory.” After missing the first six games rehabbing a calf injury, Ricard made his presence felt in his season debut. He pancaked a Chicago linebacker and drew enough attention in the running game that it opened up new avenues for Baltimore’s air raid. Five players ran the ball. Three of them went over 40 yards. Collectively, they averaged 5.1 yards per carry, their highest single-game mark since Week 4.

Before beating the Falcons on Sunday, the Dolphins owned the worst rushing defense in football, allowing 159.3 yards per game. Seven of their first eight opponents rushed for at least 100 yards. They slowed down Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson because their game plan centered around one of the league’s top backs. With Henry, Jackson and Keaton Mitchell’s handful of breakout runs, there’s far more to account for with Baltimore.

EDGE: Ravens

Dolphins running game vs. Ravens run defense

Miami is pivoting off a previous tendency. It used to lean heavily on one primary back, like Raheem Mostert or De’Von Achane. Against the Falcons, three uniquely qualified backs got nine or more carries. McDaniel said he thought mixing it up was “a little underrated.” The Ravens have been one of the worst run-stoppers in the NFL since multiple injuries decimated their defensive front. Even though the Rams and Bears failed to get their ground game going, it could be Miami’s best shot at moving the ball and owning time of possession, which has been a deciding factor in each of the Ravens’ losses.

EDGE: Dolphins

Ravens special teams vs. Dolphins special teams

Ravens punter Jordan Stout deserves a moment of appreciation. The 2022 fourth-round pick is quietly having the best season of his career. His 49.9 yards per punt rank sixth in the NFL, a tick better than Miami’s Jake Bailey. And his 45.9 net yards per attempt are third, a half-yard behind right behind Bailey. Nate Wiggins’ game-defining interception versus Chicago was set up by Stout pinning the Bears at their own 4-yard line. He’s dropped a punt inside an opponent’s 20-yard line in all but two games. He’s done it twice in three contests, and so had Bailey. Thursday night surely won’t come down to the punters, but a well-placed boot could set up a game-defining moment. And both of these punters are capable of being that catalyst.

EDGE: Dolphins

Ravens intangibles vs. Dolphins intangibles

Remember 2022? The Ravens clung to a three-touchdown lead, which most metrics say practically guarantees a win. But a miraculous Miami comeback and a head-scratching Baltimore collapse accounted for the organization’s largest blown lead since 1997. While that game wasn’t a talking point with players or coaches this week, it lingers in the background like a gnarly stench everyone is trying to ignore. The Ravens have already used up most of the losses they’re allowed with a chance to still reach the postseason. Capitalizing on beating an overmatched Dolphins team is a requirement to meet their long-term goals.

“This is the National Football League. If you don’t come ready to play, and clearly we were not today, these things can happen,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris told reporters after being upset by the Dolphins this week. “Sundays you can be humbled, and today was one of those days.”

The Ravens, who are prone to one or two quirky, humbling Sundays each season, can’t afford a repeat Thursday night.

EDGE: Ravens

Prediction

Last week, most pundits pegged the Ravens to beat the Bears right up until Jackson was ruled out. Then they flopped, because he means that much. Baltimore pulled off a season-saving win in convincing fashion, nonetheless. The Dolphins are a worse football team than the Bears, Jackson will officially be back under center, this game matters just as much as last week to Baltimore’s long-term goals, and it’s being played in South Florida, a home game for Jackson and Zay Flowers. The Ravens should have no problem beating the short-week allegations and taking care of business. Ravens 31, Dolphins 14

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. 

Quarterback Lamar Jackson returns for his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4 against Kansas City. He fully participated in two walk-throughs and one full practice on the short week. Jackson said that he’s “ready to go” against the Dolphins.

Teammates didn’t notice any rust. “He look like Lamar,” tight end Isaiah Likely said. “I feel like y’all can see the excitement of everybody around.” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton added that he’s “excited for what we look as a team and our offense” versus Miami.

The rest of Baltimore’s injury report shows a clean bill of health.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) was upgraded from limited to a full participant Wednesday, which was an estimation for the afternoon walk-through.

Linebacker Teddye Buchanan (calf), cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr. (shoulder) and cornerback Nate Wiggins (groin) were all full-go for the second straight day. 

Miami’s final injury report before the prime-time game offered a bit less clarity.

The Dolphins have four regular contributors who are questionable: outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (shoulder/foot), wide receiver Dee Eskridge (shoulder), cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. (hamstring) and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (thumb). Among that group, Chubb was the only one who was limited Wednesday. The other three were listed as full participants.

Miami starting tight end Julian Hill was ruled out with an ankle injury.

The other six players on the Dolphins’ injury report finished the week without designations, meaning they’ll be ready to play. That list includes quarterback Tua Tagovailoa along with former McDonogh and University of Maryland safety Dante Trader Jr.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. 

Thomas wasted no time calling them out.

“The reason why you may not be 5-1 is because you told me you came in at the beginning of the season thinking this was going to be a phenomenal year,” Thomas roared at the only volume a world-renowned speaker and pastor knows. “That’s probably what messed you up.”

He held the eyeballs of the entire room. Marlon Humphrey sat in the front row and took notes. Roquan Smith was beside him, his head shadowing the speaker’s every step. Thomas wore a black T-shirt with “You Owe You” written in large, neon text. That’s the name of his new book, but it felt on-the-nose for his message that day.

“You probably came in and had a mindset that made some of y’all chill,” he said. “You probably came in and was like, ‘We the Ravens.’ You probably came in and was like, ‘Look what we’ve done.’ You probably came in like, ‘Look who our players are.’ And you probably didn’t focus on what you should’ve been focusing on.”

Baltimore was a popular Super Bowl pick and the favorite among sportsbooks in early September. After consecutive years crowned AFC North champions only to be sent home in gutting fashion, this figured to be their year.

Instead, the integrity of the entire operation came into question by Week 7. Something was wrong. They phoned Thomas. He has millions of followers across social media platforms and has built international recognition for his passionate talks. Various sports teams at all levels have invited “ETthehiphoppreacher,” including other NFL teams.

The Ravens needed some soul-searching, and Thomas was willing to be their guide.

“Let’s not focus on the five [losses],” he told them. “Somebody give it to me because I don’t play. … How we gon’ end the season? Some brave soul talk to me.”

Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who has only played in two games and dressed for a third, piped up from the front row: “12-5,” he said, implying Baltimore could win the remainder of its regular-season games. Four teams since 1970 have reached the postseason after a 1-5 start. To be the fifth, tight end Isaiah Likely said, their new mantra is “new season, new us.”

Thomas came prepared with a slideshow of past teams who have overcome similar setbacks. He showed three teams on the projector.

Two of them were the New York Giants. In 2007, they won 10 games and upset the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl as a wild-card team. In 2012, the Giants finished the regular season 9-7 and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy again with the fewest wins of any NFL championship team. Even the 2000 Ravens, considered one of the greatest defenses in league history and a benchmark for the current team, won the organization’s first title as a wild-card team.

“The 1-5 ain’t the problem,” Thomas said. “The mindset is the problem.”

Around the eight-minute mark of his speech, which is posted on YouTube, Thomas paused on his lecture differentiating between talent and focus. “Listen to me very closely,” he said, prefacing that it would be OK if he was never invited back, he had to get this next part off his chest. “Somebody pay you to do something, [you do it],” he said, “I’m just being real.”

Thomas told the Ravens about how his grandfather never made anyone sign a contract to complete a job. “That’s old school,” he said, smugly. Thomas asked Kyle Hamilton to stand up. Hamilton recently became the NFL’s highest-paid safety and now sat in the second row of this auditorium. Thomas shook his hand. That’s what a promise looked like to his grandfather. And it’s how he challenged the Ravens to meet expectations. When Thomas preached about playing for their reputation, it felt like Ray Lewis was up there delivering the sermon.

“It’s time to show up,” Thomas shouted. “Not just in the first [quarter], not just in the second, not in the third, not in the fourth. Man to man, you give me some money, I’m gonna do exactly what I told you I was gon’ do.”

That is perhaps a direct reference to Baltimore’s Week 1 collapse versus the Bills, when the Ravens let a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead slip from their grasp. Or in Week 3, when the Ravens and Lions were tied after three quarters and Detroit bullied them in the final frame. The Rams did the bulk of their work in the third quarter, scoring 14 points that separated the final tally. All but two teams this season have scored on their first offensive possession against the Ravens.

“From this day forward, you start strong and you finish strong,” Thomas said. “Or don’t come at all.”

That inspired energy manifested in a convincing win over the Bears. The Ravens have 10 more regular-season games to prove this season won’t be for naught, torn down because they got ahead of themselves in the first six weeks, assuming, as Thomas said, “this was going to be a phenomenal year.”

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com.