After an encouraging preseason debut, rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac is dealing with a new soft-tissue leg injury, Head Coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday.
Isaac was sidelined for most of the offseason practices due to a hamstring injury. He started training camp on the non-football injury list and made his practice debut on Aug. 6.
Isaac has an impressive showing in Saturday's second preseason contest against the Atlanta Falcons where he made four tackles. He left the game late in the fourth quarter with what was first thought to be cramps.
However, it has since been determined that Isaac has a soft-tissue injury in the other leg from the one he dealt with earlier this summer. Harbaugh said this injury shouldn't keep Isaac out as long as the first one did.
"He just has to keep working through this," Harbaugh said. "You saw how well he played, right? It's just a matter of him working into football shape.
"You think the guy is going to come out, and all of sudden he's healthy, and like boom, he's going to be 100 percent, but all of these practices callous these guys. They get these guys to the point where they can handle the volume; they can handle the load; they can handle the reps – the high-level intensity reps, rep after rep."
Joe D'Alessandris Is Making Encouraging Progress
The best news of Tuesday was that Joe D'Alessandris, who was hospitalized a little more than a week ago with an acute illness, is "making good progress."
Harbaugh has been texting with the offensive line coach's daughters.
"The information they're sharing is that they're very encouraged by his progress," Harbaugh said. "He still has some work to do, but he's a fighter. There's nobody tougher than Joe D, and things are looking good right now."
Harbaugh has been impressed with the work that new Offensive Line Coach George Warhop has done since stepping in for D'Alessandris about a week ago. The Ravens offensive line was by far the last position group to leave the practice field Tuesday.
"To make it seamless, you have to be really good," Harbaugh said. "To step into a role like this at this time is really hard, so you've got to be a high, high level coach to be able to do that and that's why George Warhop was such an opportunity for us, such a blessing that that was available."
"I do believe it's a God thing – I really do. So, it's going really well, guys are responding really well to him. He understands exactly what we're trying to get done, and he's doing a great job."
Derrick Henry Is Itching for Contact
Watching Derrick Henry at Ravens practice all summer has been like getting a tiny appetizer at a fancy restaurant. It looks nice, but it's not satisfying.
For a player whose game is so based on contact, watching him take it easy on his teammates hasn't given a true indication of what he'll look like in purple and black. There hasn't even been one stiff arm.
"I wouldn't do that to my teammates," Henry said with a laugh. "I think it comes naturally. I've been doing it since I started playing football, and it's gotten more effective."
Henry said he's fine not playing in the preseason and hasn't done so since 2018. The closest thing to live action that Henry will see before Sept. 5 in Kansas City may be Thursday's joint practice against the Packers.
"I'm sure we'll scrimmage against [the Packers] and get some contact in, as far as going against their defense," Henry said.
"I'm definitely excited to play, and [I] can't wait until that time comes, but it's all about polishing and getting everything down and continuing to get better until that time comes. I'm sure everybody out here is itching to get to Week 1 for sure."
Ravens Players Are Ready to Ride Bikes
For 66 years, Packers players have ridden kids' bicycles to training camp practice while the young fans carry their helmets. It's arguably the NFL's best training camp tradition.
When the Ravens head out to Green Bay this week, the offer will be reportedly warmly extended by the hosts.
"I love doing stuff like that, especially with kids," said Henry, who recently gave school supplies to Baltimore children.
"I haven't [ridden a bicycle] in a while, so I might be a little rusty. The kid might have to help stay balanced, but I should be fine."
