Mink: No, the Ravens are not going to bring in a different backup quarterback. Josh Johnson is the guy. Johnson had a tough preseason opener, going 4-of-12 for 62 yards against the Eagles, but that's one game in a 15+ year career that includes 39 regular-season games and nine starts. I'm not going to overreact to one preseason game for a longtime veteran, and neither are Ravens coaches.
This week, Head Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens "love" Johnson. Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken called him "the consummate pro." Both feel he's played good football over his career, would operate the offense smoothly without major changes, and is a good influence in the quarterback room.
The thought of signing a different veteran quarterback to be the No. 2 just isn't practical. You don't do that three weeks from the season-opener when the player would have zero familiarity with your offense. Ryan Tannehill is a fine quarterback with a track record of success, but he has no connection with Monken. He has chemistry with former teammate Derrick Henry, but anybody can hand the ball off to him.
Plus, there's the cost. The Ravens are tight against the salary cap, and I doubt Tannehill would sign for the veteran minimum. He's likely waiting to see if a starter goes down somewhere around the league and would consider a more lucrative offer then.
If Lamar Jackson were to go down with a minor injury, I believe Johnson could win. He'd be backed by a strong defense and running game. If Jackson were slated for an extended absence, maybe that would lead Baltimore to re-evaluate the situation and invest more.
Brown: Rumors continue about a possible reunion between the Ravens and Matthew Judon. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that multiple teams have contacted the Patriots about a potential trade for Judon.
I can certainly understand if the Ravens are exploring the possibility of bringing back Judon, because he knows their system and he would bolster the pass rush. However, if Judon's return doesn't materialize, I don't think the Ravens will add the Jets' disgruntled Haason Reddick or any other pass rusher prior to Week 1.
The Ravens believe they already have enough to pressure quarterbacks consistently. Pass Rush Coach Chuck Smith echoed that belief this week. Baltimore led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2023, and 14 of the 16 players who contributed to that total are back.
Odafe Oweh has looked terrific in camp, and Kyle Van Noy is coming off a career-high with nine sacks. Meanwhile, the Ravens will continue to use creative pressure packages under new Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr. They have a dominant defensive tackle in Justin Madubuike, and numerous defensive backs who are effective blitzers, led by All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. I don't think the Ravens view adding a pass rusher as a top priority.
Brown: Yes, the Ravens have done that in the past. Signing Van Noy prior to Week 4 last season was a great move that helped solidify the defense. So was the 2019 trade for Marcus Peters, who helped the Ravens roll to a franchise best 14-2 season.
General Manager Eric DeCosta never stops trying to upgrade the roster. In addition, there's always the possibility that an injury or two will create a need. However, I think the Ravens believe they have enough right now to win consistently.
We'll find out soon enough. The Ravens have a challenging first five games to start the season. A slow start could increase their urgency to make a move.
Mink: Harbaugh said he would love to see rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa play in Saturday's preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons and added that, "I think he's got a good shot."
"It's just going to depend on his ability to do it with the recovery from bilateral sports hernia surgery," Harbaugh said. "We just have to see how it comes along in the next week or so."
The Ravens aren't going to rush the fourth-round pick back into action. As of Wednesday morning, he hasn't even participated in any 11-on-11 drills in training camp after returning to the field Monday. There's always a ramp-up period, and that would be a fast one to get him into game action.
If Tampa is physically ready, that would be great to get him some reps. If not, the Ravens have enough cornerbacks, even after the injuries to Nate Wiggins (shoulder) and Arthur Maulet (knee), to get through Saturday's game, and Tampa would have a better shot of playing in the preseason finale. The way I see it, Tampa is No. 5 on the outside cornerback depth chart behind Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Wiggins, and Jalyn Armour-Davis, so I don't think there's an urgent rush to get him up to speed.
