The Ravens are no strangers to joint practices. They've had eight during Head Coach John Harbaugh's tenure – four as hosts and four as visitors.
Thursday's joint practice will be their first in Green Bay, with the team flying out Wednesday ahead of Saturday's preseason finale.
Here's what went into the joint practice and what the Ravens are looking to gain from it:
A Tune Up for the Starters
Most of the Ravens' starters won't play at all in the preseason. The only projected starters who have suited up so far are linebacker Trenton Simpson and offensive linemen competing for the three open starting spots.
Harbaugh believes the Ravens' practices against themselves serve as better building blocks for the regular season. Baltimore hasn't played its starters since 2021, when J.K. Dobbins tore his ACL in the preseason finale in Washington. The Ravens have won their two Week 1 games since, beating the Jets, 24-9, and Texans, 25-9.
"We want to put our best foot forward right out of the gates as much as we can," Harbaugh said this week. "It's hard to do, there's no guarantee you're going to do that, and there's a lot of question marks to that every year. We have done well over the years doing that, because we practice well.
"It comes down to practice. Practice is what makes it; preseason games don't make or break you that way, it's the practices that make you, because that's what you stack."
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Thus, joint practices are the closest thing to "game action" that the Ravens' starters will get.
The fact that Thursday's joint practice is happening so late (training camp has technically ended) means Baltimore has already built up in camp and can test itself out against another opponent. This is the measuring stick for the starters before the Sept. 5 opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Asked what he's looking to get out of the joint practice, Lamar Jackson said, "Just not going against my guys each and every day."
"Finally get to go against someone else," he said. "Especially [since] I'm not playing in the preseason, it's just great to see how we are against other opponents."
Running back Derrick Henry won't stiff arm his teammates, but the bruising running back may finally show more of his physicality against another team.
"I'm sure we'll scrimmage against [the Packers] and get some contact in, as far as going against their defense," Henry said.
Facing a Different System
One downside of only practicing against yourself is that you get used to that opponent and system. Ravens players have talked during camp about how they know what to expect from the other side.
Going against a different foe gives Baltimore a chance to see how it will fare versus different kinds of schemes and styles. Facing the Packers will particularly help the Ravens' young offensive line, which is still sorting out three starting spots.
"For instance, [Green Bay's] defensive line is an up field, penetrating type of a front. They're going to be hitting gaps and getting up field," Harbaugh said. "We haven't really seen that in the two preseason games or in practice, but we are going see that in the games – the Cowboys are going to do that, for instance – so that's something that we need to get ready for. There's an opportunity to see a different style that we haven't seen before."
Here's who we're going to be watching when the Ravens travel to Green Bay for Thursday's joint practice.
S Kyle Hamilton vs. QB Jordan Love
Love is coming off a strong first season as a starter with a new contract in hand, and Hamilton just made first team All-Pro in Year 2. One thing to monitor is if Hamilton can make plays on the ball as Love threw just one interception over the final eight regular season games. They're two of the young stars in the NFL, and Thursday will be a good challenge for them both.
CB Nate Wiggins vs. WR Christian Watson
This matchup will be speed on speed as Wiggins ran a 4.28 second 40-yard dash and Watson ran his in 4.36. Wiggins is coming off an impressive showing in the preseason against the Eagles, but Watson will be his toughest test as a pro so far. Watson is a big receiver at 6-foot-4, 207-pounds, so it will be interesting to see how the lighter Wiggins handles him.
WR Rashod Bateman vs. CB Eric Stokes
Bateman inked a contract extension this offseason and is the healthiest he's been in years. He did miss time during training camp, but he is back fully practicing. Stokes was a first-round pick a year before Bateman and has also battled injuries early in his career. This will be a matchup between two guys looking to prove something.
RB Derrick Henry vs. LB Quay Walker
With Henry not playing in the preseason, Thursday will be an opportunity to show his full game (or close to it). Henry has an elite size/speed combination, but he's reigned in his physicality this summer. The joint practice will be different, though, and he'll face a standout linebacker in the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Walker, who led the Packers with 118 tackles last season. There are sure to be some big collisions between the two during practice.
ILB Trenton Simpson vs. RB Josh Jacobs
As Simpson enters his first season as a starter, the Ravens have given him extended run in the preseason. He's been active all training camp, and the joint practice could top off an impressive summer. Facing the newly-acquired Jacobs, who led the league in rushing in 2022 and has multiple seasons with at least 50 catches, will be a good test for the young Simpson.
Interior O-Line vs. DT Kenny Clark
The interior of Baltimore's line is one of the biggest question marks right now. Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele are the favorites to start at left and right guard, respectively, and Ben Cleveland, Patrick Mekari, and rookie Nick Samac have taken first team reps at center with Tyler Linderbaum sidelined. Thursday will be a big test facing Clark, who had 7.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl last season.
One Practice Instead of Two
Last year, the Ravens hosted the Washington Commanders for back-to-back days at the Under Armour Performance Center and there were several feisty moments.
Harbaugh said the league encouraged teams to only do one day of joint practices instead of two, when tensions tend to boil over.
"I think you're talking about some competitive human beings, and everybody wants to win all the time," Harbaugh said this week. "So, that practice intensity gets to a level sometimes where, on the second day, it's not as productive as it was on the first day."
Focus on Football, Not Fighting
In that same vein, Harbaugh wants to get good work in against another good team that doesn't come into the practice with a chip on its shoulder.
The Packers, who reached last year's playoffs, should be that kind of team.
"The mindset of the two teams is the most important thing," Harbaugh said." If both teams come in with the same idea, that they're two good football teams that are trying to take advantage of opportunity to practice against another good football team and get a good football practice in, that's what you want."
"If a team is coming in like they're trying to prove something – some junior high thing – then it's usually not good. We're excited to go against Green Bay. We think they're that kind of a group – a good football team, right there almost in the NFC Championship Game, a proven team. So, we're looking forward to that opportunity to go up and practice against those guys."
