There's only a few more days left in Ravens training camp, and the Ravens are still putting in the heavy work. The team was back in pads for a second straight day, and it was one of the most physical and intense practices of camp.
What maybe wasn't expected was that two of the smallest defenders on the team were the ones who stood out.
Defensive backs Ar'Darius Washington (5-foot-8, 177 pounds) and Damarion Williams (5-10, 180) made multiple plays during Monday's session. Both have seen more practice reps with the first team due to injuries to Kyle Hamilton and Arthur Maulet, and they're making the most of them.
Harbaugh said he and Washington had a good conversation in his office Monday, and the versatile defender backed up his coach's faith in him on the field.
"He wasn't called to the principal's office. It was to talk about his vision for the season and what he can accomplish," Harbaugh said with a smile.
"He's playing at a high level; you saw it today. He's playing both safety positions, he's playing the nickel, he could play outside if he had to, he could go in at dime if he had to. He knows the defense that well. His style is pretty much patented. That's the style he plays with, and I think it's a style worthy of emulating. I'm very glad he's on the team."
Washington cut off a deep pass intended for tight end Isaiah Likely – one of the very few times Likely didn't haul in a target. Washington also went up high to knock away a pass intended for Nelson Agholor when Lamar Jackson lofted a deep pass in the face of a heavy blitz.
Not long after that, Williams rose high to break up an end zone fade to tight end Qadir Ismail, who has an eight-inch height advantage. Williams also came free on a blitz for what would've been a sack similar to the one he notched in the preseason opener.
Here are more notes from Monday's practice:
- Safety Kyle Hamilton didn't practice following Sunday's scare but was running and stretching with a member of the Ravens' training staff at the start of practice. Harbaugh said Hamilton has a minor sprain and is ramping back up.
- Wide receiver Rashod Bateman returned to practice but pulled up short on a route early during one-on-ones and shut it down after that. Harbaugh said Bateman is working his way back. Rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa (sports hernia surgery) made his training camp debut and did only individual drills as he also builds up.
- One sign of the intensity of practice was that Jackson, after an incompletion to Isaiah Likely in the end zone, was so adamant a flag should've been thrown that he took a tablet to two officials to show them the replay and plead his case.
- Cornerback Brandon Stephens had a good day. He forced multiple incompletions during one-on-ones and broke up a pass an extended play when he had a very long time to chase. Running mate Marlon Humphrey decked wide receiver Keith Kirkwood after one catch. The Ravens secondary was stingy.
- Undrafted rookie cornerback Bump Cooper Jr. had a strong practice. He won one-on-ones against fellow rookie Dayton Wade, Malik Cunningham, and again versus Wade. The only one he lost was against Likely. Cooper also had tight coverage on an incompletion to Wade during seven-on-sevens.
- The first-team offense and defense clashed in a physical portion of practice dedicated to the run game. Derrick Henry kicked it off with two strong runs on the edge and Owen Wright rattled some pads with a physical run up the middle. Defensive tackle Travis Jones punched a ball out for a fumble on one.
- A physical practice suits Tavius Robinson just fine. He came off the edge for a sack on one play, then bench pressed Josh Jones for a tackle for loss in the run game on the next play. Outside Linebackers Coach Chuck Smith raved about Robinson after practice, calling him a "glass eater" who never passes up a rep.
- Tight end Mark Andrews made the catch of the day with a one-handed grab on a lofted Jackson pass versus a heavy blitz.
- Wide receiver Tylan Wallace had a nice sideline catch working against safety Marcus Williams. Wallace has made difficult catches routinely throughout camp. Anthony Miller also went up to haul in a tightly-contested catch deep downfield.
- Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis came up with an interception on a pass that tipped off Agholor's hands. Armour-Davis was another standout on the day, including breaking up a deep pass during one-on-ones that was intended for Kirkwood.
- Recently signed punter Jack Browning, who also kicked at San Diego State, hooked two field goal attempts wide left, then got a big cheer from teammates, including Jackson, when he hit from 40+ yards.
