With Jadeveon Clowney gone, the Ravens are counting on players already in the building to step up. The biggest X factor in that equation might be David Ojabo, a former second-round pick that has dealt with injuries over his first two seasons.
Ojabo missed most of his rookie year because of a torn Achillies at Michigan's Pro Day, and he underwent surgery in November for a partially torn ACL last season, which held him to three games and has kept him limited during organized team activities.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said it looks like the outside linebacker won't return until training camp.
"His timeline, I believe, is somewhere in training camp," he said. "It won't be minicamp, but it's at some point in time once we get back for training camp."
Lamar Jackson Not In Attendance for Week 2 of OTAs
Lamar Jackson has practiced during one of the four days open to the media, and after OTAs on Thursday, Harbaugh was asked about the attendance of the two-time and reigning MVP.
"It's just this time of year. It's a voluntary time," Harbaugh said. "It's really not something that we comment on. We can't, and that's just the time of year it is. So, I can't speak for anybody that's not here.
"I pretty much know the different reasons guys aren't here most of the time, but not always. Nobody's required to tell you exactly what's going on, so I'm not really specifically going to be able to comment on anybody that way. But the guys who were here were great, flying around, and those are the guys we had a great time coaching."
Harbaugh Talks Potential NFL Offseason Change
On Tuesday, a report came out that the NFL Players Association is finalizing a proposal that would effectively get rid of OTAs and put offseason workouts (similar to OTAs) right before training camp. This would end the roughly six-week gap between OTAs and training camp.
Mark Andrews commented on the topic Tuesday, and on Thursday after practice, Harbaugh chimed in.
"That's really interesting to me. I think there's a lot of science behind that, and the thing I'm really encouraged by with a proposal or a thought like that is the fact that the union and the league are working together on it," he said. "To me, that's really good, because we want to do the best we can to keep guys as healthy as we can [and] get them ready to play football.
"Right now, it's not probably perfect. I think the different studies [that] they've done would say that the timeline is not really great, and so if they can kind of make the timeline better somehow and both the union and the league agree that this is the best way to do it, that would be fantastic."
If the proposal is submitted and approved by NFL owners, there could be a significant gap between the end of the previous season and the start the next. Harbaugh was asked if he thinks that could be an issue.
"I think that's definitely something to consider," Harbaugh said. "It's something that they would have to look at and try to give guys an opportunity to come in. It wouldn't be football practice like this, but some way to be connected probably. I think they'd probably want to do that."
Nate Wiggins Working on Physicality
Cornerback Nate Wiggins is blazing fast. Running a 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine is confirmation. But in OTAs, the 182-pound Wiggins has been focusing on his physicality.
"[It's about] just getting hands on [wide receivers] early [and] just not relying on my speed as much as I used to do in college" Wiggins said. "So, [it's] just getting hands on [and] beating receivers up."
While Wiggins has the speed to make up for mistakes, his focus right now is not to need it.
"I really don't try to get in recovery now," he said. "I've been trying to stay in front of the receiver, so [there] hasn't been a lot of recovery going on."
Quick Hits
- Entering the final year of his rookie deal and coming off a breakout season, cornerback Brandon Stephens was asked about his contract situation. "I'm kind of letting that part [be put] aside [and] be handled by my agent," he said. "But yes, personally, I'm not focused on that right now."
- Wide receiver/returner Deontay Harty, who was signed this offseason, has not been present at OTAs yet. "There is a reason for it. ... He has a newborn baby situation," Harbaugh said.
- Veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley has been at all four open practices and drew some praise from Harbaugh. "He's looked good," Harbaugh said. "I was pleased, very pleased, and Ronnie's talented. He's working super hard."
