Ravens training camp kicked off with the biggest star, Lamar Jackson, at home sick.
However, the return of one of the Ravens' defensive leaders stood out on the first day. Marlon Humphrey was a full participant and had a strong showing to start camp.
It comes after undisclosed nagging injuries kept him sidelined for much of the previous offseason practices and he missed eight games, including the postseason, last season due to foot and calf injuries.
Humphrey, who turned 28 this month, is looking to have a resurgent season alongside Brandon Stephens and first-round pick Nate Wiggins, and he got off to an encouraging start.
Humphrey forced an incompletion on a deep attempt intended for Tylan Wallace and had a few other plays on the ball when he was sticky in coverage.
"Having Marlon Humphrey at full speed and at his best would be massively beneficial, and that's what we expect him to be," Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
"He's in great shape. You saw it today in practice; he looked great. He gives us some great versatility in the back end [with] moving guys around. So, I would never discount Marlon Humphrey, if I was an opponent. I believe in Marlon. I think he's one of the best players – one of the very, very best corners – in the National Football League."
Here are more notes from the first practice:
- The Ravens are in the build-up part of training camp so they weren't in pads yet. It felt more like a minicamp practice in that regard.
- Humphrey wasn't the only veteran to return to the field. Safety Kyle Hamilton, nose tackle Michael Pierce, and outside linebacker David Ojabo were all also back in 11-on-11 drills and appeared to be full-go. The only players missing were rookies Adisa Isaac and T.J. Tampa and running back Keaton Mitchell.
- Tight end Isaiah Likely made one of the plays of a day adjusting to a back shoulder throw from Josh Johnson with Brandon Stephens tight in coverage. It doesn't seem to matter where the ball is when it comes to Likely. He almost always makes the play.
- The Ravens' tight ends in general continued to feast, just as they did in minicamp. Mark Andrews was active, including a couple long receptions, and Charlie Kolar also continues to make plays as a receiver. His blocking will be most critical this training camp. He got pushed back by Malik Harrison on one outside throw to a running back but looked to hold his own as a run blocker on Day 1.
- Slot cornerback Arthur Maulet came up with an interception on a tipped pass during 7-on-7 drills.
- Wide receiver Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor both made impressive outstretched catches in traffic on slants. Rashod Bateman, who said he was working out three or four times every day this offseason, showed his explosiveness pulling away from a defender after a catch but had the ball pop out of his hands as he ran. He fell on it himself.
- Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike looks primed to replicate or improve on last year's huge campaign. He's in phenomenal shape and flashed in the backfield multiple times. Broderick Washington also busted through the offensive line to get what could've been a sack.
- Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh got plenty of wins burning off the edge. He's had a strong summer overall and is looking to team up with Ojabo to have a monster season.
- Undrafted rookie Dayton Wade tracked a bomb from Devin Leary and caught it over his shoulder behind fellow undrafted rookie Bump Cooper Jr.
- Justice Hill caught a nice pass from Johnson on a route up the sideline. Another running back to watch is Owen Wright, who has spent time on the Ravens' practice squad but is in the mix for the No. 3 running back role until Mitchell returns.
