The already hot Ravens-Steelers rivalry turned up a notch this offseason when linebacker Patrick Queen switched sides.

It's not all that uncommon. After all, the Ravens currently have several former Steelers with Arthur Maulet, Diontae Johnson, and Chris Wormley.

But Queen has been talking about it since March, when he said he turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to sign a three-year, reported $41 million deal with the enemy Steelers.

With the much-anticipated tilt just four days away, Queen revisited his feelings.

"I wasn't wanted back. I didn't get an offer [to go] back," Queen told Pittsburgh reporters.

"It was definitely kind of upsetting being there for four years and the bond that you grow with your teammates. For the first few months, you definitely go through those feelings. … I will have feelings. Anybody in my position would this week."

Even as the Ravens cleaned out their lockers at the end of last season, Queen knew it was highly unlikely he would be back. The Ravens had already signed fellow inside linebacker Roquan Smith to a massive extension, had limited salary-cap space (which they used to sign Derrick Henry), and had breakout defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike to re-sign.

Still, it was clearly difficult for Queen, a 2020 first-round pick who grew into a highly-respected Pro Bowl player, to process. He said he didn't get over it until the end of August or September.

Now he'll get a chance to prove a point against his former team and the Ravens offense will have the same. Lamar Jackson said the game will be different from practicing against Queen.

"It's not practice no more with PQ," Jackson said. "It'll be different. It'll be different because it's game action. It's not just practice."

Ravens fans are eager to see the matchup between Henry and Queen. Henry didn't add any gasoline to that matchup. He went against Queen a couple times before.

"[It was] just a game going against each other, him playing defense [and] me playing offense. It was nothing more or nothing less," Henry said. "He's a great player. He's been playing great football for them."

Henry Is Built for Ravens-Steelers Physicality

Watching Ravens-Steelers game as a kid, one thing stood out to Henry – physicality.

"[They are] two physical teams, two playoff teams, two really good defenses that will knock your head off on any given play," Henry said.

Henry is no stranger to playing against the Steelers from his days with the Titans. In three games against them, he rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

But Ravens-Steelers is different from Titans-Steelers. If there's a game that the bruising Henry was built for, it's this one.

Henry said he's going to treat it like any other game and "like I've been in this rivalry for a long time." When he takes the field, it may feel like it from the way he plays.

"I pride myself in being physical," Henry said. "They're a physical team, have a physical defense – a very good defense, a Top 10 defense. So you have to embrace the physicality throughout your preparation, through the week and then let it go and pay off on Sunday."

Jackson Wants to Get the Ball to Diontae Johnson

Johnson has two targets and one catch in his first two games as a Raven, leading Head Coach Mike Tomlin to say he hasn't thought much about the former Steeler this week.

Jackson wants to get Johnson on his former coach's radar Sunday afternoon, but he isn't going to force it.

"You just don't want to rush things. If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Jackson said of how coaches are likely viewing the situation. "But we definitely want to get him involved because he's a great talent."

This is the first full week of practice together for Jackson and Johnson, which could help Baltimore get him more incorporated into some plays and help Jackson develop chemistry.

On Tuesday, Johnson said he can’t expect a lot of action in the Ravens offense and needs to make plays whenever his number his called. After Pittsburgh traded him eight months ago, Johnson called Sunday's game a "big moment for me."

Tyler Linderbaum Has Major Respect for Cameron Heyward

Troy Polamalu. Joey Porter. James Harrison. Those are some of the great Steelers defenders that come to mind in the Ravens-Steelers rivalry.

But only one defender – Harrison – has ever played more games against the Ravens than defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Heyward will battle Baltimore for the 25th time Sunday, two behind Harrison.

Now in his 14th season, Heyward is second on the Steelers with five sacks, trailing only T.J. Watt (6.5). Heyward had two last week against the Commanders.

Heyward has notched eight sacks and 83 tackles against the Ravens, and his matchup against Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum will be one of the best of Sunday's game.

"The longevity of his career and what he's been able to do is impressive. It's like Calais [Campbell] playing for how long he has and at a high level," Linderbaum said. "Especially inside, it's a physical game. To keep your body in that shape and play at that high of a level, it means you're doing something right."