Stop me if you've read this already, but wide receiver John Brown had a good day at practice.
It's become routine at this point, but the free-agent addition continues to put on a clinic at Ravens training camp. This time, however, he showed he's got more than "smoke."
Nicknamed "Smokey," Brown has often blazed by cornerbacks for deep catches. On Sunday he showed off his fine route-running, strong hands and leaping ability.
On the first of his two spectacular grabs, Brown came back for about a 15-yard completion with cornerback Marlon Humphrey all over him. Along the sideline, Brown extended to make a tough catch with his hands.
On the second play, Brown elevated over Humphrey to haul in what would have been about a 20-yard catch. Despite standing in just 5-foot-11, Brown can go up and make plays vertically too.
"The thing about John, to me – I feel like he is a complete receiver," Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Engram said. "He's got the speed, but he also can get in and out of breaks, so he can transition, he can run the whole entire route tree. And, like I just mentioned, he's got incredible ball skills."
Brown will be the Ravens' No. 2 wide receiver behind Michael Crabtree. After putting up 1,003 receiving yards in Arizona in 2015, Brown could have huge production this season if he stays healthy.
Here are other notes from Sunday's hot practice:
- Safety Tony Jefferson missed a fourth straight day of practice. Harbaugh said he's dealing with a "pull" and doesn't see any need to rush him back. Wide receiver Tim White was out for a second straight day with an unspecified injury. Inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor returned.
- Safety Chuck Clark has played well stepping in for Jefferson the past several days. Clark got an interception in Thursday's game against the Bears and came up with another one Sunday when he sniffed out a short pass by Joe Flacco and leapt into the passing lane. Coaches have been highly impressed with how solid Clark is and feel he could be a starter.
- Veteran Terrell Suggs had a strong practice just hours after returning from Canton and Ray Lewis' induction speech. Afterward, Harbaugh told Suggs he was impressed. "He said, 'Coach, I was born to do this. I'm a football player. I get up in the morning, I play football. What else am I going to do?'" Harbaugh said.
- The Ravens secondary won most of the reps in red-zone drills and the secondary did well overall. They shut down a few opportunities for deep plays or touchdowns.
- While Humphrey gave up the two completions to Brown, the second-year cornerback had a good day. He scrapped to knock away a short touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree (which was very reminiscent of the Super Bowl XLVII goal-line stand). Humphrey also broke up a deep pass from Lamar Jackson to Jaleel Scott in the end zone.
- Rookie wide receiver Jordan Lasley seems to have a good feel for how to get open in zone coverage and made a tough snag on the goal line for a touchdown.
- Jackson showed very good accuracy during one 11-on-11 period, especially with a spot-on throw to rookie tight end Mark Andrews as he ran a crossing route and was covered tightly by rookie safety DeShon Elliott. Jackson put it in the perfect spot out in front.
