During a hot training camp, rookie Roger Rosengarten is warming to the competition at right tackle.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said Rosengarten got first-team reps on Thursday because his steady improvement had earned it. A second-round draft pick, Rosengarten and veteran Patrick Mekari are competing to start.
Harbaugh said Rosengarten and guard Andrew Vorhees, who is a rookie to on-field NFL action, are both "steadily improving."
"Roger's been doing well and deserved a shot with the 1's, you saw him with the 1's today," Harbaugh said. "We'll just kind of keep working through that and let it play out."
Mekari can play all five offensive line positions, and the coaching staff may decide his greatest value is being a super-sub rather a starter.
"That's part of it," Harbaugh said. "Pat's greatest strength is his versatility, it's also probably his greatest thorn in the side a little bit. That's a good problem to have."
After playing center, guard, and both tackle spots in previous seasons, Mekari has been focusing on right tackle during this camp and made it clear he wants to play as much as possible.
"It's been good to stack days, focus on one position and get better every day," Mekari said. "I just want to play, and I want to help the team. In whatever way that looks like that's up to the coaches and front office. That's for them to decide."
Harbaugh has not named a starter at left guard, right guard or right tackle, although Vorhees has emerged as the favorite at left guard. Harbaugh said it was possible that players could share snaps at a position until a permanent starter was decided.
"We have rotated offensive linemen before," Harbaugh said. "We were probably the first team to do it that I can remember. We have a track record of that."
Injury Updates on Ben Cleveland, Deonte Harty and Adisa Isaac
Ben Cleveland, who is competing to start at right guard, walked off the practice field early with a member of the training staff.
"He got his head banged a little bit," Harbaugh said. "He'll be evaluated."
Returner/wide receiver Deonte Harty and rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac were among those who didn't practice today. Harbaugh expects Harty to return shortly.
"It's a minor soft-tissue deal that should be fine with soon – very soon," Harbaugh said.
Isaac (hamstring) has a chance to be in the outside linebacker rotation as a rookie, and Harbaugh is optimistic the third-round pick from Penn State won't be sidelined much longer. The Ravens could use more depth after the season-ending knee injury to Malik Hamm.
"Adisa's going to get back here at some point in time soon," Harbaugh said. "It's been nagging him, but I do think he'll be back soon. That's another depth piece, a guy that we're counting on."
Malik Harrison Is the Defensive Patrick Mekari
Malik Harrison is the Ravens' jack-of-all-trades at linebacker, and his versatility will be counted on again in 2024.
Hamm's injury was a blow to the outside linebacker rotation. However, Harrison's ability to play numerous spots on defense gives the Ravens an experienced player who will be relied on.
Harrison made his presence felt during Thursday's practice, intercepting a pass by Josh Johnson and recovering a fumble by rookie running back Rasheen Ali.
"Malik is that guy," said Harbaugh, who likened Harrison to the defensive version of Mekari. "He plays inside backer, both of them. He plays outside backer in our base package. He plays defensive end also in our sub package. He plays every special teams. Very valuable player. I see him playing all those positions. He's done a great job, really proud of Malik."
Harbaugh did not rule out the possibility of the Ravens signing an additional outside linebacker. They signed local product Quincy Roche, who played at New Town High School in Owings Mills, after Hamm was injured.
"We'll definitely continue to evaluate every spot, including the outside backer spot," Harbaugh said. "You just never know from day to day. Especially in camp, because you want to have enough guys to practice at a high level."
Harbaugh Views Justice Hill as Starting Caliber
Signing two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry was Baltimore's most-discussed offseason move. However, Harbaugh said Justice Hill will maintain a valuable role in the backfield rotation.
Hill had career highs in yards (387), carries (84), and touchdowns (three) in 2023. Second year running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) is on the Physically Unable to Perform list and won't return until some point during the regular season.
Owen Wright is having a strong camp, but neither he nor Ali have NFL game experience. Hill is entering his sixth NFL season and plays special teams.
"The evolution of Justice as a player is that this guy has become a starting back in the National Football League," Harbaugh said. "He is a high caliber running back. So, to have him along Derrick, along with the young guys, it's really great. He's going to give us a little different style than Derrick Henry. I see him as a starter. I think he's going to play a lot and kind of do it his way."
Hill said he was thrilled when the Ravens signed Henry. He has already learned a lot from the veteran back, although their running styles differ greatly.
"Derrick Henry is one of the best running backs to ever play in the game, and just to be able to play alongside of him and learn from him, watch how he approaches each and every day, I mean, I was ecstatic," Hill said. "I've been lucky to have some good vets around here – from Mark Ingram [II] to Gus [Edwards] – and I've learned so much from all of those guys.
"(Derrick Henry) is definitely giving me some gems and stuff that I'm going to apply, but I'll just keep that under wraps until y'all see it."
