Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum wasn't on the field Friday at training camp. After practice, Head Coach John Harbaugh gave an update on him.
"It's a soft tissue kind of thing," Harbaugh said. "We'll keep him out today. We'll keep him out tomorrow. And then he should be back sometime next week.
"We'll be very patient with Tyler. He's having a great camp, and some of those young guys need a little more work anyway so it kind of works out for us."
Linderbaum is the anchor in the middle of a Ravens offensive line that is replacing three starters from last season.
Deonte Harty Still Out of Practice
Returner/wide receiver Deonte Harty missed Organized Team Activities due to personal reasons but returned for training camp. He practiced for the first week or so but has been out the last few days with an injury.
"I can't say there's no concern," Harbaugh said of Harty missing time in training camp. "We want to have all of our guys out here. He's got a nagging soft tissue, lower-leg deal. He's had those in the past – it's something that he does deal with.
"I think he'll be fine and get plenty of reps. He's had so many return reps generally, but you would want him out here in this new [kickoff rule], getting a feel and the timing for it."
Harty was an All-Pro returner in 2019 with the Saints and is expected to be the returner in Baltimore. But as the season gets closer, being on the field for practice will be important for him, especially with the new Dynamic Kickoff.
John Harbaugh Noticed Something Watching the Dynamic Kickoff
Speaking of the Dynamic Kickoff, NFL fans got their first look at it during Thursday's Hall of Fame Game. Harbaugh said he was going to be "glued to that television," and after Friday's practice he chronicled what he saw.
"It looked about [how] we thought it would look," Harbaugh said. "It was pretty tough to block those guys, but the field position is going to be there, unless you bobble the ball, or the ball gets on the ground; then it's going to be a problem for the kick return team."
Harbaugh did notice something while watching.
"The one thing that did jump out at me was it's confusing for the fans," Harbaugh said. "... [The teams will] all get it, but I want to make sure we educate the fans, so they understand why the ball is being spotted where it's at. Or they still could tweak those things and simplify that a little bit, too."
Ar'Darius Washington Could Be an Option at Slot Corner
Despite signing veteran safety Eddie Jackson, the Ravens remain high on Ar'Darius Washington. After missing most of last season with a chest injury, Washington could be a rotational player in 2024.
"Ar'Darius is very capable of going out there and playing great football in the secondary, and I'm sure he will this year," Harbaugh said. "He's just a really good football player. [I] love his energy, his athleticism is off the charts, [and] he's tough as nails. He's not going to disappoint anybody when he's on the field."
While he has mostly played safety in his career, Harbaugh said he could get some opportunities at slot cornerback.
"He can go down in there and play slot [corner]," Harbaugh said. "We haven't put him there much; he's played there a little bit – a lot in the past [and] a little bit in the spring. I know he can go in there if we needed him to, but just right now, we have so many guys. We're just trying to get those guys the reps. I think that's kind of indicative of our depth back there; it kind of demonstrates it."
