Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
We’re updating our Baltimore #Ravens projected offensive depth chart after a slew of roster moves and ahead of preseason matchup vs. Commanders via @Thacover2NFL
The Ravens are just 48-hours away from their second preseason matchup of the summer when they travel to face the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and you can watch on ESPN.
Baltimore is favored in a game where most of their starters will sit, while several key rookies and veterans will compete for final remaining roster spots.
With cutdown day fast approaching, we’re providing an updated regular season depth chart prediction ahead of Monday night.
We’re looking who’s seen their stock rise and stock fall ahead of the Baltimore #Ravens preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders via @thacover2NFL
The Ravens are starting to form their 53-man depth chart and as the team prepares for a preseason tilt against the Commanders, several stock portfolio’s are starting to take shape.
Baltimore has a loaded roster, with more players on the roster bubble, than available slots on the depth chart.
With the team wrapping up a morning session ahead of Monday’s national television appearance, we’re looking at who’s stock is up, and who’s stock is declining.
The hype about Zay Flowers is real and he’s excluded from the list because his stock pprtfolio is obviously high.
We’re looking at highlights and notes from the Baltimore #Ravens second and final joint practice with the Washington Commanders via @Thacover2NFL
Joint practices ✔️ pic.twitter.com/LJvopGxK5g
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 16, 2023
The Ravens and Commanders hooked up for the second of two joint practices at the Under Armour Performance Center.
It was a difficult day with the news that Marlon Humphrey needed to have foot surgery that would require a month of rehab.
The Baltimore defense picked up the slack, pressuring Sam Howell throughout the 11-on-11 period.
Here are highlights and notes from Day 2.
We’re looking at takeaways and observations from the Baltimore #Ravens first joint practice with the Washington Commanders via @Thacover2NFL
The Ravens and Commanders squared off for their first of two joint practices Tuesday and the rivals didn’t hold back any intensity or physical play.
There were scuffles in the later portions of practice, and deep balls galore from star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“That’s the bottom line; we got a lot of work done,” Harbaugh said. “Joint practices are a challenge, always, obviously, because you’ve got two teams out here, and there is a lot of pride. I thought it was a really good practice. We had a couple dust-ups, which you don’t want to see, but it’s not really unexpected. I thought they got handled pretty quickly.”
With Day 2 of practice set to begin shortly, here are takeaways and observations from Day 1.
We’re looking at highlights and notes from the first joint practice between the Baltimore #Ravens and Washington Commanders via @thacover2NFL
The Ravens and Commanders just commenced a scrappy, physical joint training camp practice in Baltimore on Tuesday morning.
Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham continue to build chemistry, connecting on a deep passing attempt early-on.
Washington rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes plays with an edge and SEC swagger, getting involved in two training camp scuffles.
With the two teams set to practice again on Wednesday, we’re looking at highlights and notes from Day 1.
We’re looking at 15 Washington Commanders during joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens and Commanders are set for two days of joint practices ahead of Monday’s second preseason game for both clubs.
There’s star power at multiple positions on both sides of the football, but there are also several intriguing position battles to monitor.
Baltimore will look to continue the momentum from Saturday night’s 20-19 home win over the defending NFC champion Eagles.
With the first practice underway, here are 15 players from Washington’s rebuilding roster to watch.
Gibson sees himself in J.D. McKissic’s old role.
Commanders running back Antonio Gibson broke some news Wednesday.
The fourth-year running back out of Memphis, when asked about his offensive role, replied,
“Right now, I would say third-down back, but we all just out there working, trying to make each other better and prepare for the season right now.”
When asked to clarify, Gibson responded,
“Almost like that [J.D. McKissic] role, you know, third-down back end of the game situation, end of the half situation, and things like that. And then, you know, whatever those guys got playing outside of that, you know, I could take that on too.”
It is a role that could see Gibson running much less between the tackles, and utilizing his quickness, getting him the ball in more open space. Gibson was asked about his feelings towards the role and affirmed,
“I feel fine. Like I said, we all going to practice like we’re starters, and we just going to make each other better and keep working.”
When asked twice about the current running back market in the NFL trending downward, Gibson didn’t take the bait, stating both times he supports the other backs to get paid what they deserve, “but right now, it’s the first day at camp, my mind is right here with this team and what we got planned for the rest of the season.”
Of course, Gibson would like to be the full-time starter, and he even said he understands how all players want that for themselves.
“I feel like everybody should have that same mindset. That’s where I went to say, like, we’re going to practice like we’re starters, everybody’s capable of doing more than what, you know, coach needs, but we’re going to do what coach needs, and if they ask for more, we’re going to do more. So, you know, everybody going to play their role, but we’re going to practice like we all starters.”
Gibson likes what he sees in fellow running back, second-year man Brian Robinson.
“He looks good; he always got a positive attitude. He knows how to work, you know, he comes in, and he’s ready…So, he’s being more vocal this year and he looks good to me.”
As training camps begin, and the preseason is nearly upon us, here are the best free agent players left in the NFL.
Rookies and veterans are reporting to training camps around the NFL, which means that our long national nightmare of life without professional football is nearly over. Yay, but for a lot of veterans in the league, there’s still an element of waiting by the phone to hear from their agents regarding interests from NFL teams.
Not every veteran — even veterans who are still playing at a high level — have homes when training camps start. A lot of the players listed below will find those homes before preseason games begin in early August, and some will have to wait longer. (Yes, there are veterans who would prefer to eschew training camp entirely, and that has something to do with it).
So, as we head into the pre-preseason, here are the best players who, at this point, are still looking for their new NFL destinations.
Could the Browns add a few more free agents before training camp begins?
While the bulk of NFL free agency has come to a close as the Cleveland Browns look ahead toward training camp, there are still plenty of valuable names available on the open market like defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis. Not every name is a realistic option for the team, however, as players like running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins can be considered long shots to land in Cleveland.
Positions still on the roster that could use work before training camp arrives include linebacker, running back, and defensive tackle. Here are three realistic free agent options the Browns could pursue to tighten up their depth chart a bit further.
McKissic is a terrific player but dealing with a neck injury.
The Washington Commanders released veteran running back J.D. McKissic Tuesday. McKissic was released with a failed physical designation due to a neck injury he’s dealt with since late in the 2021 season.
McKissic’s time in Washington ends after three years, and it’s an unfortunate ending as he’s a terrific player. For Washington, McKissic often served as a third-down and change-of-pace back, a role in which he excelled. McKissic was an outstanding receiver and, despite his size, did his job in pass protection.
In three seasons with Washington, McKissic played in 35 games, with 10 starts, rushed for 672 yards and three touchdowns and finished with 150 receptions for 1,159 yards and four touchdowns. In multiple games in his first two seasons, McKissic scored critical touchdowns, with his game-winning touchdown against Atlanta in 2021 as his most memorable moment.
Washington riding that Heinicke off-script wave. Finds McKissic leaking out to the right side after scrambling left. McKissic makes the catch and gets down the sideline for a TD (under review) pic.twitter.com/CCFa0kXrBm
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) October 3, 2021
There was the Monday night win over the Seattle Seahawks in November 2021, in which McKissic scored both touchdowns. Unfortunately, it’s also the game that ended his season after 11 games.
The Buffalo Bills agreed to a deal with McKissic during the legal tampering period last March, but the Commanders came in late and matched the offer. The Bills weren’t happy, but McKissic didn’t want to leave Washington.
McKissic will be missed by fans and teammates. Another strong force in the locker room, McKissic was a big part of head coach Ron Rivera’s culture change.
Hopefully, McKissic is able to play football again. If he isn’t, we wish him nothing but the best in all of his future endeavors.
The Commanders save only $1.2 million by releasing McKissic.
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