Tag: Josh Oliver

Ravens TE Josh Oliver continuing to impress in larger role

Ravens tight end Josh Oliver is impressing in a larger role

Going into the 2022 season, the Baltimore Ravens tight end position was overflowing with talent. The team had Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle to go along with rookies Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. Josh Oliver seemed like the odd man out in the room, but has shown his perseverance of working hard and doing what he could to make the team and thriving in an increased role.

Oliver’s teammates and coaches have been impressed with what the tight end has achieved as well and are giving him his flowers. Before Baltimore’s Week 11 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, offensive coordinator Greg Roman was asked about Oliver and couldn’t say enough good things about him.

“First of all, I have to say Josh [Oliver] just flat out won a job; he won a roster spot in training camp. It was definitely not a sure thing, and he just won it. For him to not be on the team for us would have been ridiculous with how he was improving. So, he’s a classic example of someone who came into training camp, looked at the depth chart and said, ‘Wow, they have a lot of tight ends.’ He just made us put him on the team, and he continues to make us play him. As far as his blocking, it is so much improved from a year ago, probably as much as any player I’ve ever worked with over one year’s time. It’s a credit to him. I definitely think teams that are getting ready to play us around the league, they’re probably … I can envision them watching us and looking at him saying, ‘Holy cow, who is this guy?’ and then they start shuffling through their papers to dig down on him because he’s doing an excellent job. We want to continue that trend.”

Oliver has made the most of his time as a Raven this season.  He’s been solid at blocking and has made plays when called upon in the receiving game as well. He’s stepped up in the absence of injured players, and the front office appears to have gotten another underrated high-impact player via trade, sending just a 7th-round selection to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for him during the 2021 offseason.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby9dgr2e1eyts4 player_id=none image=https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Two key Ravens players deemed questionable to return vs. Buccaneers in Week 8

Two key Ravens players were deemed questionable to return against the Buccaneers in Week 8

The Baltimore Ravens playing on a short week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. Tight end Mark Andrews didn’t practice for the entirety of the week due to a knee injury, but left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.

Later in the first half, the team also announced that cornerback Marlon Humphrey is questionable to return with a hamstring injury. It would be a big blow to the defense if Humphrey has to miss any extended period of time.

Update: Humphrey returned to the game to start the second half

Ravens HC John Harbaugh shares impressions of TE Josh Oliver

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shared his impressions of tight end Josh Oliver

The Baltimore Ravens have had to rely on multiple different contributors through Week 5 of the 2022 season. One of the deeper positions on the team is at tight end, where they boast players such as Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Josh Oliver, Nick Boyle, and Charlie Kolar.

Oliver has made more of an impact so far in 2022 than many anticipated before the year began. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh was asked about Oliver following Friday’s practice session ahead of Week 6 against the New York Giants, and praised the fourth-year player’s ability to contribute both as a blocker and a pass catcher.

“Very impressed. Josh [Oliver] has learned a lot from Nick [Boyle]; Nick works with him every single day, and Josh has done well with that. He’s one of the guys … Not a surprising guy, because we held out the idea that he was going to do really well, but I don’t think coming in here when he was traded here, the thought was that he was going to be a really good blocker. He can get down the field now and run seam routes and all that, and I’m hoping he has some big plays going forward, but he’s really turned it on as a blocker.”

Baltimore traded for Oliver during the 2021 offseason from the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending a conditional 7th-round selection back in the deal. Oliver played in 14 games during his first year in Baltimore, catching nine passes for 66 yards. While he’s only caught two passes for eight yards and a score through five games of 2022, he’s made an impact in other ways, impressing his teammates and coaches alike.

Ravens add two more players to Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday

The Ravens added two more players to the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday

The Baltimore Ravens have seen injuries and COVID-19 decimate their roster over the course of the 2021 season. COVID has been ravaging their locker room as of late, and on Thursday the team made more moves relating to the virus.

Baltimore placed both tight end Josh Oliver and practice squad quarterback Chris Streveler on the list. Oliver and Streveler mark the 16th and 17th players currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list for the Ravens, meaning that Baltimore has had at least one addition to to the list for eight consecutive days.

If players continue to be added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list in the coming days for Baltimore, postponement could be a real option for the Ravens’ Week 16 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. It remains to be seen if there will be more Baltimore players who need to go on the list, but hopefully the worst days of the breakout are behind them, as they are running out of healthy bodies.

Ravens add promising TE in latest 2022 mock draft by CBS Sports

The Ravens add a promising tight end in the latest 2022 mock draft by CBS Sports

The Baltimore Ravens are currently on pace to have 10 picks in the 2022 NFL draft, with nine of those selections projected to be in the top-four rounds. That gives Baltimore plenty of ammunition to either draft quality prospects, move up and down the draft board, or trade picks for veteran pieces.

In his latest first-round 2022 mock draft, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports selected a tight end for the Ravens at pick No. 26 in Ohio State University’s Jeremy Ruckert. When explaining his selection, Trapasso simply said that he would love to see the duo of Ruckert and Ravens tight end Mark Andrews play together.

“I would love to see the underrated Ruckert and Mark Andrews together in Baltimore.”

Ruckert is currently a senior at Ohio State, and has put up 47 receptions for 549 yards and 12 touchdowns over his three-plus years at the school. He has arguably been a bit underutilized considering his talent as a pass catcher, as he has great hands and has shown the ability to make spectacular catches with ease. He has a large catch radius and can work to get behind defenders to burn defenses deep.

He is also a willing blocker who gets after it in the run game, which is a quality that Baltimore values. Some of his weaknesses include a lack of explosiveness as well as not having an overly diverse route tree compared to other top prospects at his position over the years.

If the Ravens feel like Ruckert is the perfect compliment to Andrews and Nick Boyle at the tight end position, the team could invest a high draft pick in him. However, with Baltimore having so many other needs they could opt to pick a player at another position and save a selection at tight end for later in the draft.

TE Josh Oliver makes Ravens roster, Jags receive conditional pick

The terms of the trade with Baltimore gave Jacksonville a seventh-round pick if Oliver made the 53-man roster.

Jacksonville’s late-round picks in 2022 continue to pile up. Former Jags tight end Josh Oliver, who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in March, made the team’s final 53-man roster. The terms of the trade granted the Jaguars a conditional seventh-round pick if Oliver made the Ravens, and after a standout preseason, he locked up a roster spot.

The Jags recently added sixth-round picks in deals for Sidney Jones IV and Gardner Minshew II, though the latter pick is conditional and could become a fifth-rounder if Minshew plays more than 50% of offensive snaps in three games this year for Philadelphia.

Oliver was expected to make the roster after totaling 13 catches for 91 yards in Baltimore’s three preseason games. The decision to trade him remains a bit puzzling from Jacksonville’s perspective, as the former third-round pick had missed most of his first two seasons with injuries. He’s a player with at least some potential, and considering the currently dire situation at tight end, he’s a guy that would have been nice to have around this offseason.

But what’s done is done, and Oliver will be suiting up for the Ravens this fall. Jacksonville will have to take the extra Day 3 pick as a consolation prize if Oliver works out in Baltimore.

Former Jaguars TE Josh Oliver impressing in the preseason with Baltimore

The Jags traded Oliver for a conditional seventh-rounder in March, but he’s been a standout for the Ravens in the preseason.

With tight end remaining a weakness on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster heading into the regular season, the decision to move on from Josh Oliver may come back to bite the team. The former third-round pick was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in March for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2022 after injuries severely limited impact in his first two seasons.

He’s been a major target for the Ravens in the preseason, as he has totaled 11 catches for 72 yards between the first two contests.

Oliver played in just four games as a rookie, making three catches for 15 yards, and he missed the entire 2020 season. The Jags quickly moved on from Oliver after hiring coach Urban Meyer, and that hasty move could be a mistake in hindsight if the current group struggles in 2021.

James O’Shaughnessy, the best pass-catcher the Jags have at tight end, missed the first game and wasn’t targeted in the second, while no one has really stood out between Chris Manhertz, Luke Farrell, Tyler Davis and Ben Ellefson.

Oliver’s success does have one upside for the Jaguars: If he makes the final roster in Baltimore, Jacksonville receives that seventh-round pick from the trade. But the team would likely rather have the production at tight end over a late Day 3 pick.

Stock up, stock down from Ravens’ 20-3 preseason win over Panthers

In the second week of the 2021 preseason, the Ravens had many players increase their stock, but some saw their standing fall

The Baltimore Ravens went into Carolina and came out with a preseason victory against the Panthers, winning 20-3. Baltimore held Carolina relatively in check for the entire contest, and there were plenty of standouts across the board.

Offensive and defensive players who needed strong performances to get closer to earning a roster spot impressed, and even special teams contributors got in on that action. However, there were a few players who didn’t play due to injury that had their stock drop.

We take a look at players who increased their stock against the Panthers, as well as those who saw their stock fall.

Instant analysis of Ravens’ 20-3 preseason win over Panthers

Instant analysis of Ravens’ 20-3 preseason win over Panthers

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Carolina Panthers by the final score of 20-3, securing their 19th-straight preseason win, which ties the all-time record set by Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers from 1959-1962.

It was a sloppy start for both teams, as turnovers, three-and-outs, and missed opportunities were extremely present. Quarterback Tyler Huntley played for the majority of the game, and after a slow start, he finished the game completing 24 of 34 passes for 187 yards and one interception, as well as rushing the ball seven times for 23 yards, further cementing his place as the backup quarterback to Lamar Jackson.

As for the rest of the offense, running backs Ty’Son Williams and Nate McCrary had great games, taking advantage of Justice Hill’s absence due to injury. Wide receiver Tylan Wallace and tight end Josh Oliver also had good games, although both had plays that they would certainly like back, as Oliver fumbled a ball and both players dropped passes. The offensive line also had a much better performance than in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, but they still have some work to do.

On defense, the unit was flying around the field from start to finish. Safeties DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark both made huge plays, linebackers Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison played well in some extended run, and young playmakers in the secondary stepped up, including Nigel Warrior and Ar’Darius Washington.

The Ravens showed how deep of a team they are, especially without some of their stars playing on both sides of the ball. The team got multiple positive contributions from their starters and their backups, which is a great sign, as Baltimore is getting ready to rely on a plethora of players during the 2021 season.

Even after the game got off to a slow start, the Ravens responded and put together an overall solid performance. Baltimore will go for history next Saturday against the Washington Football Team, as they aim to win their 20th-straight preseason game.

8 players to watch during Ravens’ Week 1 preseason game vs. Saints

8 players to watch during Ravens’ Week 1 preseason game vs. Saints

The Baltimore Ravens will soon have a great chance to see how some of their practice standouts will perform in live game action. The team will face the New Orleans Saints on Saturday in their first preseason game of the 2021 season, which is another step to figuring out who will make Baltimore’s 53-man roster.

There will be plenty of players to keep an eye on over the course of the preseason, especially those who are on the roster bubble. Through a few weeks of training camp practices there have been those who have helped their stock and those who have hurt it.

Let’s dive into eight players to keep an eye on during the Ravens’ Saturday preseason game against New Orleans.