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John Harbaugh says Andrew Vorhees has lead in left guard competition

2025-08-04T16:01:39-04:00

Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Andrew Vorhees has the lead over Ben Cleveland

One of the few spots open for grabs on a loaded Baltimore Ravens team heading into the 2025 season is the left guard position.

With the departure of veteran Patrick Mekari in free agency, the attention turned towards third-year Andrew Vorhees as the most likely candidate to fill the opening. Vorhees started the 2024 season as the starter at left guard before an injury sidelined him early in the year, paving the way for Mekari to take his spot.

Vorhees appeared as the starter once more in the final game of the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers when the Ravens rested several starters — appearing much improved from his early-season performance before the injury.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked when he would like to have the competition for left guard settled.

“I want to have it settled now, today, but I think we’ll know by the end of this next game, probably,” Harbaugh said. “Andrew [Vorhees] has the lead. Andrew Vorhees is in the lead. Something would have to change. I will say, with Ben [Cleveland], he’ll tell you, the first, three or four days didn’t look too good. Then, the next three or four days looked really good, so [that’s] good for Ben. Andrew has looked good all the way through, so he’s in the lead at this point.”

The offensive line remains the only questionable area for an otherwise stacked offense for Baltimore. With another year of experience under their belt, it is fair to expect both guards, Daniel Faalele and Vorhees, to perform better this year.

Which player will take the biggest leap for the Ravens’ defense in 2025?

2025-08-04T16:00:50-04:00

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The second-year safety has a big opportunity this year

The Baltimore Ravens are loaded from front to back on defense with star players at every level of the unit. With so much talent in the starting lineup, it will be harder for unproven players to have chances of becoming key contributors. There are a few positions where younger players can break through due to a lack of proven depth, though, most notably at safety, inside linebacker, and defensive tackle.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Which player will take the biggest leap for the Ravens’ defense in 2025?

My answer: Sanoussi Kane

Kane was my choice for which defensive player will have a bigger role for Baltimore in 2025, which would in turn suggest that his play on the field has noticeably improved from his rookie season. While Kyle Hamilton and rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks are the starters at safety, Kane has a chance to fill a valuable role as the third safety who is called upon to play the backend to allow Hamilton to move closer to the line of scrimmage. This role would have been filled by either Starks or Ar’Darius Washington before Washington suffered a torn Achilles earlier this offseason.

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr spoke about Kane’s progress heading into his second season.

“Sanoussi [Kane] has always been a really smart player and a physical player,” Orr said. “I think he’s moving better in the backend than what he did last year, so that’s a credit to what he did in the offseason and [in] training. He’s moving a lot better. He’s comfortable with the system, so he’s doing a heck of a job.”

Fellow second-year safety Beau Brade is competing with Kane for snaps this season, so either way, Baltimore will be relying on several young players on the backend of the defense.

Which player do you think will take the biggest leap for the Ravens’ defense in 2025? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!

Ravens sign veteran RB D’Ernest Johnson

2025-08-03T20:35:06-04:00

Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

As the Ravens continue to make some minor additions on the fringes of their roster in training camp, they made an offensive signing on Saturday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Ravens were signing veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson.

Ravens are signing free-agent running back D’Ernest Johnson, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2025

Johnson is a six-year veteran who played his first four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, so the Ravens are familiar with his game. He then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars over the past two years. Johnson has primarily worked in a backup/reserve role during his career but has had some productive moments.

For his career, the Florida native has been efficient with his opportunities, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 8.8 yards per reception. Johnson’s best season came in 2021, where he rushed for 534 yards on 5.3 yards per carry with three touchdowns.

For the Ravens, Johnson is likely to cap out as a preseason and training camp body with slim chances to make the 53-man roster. Johnson figures to see heavy preseason action in lieu of Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. However, if the team wanted to keep a No. 4 running back, he could compete with rising sophomore Rasheen Ali for that role.

Ravens sign pair of young tight ends following Isaiah Likely’s injury

2025-08-03T19:35:21-04:00

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens received unfortunate injury news when tight end Isaiah Likely suffered a foot fracture in practice. It was then revealed that Likely would need surgery with a roughly six-week recovery timeline, putting his status for Week 1 in jeopardy.

In light of this development, the Ravens have moved quickly to reinforce depth. Over the weekend, the team agreed to terms with a familiar face in Scotty Washington and second-year tight end Baylor Cupp.

The Ravens are expected to sign tight end Scotty Washington, sources tell @CBSSports.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Washington was on Baltimore’s practice squad the last two years. Now set to return to the team. pic.twitter.com/UQ1yrTYK7e
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 2, 2025

One other #Ravens roster note: Baltimore is signing tight end Baylor Cupp, sources tell @CBSSports.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Cupp is a former top recruit who played collegiately at Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Spent last year on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad. https://t.co/HB6v59mMKw pic.twitter.com/kGaRzIbTpc
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 2, 2025

Washington has been a member of the team’s practice squad over the past two years. The 28-year-old has gotten some preseason run with the Ravens but has never cracked the active roster.

For his career, his lone regular season appearance came with the New England Patriots during the 2022 season. At 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, Washington has a prototypical physical profile quite similar to Likely’s.

Cupp, meanwhile, played for the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad last season after going undrafted out of Texas Tech. Cupp appeared in one regular season matchup for the Chiefs and played six offensive snaps.

With Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar still in the fold, the Ravens remain in a solid position at tight end even with Likely potentially set to miss early-season action. Hybrid fullback Pat Ricard is an integral part of the rotation as well. However, the team could ultimately look to keep another player in the fold on the initial 53-man roster.

The Baltimore Ravens’ kicking competition is over...for now

2025-08-03T13:31:39-04:00

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Tyler Loop is the only remaining kicker on the Ravens roster.

Some unexpected news came out of The Castle Saturday morning just before the training camp practice kicked off. Undrafted rookie kicker John Hoyland has been waived.

The Ravens have waived UDFA rookie K John Hoyland as @mzenitz first reported. This means that rookie sixth-round pick Tyler Loop is the lone kicker in the building as the Ravens look to replace Justin Tucker.
It allows Loop to get all of the practice and preseason reps.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 2, 2025

John Hoyland wasn’t kicking badly by any means. The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer had him as 28 for 32 attempts during camp through eight practices, as of July 31, just two days before he was cut. Head Coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the roster cut after practice Saturday, saying he thought Hoyland was kicking well enough to stay with the team. The cut was largely due to roster moves rather than anything else.

John Harbaugh says the Ravens cut UDFA kicker John Hoyland today due to roster needs.

Emphasized that rookie K Tyler Loop will still need to show out in the preseason games. pic.twitter.com/N5ePMY3MkH
— AJ Gersh (@AJGershTV) August 2, 2025

As of now, that leaves Tyler Loop as the only kicker on the roster, effectively ending the kicking competition that started during minicamp and OTAs. Harbaugh also talked about Loop’s performance so far, stating that he was kicking well enough to win the job (Shaffer had him as 40 for 44 on July 31st). Harbaugh also said that Loop still had to earn the job, and his performances in the coming preseason games would be a large part in determining that. Cutting Hoyland will give Loop all the reps in camp and games unless something changes, giving Loop all the opportunity to cement himself on the 53-man roster.

While it seems that the competition is over as of now, Harbaugh also said that cutting Hoyland this early wasn’t part of the plan and they’d like to keep the pressure on Loop. He also didn’t rule out bringing Hoyland back if a roster spot opened up. So if Loop starts to slip in camp or doesn’t perform well in the first preseason game, don’t be shocked if Hoyland or a veteran kicker comes in to push Loop for the spot.

The Ravens are hosting a stadium practice on Sunday, August 3rd, which will be Loop’s first chance to kick in the stadium, and with a crowd in the stands as well.

Ravens re-sign veteran DL Brent Urban

2025-08-02T15:52:44-04:00

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens are no strangers to making additions to their roster late in the summer, which they’ve done routinely with veteran free agents over the years. On Saturday, they did so again - bringing back a familiar face in defensive lineman Brent Urban.

Back in Baltimore ‼️@urbanlegend96 pic.twitter.com/AyzxttHXLS
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 2, 2025

Urban, 34, has played the past three seasons with the Ravens in his second stint with the team. He began his career in Baltimore as a 2014 fourth-round pick and played three seasons before departing and playing for three other teams over the next few years. It seemed like the Ravens may not bring him back once more this time around but ultimately have decided for another encore.

Urban has been a trusty player for the Ravens’ defense and quality depth piece in the defensive line rotation. He’s played between 23-29% of defensive snaps for the team over the past three seasons while chipping in on special teams as well. Urban is not a stat sheet stuffer but is a good space-eater and stalwart presence at 6-foot-7.

He’s also been a positive locker room and off-the-field character as well. Urban notably had a strong relationship with fellow veteran defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who retired this offseason. Now, Urban will honor Pierce by wearing his prior jersey number of No. 58.

In previous years, the Ravens have not included Urban as part of their initial 53-man roster finalization but come to a “handshake agreement” — where they quickly sign him after placing a player on injured reserve. That could be the case once more in several weeks.

The Ravens made two other moves to add defensive line depth earlier this offseason, signing John Jenkins and drafting Aeneas Peebles in the sixth round. These two and Urban can serve to provide depth behind the starting trio of Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington.

Ricky Williams talks final season in Baltimore: ‘Football-wise, [Baltimore] is like no other’

2025-07-31T07:01:01-04:00

Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Former Ravens running back Ricky Williams talks about his final NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens

In August 2011, the Baltimore Ravens signed long-time Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams to a multi-year deal after losing Willis McGahee to free agency.

That season, the Ravens would go on to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, but fall short in a heart-breaker. Late in the fourth quarter, Williams’ seven-yard rush would end up being his last, as he informed the Ravens on Feb. 7, 2012, that he would be hanging up the cleats — this time, for good.

Williams joined Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on July 29 to talk all things NFL and beyond, and a part of the conversation was his final season in the NFL with the Ravens.

“Football-wise, it’s like no other,” Williams said. “That’s a football town. The fans love it. On ‘Purple Fridays,’ everybody’s sporting their Ravens gear.”

Williams was an enigmatic individual. His career began with him posing on the cover of ESPN Magazine in a wedding dress with the late New Orleans Head Coach Mike Ditka sporting a wedding tuxedo. He retired five seasons into his career, disgruntled with the Dolphins’ quarterback situation, before returning a season later. He failed numerous drug tests; his fourth violation resulted in him being ineligible for the 2006 NFL season. He was raw, he was real, he was human. And his history and faults made it a challenge in earning the Ravens’ trust.

“I think one of the most difficult things — and I’m guessing this is in any sport – is changing teams late in your career.” Williams said. “Because where you grow up, where everybody knows you, there’s benefit of the doubt. They get you. And when you take that to another team, you have to start all over again. You have to rebuild that personal reputation. So, that part was challenging, being in Baltimore, because everybody was used to me in Miami.”

While earning the team’s trust was a challenge, Williams played in all 16 games for the Ravens in 2011, finishing with 108 carries for 444 yards and two touchdowns.

He also shared the field with legends, which he relished. And, he credited the organization for the way they treat their players.

“It was a great experience playing with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata,” Williams said. “Just playing with really good football players. And again, being in that organization. The Ravens really do a good job of taking care of the players.”

Report: Isaiah Likely to miss training camp with injury

2025-07-30T11:03:00-04:00

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler report Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely suffered a foot fracture that puts his Week 1 status in question.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely suffered a fracture in his foot on July 29.

The injury is expected to keep Likely out from training camp. Fortunately, Likely may be available for their Week 1 opener when the Ravens face the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 7.

With Likely out, the Ravens will turn to Charlie Kolar as their No. 2 tight end behind Mark Andrews as the team boasts the deepest tight end unit in the NFL.

Both Kolar and Likely were drafted in 2022, but have been used vastly different in the Ravens’ offense. Kolar’s production’s derived from blocking, while Likely’s been a receiving target for Lamar Jackson. That isn’t to say Kolar cannot be a receiving threat, as he’s caught 20 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns.

This season is significant for Likely — in fact all three tight ends, as each are in the final year of their contracts.