Baltimore

Ravens

Everyone’s definition of a great year is different, but the Ravens have consistently talked up Likely this offseason. They have also mentioned using more 12-personnel looks to get him on the field more. With their lack of depth at receiver, it makes sense to put him and Mark Andrews on the field together more often. Likely didn’t play much before Andrews went down with a serious ankle injury last year. He caught more than one pass in one game over the first 11 weeks of the season. Likely putting up even TE2 numbers with Andrews healthy would be a massive win for his fantasy outlook.

When asked about the status of Hamilton, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said, “He’s good.” Hamilton suffered an injury scare in Sunday’s practice, but it sounds like he’ll need a few days of recovery before rejoining the team in practice. Hamilton is entering his third season in the league and is fresh off a season in which he earned First-team All-Pro honors after totaling 81 tackles, three sacks, 10 TFLs, and four interceptions as a do-it-all safety for the Ravens. He’ll look to post similar numbers in his first year under defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who replaces new Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald.

Tampa underwent sports hernia surgery in late July and was held out for a few weeks while recovering. The rookie fourth-round is now present and ready to battle it out in camp with other members of a young secondary that also added cornerback Nate Wiggins with the No. 30 pick in this year’s draft. Tampa is a physical corner who totaled 107 tackles and three interceptions in his four seasons at Iowa State.

The report comes from ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, who reports Harbaugh said, “Obviously, we’ll continue to do some tests tonight and tomorrow to make sure. But first indications are he’s fine.” Hamilton notably dealt with a recurring MCL injury late last season. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as a safety and slot coverage specialist.

The Ravens and their fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Wiggins made a strong impression in his preseason debut but left with a shoulder injury that left some concerned after the game. Fortunately, an MRI didn’t reveal any notable damage, as the No. 30 overall pick appears to have avoided any kind of major injury and will have a chance to suit up in Week 1 when the Ravens kick off the 2024 NFL season against the Chiefs on September 5. It’s possible Wiggins will miss some practice after Friday’s contest, but it sounds like the worst is behind him at this point.

We don’t yet know the severity of the injury, but it sure puts a damper on what was otherwise a great night for Wiggins. The rookie first-rounder broke up three passes on his first drive of the game, and was blanketing opposing receivers all night. He appeared to injure his shoulder while attempting to make a tackle, and spent time in the team’s medical tent before heading to the locker room. Wiggins was said to have added 10-15 pounds of weight this offseason after checking in at 173 pounds during the NFL Scouting Combine. His size and durability were a concern entering the draft, and are now again in play after his first taste of NFL action. We’ll likely have more updates on this injury in the coming days.

Gage, who missed all of 2023 with a torn patellar tendon, will get his next shot with the Ravens. In 2022 with the Bucs, he went 51-426-5. Gage figures to compete for a roster spot and provide depth for a solid passing catching group.

Jackson missed four of the Ravens’ first five practices with what he described as a “bug.” The two-time MVP returned to practice on Saturday and has now participated in three straight sessions with the team. Jackson said he remained mentally “locked in” while away from the team and doesn’t feel as if he’ll have too much catching up to do. It helps that Jackson is playing in a familiar offense. With offensive coordinator Todd Monken back for another season, Jackson is hoping he can replicate the numbers he saw last season when he threw for 3,678-24-7 on his way to his second MVP in five seasons. Here’s hoping the worst is behind Lamar and that his immune system can fight off whatever comes its way once the regular season begins.

Jackson is continuing to battle an illness that sidelined him earlier this week. In a statement posted to the team’s social media account, the Ravens said, “QB Lamar Jackson remains sidelined with an illness and will not practice today. He continues to undergo further evaluation and receive care from our medical team.” Jackson seems to regularly battle illnesses that come and go with time. He managed to practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but could be in line to miss a few more day of practice with this latest news.

Jackson was sent home from practice earlier this week because of an illness. He missed three sessions in total. Jackson has inexplicably dealt with more illnesses over the years than any almost other player, so the news wasn’t entirely shocking. Backup quarterback Josh Johnson should see an uptick in reps if Jackson misses any more time. Jackson remains a strong pick to finish as a top-five fantasy quarterback despite his clear lack of a daily probiotic.