Ravens TE Isaiah Likely goes down with ankle injury, marring spirited practice

New York Times

7 days ago

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely went down with an ankle injury on one of the final plays of Tuesday's session and was carted off the field, which marred an otherwise spirited practice.
Likely was hurt while being matched up with safety Sanoussi Kane in a one-on-one portion of practice. He was in visible pain as he limped into the locker room.
Advertisement
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after practice that Likely rolled his ankle and would get an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
'We'll know more tomorrow,' Harbaugh said. 'It's going to be a few weeks, though. He rolled his ankle — the foot area. So, we'll get an MRI tomorrow and see exactly what needs to be done, but it'll be a few weeks. It's good that it's this early in camp.'
It's a difficult start heading into a 'contract year' for Likely, who is considered an ascending player after he caught 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns last season. The Ravens have interest in extending the 2026 free agent, but there have been no indications that a deal is close.
With Likely, Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar, the Ravens have arguably the best tight end group in the league. They have the tight ends and wide receivers to compensate for Likely's absence in the short term.
However, it would be a significant blow to the team if he were forced to miss a lot of regular-season time. Likely's speed and pass-catching ability create mismatches, and his rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson has grown yearly.
The Ravens made an interesting hire this offseason, bringing in longtime NFL referee Tony Michalek, who retired following the 2024 season after 23 years as an umpire. Michalek has been with the Ravens throughout training camp.
Baltimore was among the league leaders in penalties last year, and the coaching staff has prioritized fixing that heading into the upcoming season. The addition of Michalek is part of that focus. He'll help the team out during the season with rules interpretations and penalty explanations, and he'll be a sounding board for players and the coaching staff. Michalek has been keeping a particularly close eye on Baltimore's kicking operation during camp.
Advertisement
Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott made a similar move last year, bringing in longtime NFL referee John Parry.
In one two-play sequence on Tuesday, Ravens rookie outside linebacker Mike Green chased down a running play on the backside and then beat rookie tackle Carson Vinson inside to put pressure on quarterback Cooper Rush.
There have been plays in every practice where Green shows why he was widely considered one of the most skilled pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft. There are also plays where Green reminds you he's still a rookie with much to learn. On Monday, he was sucked inside on a few plays and knocked to the ground by Vinson on another.
'Mike is earning his stripes,' pass rush coach Chuck Smith said after Tuesday's practice. 'Mike's a rookie, so Mike has to play his position, get in line like any other rookie. But Mike is going out there, competing at a high level. Mike can rush. Mike is strong at the point of attack on the run. What I like most about Mike is he just gives great effort.'
Ravens coaches in recent days have been measured about Green, and the reminders that he is still a rookie have come often. However, it's undeniable that he's looked like a different player since the pads came on.
'He's taking his lumps, but he's also giving out his lumps,' Smith said. 'I don't think he was overwhelmed.'
• Ravens second-year receiver Devontez Walker continues to look like Baltimore's most improved player since last season. He's followed up a strong offseason by seemingly making a few plays in every practice.
His productive Tuesday afternoon included catching a touchdown from Rush over cornerback Nate Wiggins in the back of the end zone, corralling a short touchdown throw from Jackson in a red zone drill and making a difficult sliding catch in front of first-round safety Malaki Starks.
Walker, a 2024 fourth-round pick, had just one catch, a 21-yard touchdown against the New York Giants, in his rookie season. The Ravens' top three receivers are pretty much set with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins, but Walker could push for playing time.
Have a day @DevontezWalker pic.twitter.com/bGUIew9Moz
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 29, 2025
• The Ravens and every other NFL team have a non-negotiable rule in training camp: you do not hit the quarterback. Baltimore's defense certainly understands not to make contact with Jackson, as the consequences would be significant. But Starks and Wiggins were probably too cautious around the quarterback on Tuesday, and it cost the defense an 80-yard touchdown run.
During a team drill, Starks and Wiggins were in position to make a play on a scrambling Jackson, but they both pulled up so as not to make any contact with the quarterback. Meanwhile, Jackson never stopped running, somersaulting into the end zone to the delight of the crowd.
While Andrews and left tackle Ronnie Stanley ran downfield to celebrate with Jackson, several defenders argued with Harbaugh that the play should have been blown dead. Safety Kyle Hamilton was the most vocal dissenter. Harbaugh ultimately walked over to the defensive sideline to provide an explanation.
'We're obviously not going to tackle Lamar,' a smiling Harbaugh said after the workout. 'That's not going to be part of the plan.'
.@Lj_era8's TD run was so good even Jaire celebrated 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/MFso2nIAha
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 29, 2025
• In pads for a second straight day, several Ravens defenders did hit teammates. Kane dropped a shoulder into running back Marcus Major just as the rookie was heading out of bounds. Major crashed into the temporary fence set up next to the field. Safety Beau Brade also delivered a hard hit on running back Keaton Mitchell, who has been the recipient of a few physical tackles since the pads came on.
• With middle linebacker Roquan Smith blitzing through the A gap, Jackson took a step to his right and lofted a throw in the direction of a well-covered Hopkins. Hopkins made a one-handed snag. It didn't produce many yards, but it was fun to watch nonetheless.
• Roquan Smith was all over the field early in the practice. He came in untouched on a few plays, knocked Derrick Henry down on one blitz and blew up a screen pass to Justice Hill. Smith said he focused on taking care of his body and getting into better shape this offseason. It's been noticeable in training camp.
Advertisement
• It was John Hoyland's day to kick with Tyler Loop getting the day off. The rookie out of Wyoming went 5-of-6 on field goal attempts, with his long coming from 48 yards and his miss coming from 51.
• Bateman (illness) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee drained) returned to practice after missing Monday's session. Jackson tested Alexander, his ex-Louisville teammate, on the first play of full-team work. Alexander forced an incompletion while matched up against Walker.
The only Ravens on the active roster not practicing were wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and cornerbacks Bilhal Kone (shoulder) and Jalyn Armour-Davis. Armour-Davis was injured early in Monday's practice and had an MRI, but Harbaugh wasn't aware of the results when he spoke to reporters following Tuesday's workout.