CAMP NOTES: Next TE Up

The Ravens had an excellent practice on Tuesday. Lamar Jackson bounced back from a subpar Monday and Devontez Walker stacked another solid session, but none of that seemed to matter after tight end Isaiah Likely went down with a left ankle injury late in the afternoon.

The fourth-year tight end had to be carted off the field, but was able to walk into the facility with a limp. Here was John Harbaugh’s update:

“We’ll know more tomorrow. 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.”

Well, tomorrow has come, and the diagnosis is in: Likely suffered a foot fracture that will require surgery, with an expected recovery timeline of six weeks. Assuming the Ravens get the procedure done ASAP, Likely would be returning to the field as his team is preparing for their Week 1 trip to Buffalo. He certainly knows the offense well enough to be mentally ready for that game, but being physically ready is no guarantee. Recovery from foot injuries, especially those that involve surgery, can be tricky. The Ravens offense can weather Likely’s absence early in the regular season if necessary, but Jackson will want one of his favorite targets to be as healthy as possible down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Likely is also in the middle of extension talks as he enters a contract year. His injury doesn’t seem serious enough to reset negotiations, but the two sides remain “far apart,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. (According to certain corners of the Internet, they’ve already agreed to terms.)

Two tight ends from the 2022 draft class have already signed new contracts this offseason: Trey McBride for ($19 million APY) and Jake Ferguson ($13 million APY). Likely should land between them, and anything over $14 million per year would make him the fifth highest-paid tight end before he’s logged 500 yards in a season. There is definitely room to get a deal done before the season.

Likely’s injury will give Charlie Kolar an opportunity to step up in training camp. Also a 2022 draftee, Kolar could be looking at TE2 money in 2026 if he takes another step forward as a blocker and continues to take full advantage of every receiving opportunity he gets. That might be a luxury the Ravens can’t afford with so many other major commitments on the books, not to mention the other deals (such as Likely’s) that they want to get done in the next year.

Jackson’s New Targets

After an uneven Monday, Jackson handled pressure much better on Tuesday. He got the ball out on time with considerably improved accuracy in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 work. He also flexed his speed with a 65-yard touchdown run midway through practice that drew a loud chorus of cheers and a big celebration from his offensive teammates (and Jaire Alexander). The defense complained that they had to throttle back their pursuit because they aren’t allowed to hit Jackson in practice, but QB1 was awarded the score anyway.

Jackson’s rapport with his receivers has been a common storyline throughout his career, and this year is no different. He has quickly built trust with DeAndre Hopkins, targeting him on a number of 1-on-1 reps and looking for him if the pocket collapses. One on such play, Jackson was getting swallowed up by the pass rush but still somehow managed a backhanded flip that Hopkins snagged just before it hit the ground.

Jackson is also developing a rhythm with Devontez Walker. Despite a matchup with Jaire Alexander, Walker drew a back shoulder ball from Jackson on the first play of camp. He couldn’t reel in the contested pass, but it shows that Jackson believes in the second-year receiver even when he’s up against a Pro Bowler.

Later on, Jackson found Walker on a backside dig in 7-on-7’s in another solid but unspectacular pitch-and-catch. The UNC product is not making the same kind of splashy highlight plays that have inspired training camp hype for other Day 3 receivers in recent years. Instead, he’s embodying the phrase ‘stacking practices,’ by consistently executing in a variety of ways every day. Getting overexcited about a depth wide receiver is practically an annual training camp tradition in Baltimore, and Walker is still the least-proven weapon in an offense with a lot of mouths to feed. The Ravens’ depth chart might keep Walker’s strong training camp from turning into a breakout 2025, but it bodes well for his development into 2026 when the Ravens might well need a WR3.

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