Tuesday’s joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts will give the Ravens something they’ve been craving – live reps against another team.
Baltimore will host the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night to open their preseason, but the Ravens’ starters won’t play in that game. That makes Tuesday’s joint practice particularly important for the first-team offense and defense.
“I told the guys it’s two games this week, it’s Tuesday and Thursday,” Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said. “No matter where you’re at in your career, you could be a perennial Pro Bowl All-Pro, you could be a guy fighting to make the roster, every time you step on that field, you’re fighting for your career. You’re getting evaluated. You’ve got to think that way. You’ve got to take that approach.”
Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard echoed that feeling and understands why tempers frequently flare during joint practices, sometimes leading to fights.
“Guys are fighting for their jobs, their livelihoods,” Ricard said. “Things end up getting chippy. You don’t really know the guy. Tempers flare. I think the last time we had a joint practice against the Colts, we had a full team brawl. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again.”
Because of that possibility, this year’s joint practices will last just one day.
“We used to do two days, which we kind of moved past that,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “The second day is just a chippy day – a cheap shot day. (Colts Head Coach) Shane (Steichen) does a great job, [and the] (Washington) Commanders are the same with (Head Coach) Dan [Quinn]. We expect those to be good, clean practices.”
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken wants to see Lamar Jackson lead the attack against a different opponent, rather than a daily dose of facing the Ravens’ defense.
“You get a go against other skill sets, other concepts,” Monken said. “When you go against another team, it feels like the first day. It’s time to compete. I’m fired up.”