The Ravens must replace three starters from last year on the offensive line, and Andrew Vorhees and Roger Rosengarten are making a strong early impression.
A seventh-round pick in 2023, Vorhees has returned to action at this year’s rookie minicamp after missing last season with a knee injury. Vorhees is competing for a starting job at guard, and according to Head Coach John Harbaugh, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Vorhees looks stronger than ever after a knee injury suffered at the 2023 Combine.
“He looked very well-trained,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been here basically working out for a whole year. He was already a strong guy. He’s moving his feet well, he’s been studying for a whole year. I thought he looked like how you’d expect him to look.”
Rosengarten was Baltimore’s second-round pick this year, a two-year starter at right tackle for Washington who has a chance to start as a rookie. Rosengarten didn’t give up a sack the past two seasons, and while he’s not practicing in pads yet, Rosengarten’s athleticism is already showing.
“He moves his feet really well, you saw that out here, you see it on tape and then you see it in person,” Harbaugh said. “I hadn’t watched him work out. I saw him in person at the (national) championship game a little bit, but that’s different. You see him in person out here moving his feet, I’m like, ‘OK, he’s everything that we thought he would be athletically. That’s a big part of it.”
Beau Brade Among Rookies Dealing With Injuries
Former Maryland safety Beau Brade, an undrafted free agent, was wearing a walking boot and did not participate in Saturday’s practice. Harbaugh said Brade rolled his ankle during Friday’s practice. Brade has a chance to win a roster spot as a backup safety behind Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams.
Third-round outside linebacker Adisa Isaac watched drills from the sideline and has a hamstring injury, according to Harbaugh.
Fifth-round running back Rasheen Ali, who ruptured a biceps tendon at the Senior Bowl, did drills on the side without a helmet on and is on the road to recovery.
“They said he’s going to be able to do more and more as we go during the offseason,” Harbaugh said. “I think they just want to protect the biceps so it doesn’t get grabbed and reinjured. He’s doing all the on-air stuff. There’s a chance he could see some OTAs, he certainly will be more than ready for training camp.”
Rookie Cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa Motivating Each Other
Cornerbacks Nate Wiggins (first round) and T.J. Tampa (fourth round) are roommates during rookie minicamp, just as they were during the Combine. Both are vying for roles in the defensive rotation and Tampa said they have a friendly competition going.
“Of course there’s extra motivation,” Tampa said. “I wouldn’t say just him, but the whole corner room. It’s really competition within myself to get better every day, learn the scheme and go hard.”
Wiggins has been texting with two veterans on Baltimore’s defense, Marlon Humphrey and Roquan Smith. Wiggins said the tempo of NFL practices has been faster than he’s used to and that he’s working on polishing his technique.
“Really, just getting my head around and stop grabbing a lot,” Wiggins said. “In the NFL, you can’t touch the receiver after five yards; in college, you can touch them all the way down the field. So, it’s really just getting adjusted to that.
“It was just a habit – just beating up receivers all the way down the field. Now, I’ve just got to play with technique, so that’s my biggest jump.”
Reducing Interceptions Will Be Key for Devin Leary
Being drafted in the sixth round gives former Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary a chance to compete for a roster spot as a backup behind Lamar Jackson and Josh Johnson. Leary threw 25 touchdown passes in 2023 and his arm strength is impressive, but his 12 interceptions raised concern.
Harbaugh said the process of getting Leary to cut down on turnovers has already begun.
“I think it’s very fixable in the sense that, the arm strength is there, and I think he’s an accurate thrower,” Harbaugh said. “Unfortunately, (he) threw it to the other team too many times.
“He and I had that conversation. He knows, and that’s something that I think you can get better at. He gets in the offense, executes the offense, the decision-making part of it every single day. If you start with arm talent, that’s a good place to start. Plus he’s a super hard worker. So, we’ll see how he does.”