1 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: Welcome into the Lounge podcast. We are coming to you 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: from the Sea Geek Studio. We want to mention our 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: partners with Draftking Sportsbook. They are an official sports betting 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sportsbook. The Crown is yours. 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: You are listening to the Baltimore Ravens Loune podcast, make 6 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: sure you hit subscribe. You can listen to The Lounge 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch all 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: the video interviews on the Baltimore Ravens official YouTube channel, 9 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: as well as the team's app and website. 10 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 2: I'm Ryan mink here with Garrett Downing, and a weight 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: has been lifted off the Ravens shoulders. 12 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 3: The sun is out. 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: Garrett here in Owings Mills as Lamar Jackson has returned 14 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 2: to the practice field. 15 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 3: Garrett, I think. 16 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: This is obviously major, major news for a one to 17 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: five Ravens team that needs Lamar Jackson back on the 18 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 2: field to go on the run that they hope to 19 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 2: go on and starting Sunday, just win a game. Having 20 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 2: Lamar Jackson back on the field, that is a prerequisite. 21 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't think you can. There's no overstating how 22 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: significant it is to get Lamar Jackson back on the field, 23 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: and there's layers to this, coming back to practice as 24 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: one piece and practicing throughout the week and then being 25 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: ready to play. Like I know, we all were all 26 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: kind of jumping ahead to Sunday, but this step was 27 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: a big one. He did not practice on Monday, coming 28 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: off the bias. The Ravens had kind of a bonus 29 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: practice that day, so we was not out there, so 30 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: there was a lot of questions is he going to 31 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: be out there? Everybody was looking out there, and just 32 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: to paint a picture of how this went down out 33 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: on the practice field. Practice started around one o'clock. One 34 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: ten is when the media gets out there and as 35 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: a team trickles out there, Lamar Jackson was not out 36 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: there initially with the quarterbacks, and so everyone's getting concerned 37 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: and there's chatter amongst reporters what's going on? Where is he? 38 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: And then about fifteen minutes into that session, as the 39 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: team's going through special teams and then other players are 40 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: going through some individual drills and the quarterbacks are throwing, 41 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: he trots out of the field house, it takes the 42 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: field and joins the quarterbacks there. 43 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 3: That's pretty epic entrance. It really was. 44 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: It kind of felt like the Knight and shining armor 45 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: running out of the castle there and and like you 46 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: can feel it, like and everyone got excited and like 47 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: there was a buzz and there was energy and like 48 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 1: he has that kind of gravitational force to him and. 49 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 2: Tapped up Derrick Henry, big dap up with he and 50 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 2: Derrick Henry, full on embrace from Todd Monkin, tapping up everybody, 51 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: you know, all his teammates, and I think Baltimore isn't alone. 52 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: I think Raven's players, everybody. We were all kind of 53 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: holding our breath, wondering is he gonna be back? Before 54 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: I left the house today with my wife and kids. 55 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: Today's big day. See if Lamar's on the practice field, 56 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: big day, and everybody knows his teammates know, everybody knows 57 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: that they need Lamar Jackson back. So John Harbaugh said 58 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: last week, Yeah, I'm leaning it into it pretty hard 59 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 2: for Lamar to get back on the practice field for 60 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: us to turn this thing around. And when he wasn't 61 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: out there at the start of practice, everybody says, oh 62 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 2: my gosh, you know, you know, just added to the 63 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,839 Speaker 2: misery feeling coming out of the buy when you had 64 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: so much hope, you know, you hope that the Ravens 65 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: could turn this around. For all the different factors that 66 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: we've laid out in previous episodes, but the you. 67 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 3: Had to have Lamar Jackson. That's where it starts. 68 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, for any of that other stuff to be true, 69 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: you had to have Lamar back again. 70 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: You can't overstate the significance of it. And kind of 71 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: the next layer of this goes back to what I 72 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: said off the top, which is, how does it go 73 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: through practice today? How does he feel tomorrow? Like you 74 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: want there to be continued progress and this is the 75 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: first step and waiting him back out there now. 76 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 2: During the warm up portion that opens the media, Lamar 77 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: was operating to the third quarterback. I mean, you'd just 78 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: run onto the field, so you know, I wouldn't put 79 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: too much stock into that, but I thought Lamar looked good. 80 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: There didn't seem to be anything to my eye, not 81 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: a medical professional here, but he looked good to me. Yeah, 82 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: that's the thing I would expect that, you know, maybe 83 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: he we're taping this before the injury report comes out 84 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: on Wednesday. We'll see if he's a full or limited participant. 85 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 2: It wouldn't surprise me if he were still limited in 86 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: his first practice back after missing really two and a 87 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: half games, and yeah, almost three weeks, and so that 88 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: would surprise me. But now it's kind of you know, 89 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 2: getting him to full participation and then you'll feel really 90 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: good about his chances to play Sunday against Chicago. 91 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. As John Harbwall said going into the buy, you know, 92 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: the question to him was like how much are you 93 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: leaning into the fact that you expect to get Lamar 94 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: Jackson back coming out of that bye week and how 95 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: that can just change your team's outlook And it's. 96 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 2: Not just exus and noose and on the football field. 97 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: The Ravens needed this from a mental perspective. 98 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, Like there's there's the whole vibe and the energy 99 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: like that he's which is hard to quantify, and then 100 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: there's the excess of those which is easier to quantify, 101 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: but it's also massive. The impact is. 102 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 3: Massive, obviously. 103 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so uh, it just helps across the board there, 104 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: and yeah, I think that I think that what you 105 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: hope coming into today in today's practice as the Ravens 106 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: get ready to play the Bears, is to have a 107 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: feeling of optimism and positive tivity going into this matchup, 108 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: And I think this kind of sets the tone for 109 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: the week, like all right, we're back, we're coming off 110 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: the buy, We're getting healthy. Roquan Smith was back in 111 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: practice on Monday. He was still practicing today. Patrick Riccard 112 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: is practicing again today. Ronnie Stanley is back on the field. 113 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: Like you've got marquee players here. I mean, these are 114 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: that's four all pro players that. 115 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 3: Did you do but who's been a key part. 116 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: But I'm saying that's that's for all pros when you 117 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: talk Lamar, Roquan, pat Riccard, Ronnie Stanley. 118 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 3: Are all of them going to be able to play? 119 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: We'll see. We talked to Roquan on Monday. He indicated 120 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: that he does expect to play in this game, and 121 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: you know he wants to play against the Bears, no 122 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: question about that. 123 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: He traded him to Baltimore like the rest of the 124 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: rest of the guys, like, I think, we'll see, But 125 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 2: I think it's it's really significant to have him out 126 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: there practicing today. Absolutely, that's what the Ravens need to 127 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: go on the run. Where you know we're all saying 128 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 2: they probably need to win nine of eleven games or 129 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: so to get to ten wins, that's what they need 130 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: to do. And in order to do that, you need 131 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: to be healthier than they have been. 132 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 3: There's no doubts about it. 133 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 2: And because as we laid out, also, yes it's a 134 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 2: more favorable schedule down the second half of this season, 135 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 2: but it's. 136 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 3: No cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination. 137 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: So getting these all pros back getting healthy, that's a 138 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: big deal for a team that not only with Lamar 139 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: Jackson back on the field, but you need all the 140 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 2: other pieces around him also to really go on that 141 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: kind of a run. Yeah, one player that was not 142 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: on the practice field at the start of practice Wednesday 143 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: was Marlon Humphrey and so that one's a little bit 144 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: more of a head scratcher because he was on the 145 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 2: practice field Monday, so we don't know why he's not 146 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,679 Speaker 2: out there. Tavis Robinson is the only other player that's 147 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: not practicing on Wednesday. He has a broken foot. I 148 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: think it's just a matter of time before he goes 149 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: on injured reserve. 150 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, you look at like the injury report for the 151 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: Ravens last two games going into the Rams, going to 152 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: the Texas game. I mean, it was like it was 153 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: a mile long, and it's hopefully it does not look 154 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:01,679 Speaker 1: like that by the end of the week. I mean, again, 155 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: some guys might be limited and so there still could 156 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: be a lot of names on there. But I don't 157 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: think we're gonna be in a situation like we were 158 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: the last two weeks where you're ruling out five six 159 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: guys before you even get to Sunday, and not just 160 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: any guys, some of your best players and highest paid players. 161 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: I think we're gonna be in a much better situation 162 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: in that sense. So it again, you can't can't. It's 163 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: it's it's massive, you know, to have these guys back 164 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: on the field, starting with Lamar Jackson. It's exciting and 165 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: it just builds extra anticipation for this game against the Bears. 166 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: And as we talked about earlier this week, this game 167 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: against the Bears, like I know, a lot of Ravens 168 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: fans looked at this one early on and felt like, okay, 169 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: coming off the buy Bears were a team that struggled 170 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: last year. That's that's that's a win. Chalk that one up. 171 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: The Bears have won four straight games and and they've 172 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: really come along nicely in the first year of new 173 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: head coach Ben Johnson, and so they are not going 174 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: to be a team that goes quietly by any stretch. 175 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: I mean, they're sitting there thinking maybe they could win 176 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: their division. They have playoffs on their mind. So they're 177 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: a hungry team that's coming into this game. And I 178 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: think they're gonna put a lot of stress, particularly on 179 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: this defense, with a with a high end offensive mine 180 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: and play caller and Ben Johnson, with Caleb Williams seemingly 181 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: taking a big step in his second season, and then 182 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: a bunch of weapons to spread the ball around too, 183 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: it's a tough task to slow down this offense. 184 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. Absolutely. 185 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 2: I think Ben Johnson's one of the more innovative offensive 186 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: mines in the league, and he's done a good job 187 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: of mixing things up and inspiring those guys. You know, 188 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: Caleb Williams, the step that he's taken here in year two, 189 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 2: you know, he took a lot of heat as a rookie, 190 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: but right so far the season he's turned for thirteen 191 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 2: and fifty one yards nine touchdowns to just three interceptions. 192 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: So he's done a much better job. They're protecting him 193 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 2: a whole lot better. He's only taken eleven sacks so far, 194 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,839 Speaker 2: and so that was a huge key for them. Their 195 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: offensive line was a disaster last year. They over hauled 196 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: the whole thing and it's doing. 197 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 3: Better this year. And then, as you said, they have 198 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 3: some weapons. 199 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 2: Roman Dumenze, their second year wider, has taken a massive 200 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 2: lea three hundred and fifty nine receiving yards and five touchdowns. Yep, 201 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: he is really the lead threat there as well as 202 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 2: a guy that Ravens fans are well well. 203 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 3: Aware of in DJ Moore. J Moore, that's right, former Turp. So. 204 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, they and DeAndre Smifth, they have a lot of 205 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 2: weapons offensively. On the defensive side, takeaways, they lead the 206 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: league in takeaways so far this season. That has been 207 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 2: the calling card for them and conversely it's been the 208 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 2: Ravens Achilles heel. 209 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. So we're gonna continue breaking down this game against 210 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: the Bears over the course of this week, but just 211 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: wanted to provide some quick quick thoughts after the start 212 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: a practice on Wednesdays, Lamar Jackson returns and we will 213 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: be back later this week. We're gonna have a player 214 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: guest for an interview and also preview that game against 215 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: the Bears in more depth, so stay tuned for that 216 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: coming out later this week. Thank you so much for listening, 217 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: and we'll talk with you again soon