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News & Notes: Roger Rosengarten ‘Deserved a Shot’ Taking First-Team Reps
During a hot training camp, rookie Roger Rosengarten is warming to the competition at right tackle.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said Rosengarten got first-team reps on Thursday because his steady improvement had earned it. A second-round draft pick, Rosengarten and veteran Patrick Mekari are competing to start.
Harbaugh said Rosengarten and guard Andrew Vorhees, who is a rookie to on-field NFL action, are both “steadily improving.”
“Roger’s been doing well and deserved a shot with the 1’s, you saw him with the 1’s today,” Harbaugh told the crowd. “We’ll just kind of keep working through that and let it play out.”
Mekari can play all five offensive line positions, and the coaching staff may decide his greatest value is being a super-sub rather a starter.
“That’s part of it,” Harbaugh said. “Pat’s greatest strength is his versatility, it’s also probably his greatest thorn in the side a little bit. That’s a good problem to have.”
After playing center, guard, and both tackle spots in previous seasons, Mekari has been focusing on right tackle during this camp and made it clear he wants to play as much as possible.
“It’s been good to stack days, focus on one position and get better every day,” Mekari said. “I just want to play, and I want to help the team. In whatever way that looks like that’s up to the coaches and front office. That’s for them to decide.”
Harbaugh has not named a starter at left guard, right guard or right tackle, although Vorhees has emerged as the favorite at left guard. Harbaugh said it was possible that players could share snaps at a position until a permanent starter was decided.
“We have rotated offensive linemen before,” Harbaugh said. “We were probably the first team to do it that I can remember. We have a track record of that.”
Injury Updates on Ben Cleveland, Deonte Harty and Adisa Isaac
Ben Cleveland, who is battling for the starting right guard position, left the practice field early with a member of the training staff.
“He got his head banged a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “He’ll be evaluated.”
Returner/wide receiver Deonte Harty and rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac were among the players who did not practice today. Harbaugh expects Harty to return soon.
“It’s a minor soft-tissue deal that should be fine with soon – very soon,” Harbaugh told the crowd.
Isaac (hamstring) has a chance to join the outside linebacker rotation as a rookie, and Harbaugh believes the third-round choice from Penn State will not be sidelined for long. The Ravens might use extra depth after Malik Hamm suffered a season-ending knee injury.
“Adisa’s going to get back here at some point in time soon,” Harbaugh remarked in response. “It’s been bugging him, but I believe he’ll return shortly. That’s another in-depth piece, a person we’re banking on.
Malik Harrison is defensive. Patrick Mekari
Malik Harrison is the Ravens’ linebacker who can do it all, and his flexibility will be needed again in 2024.
Hamm’s injury was a setback for the outside linebacker rotation. However, Harrison’s versatility on defense provides the Ravens with an experienced veteran who can be counted on.
Harrison had an impact during Thursday’s practice, intercepting Josh Johnson’s pass and recovering a fumble by rookie running back Rasheen Ali.
“Malik is that guy,” Harbaugh said, comparing Harrison to the defensive equivalent of Mekari. “He plays inside backer for both of them. He is an outside backer in our basic package. In addition, he plays defensive end in our sub package. He plays on all special teams. A very useful player. I envision him playing all of those positions. He did an excellent job, and I am quite proud of Malik.
Harbaugh would not rule out the potential of the Ravens adding another outside linebacker. After Hamm was injured, they signed Quincy Roche, a local player who attended New Town High School in Owings Mills.
“We’ll definitely continue to evaluate every spot, including the outside backer spot,” he added. “You never know what to expect on any given day. Especially during camp, when you want to have enough players to train at a good level.”
Harbaugh sees Justice Hill as a starting caliber
The signing of two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry was Baltimore’s most talked-about offseason move. However, Harbaugh stated that Justice Hill will continue to play an important role in the backfield rotation.
Hill set career highs in yards (387), carries (84), and touchdowns (3) in 2023. Second-year running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) is on the Physically Unable to Perform list and will not return until later in the regular season.
Owen Wright is enjoying a successful camp, but neither he nor Ali has NFL game experience. Hill, a special teams player, is entering his sixth NFL season.
“The evolution of Justice as a player is that this guy has become a starting back in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said the crowd. “He is a talented running back. So having him along with Derrick and the other young players is fantastic. He will present us with a little different manner than Derrick Henry. I envision him as a starter. I think he’ll play a lot and do it his own.”
Hill says he was overjoyed when the Ravens signed Henry. He has already learnt a lot from the experienced back, despite their vastly different running styles.
“Derrick Henry is one of the best running backs to ever play in the game, and just to be able to play alongside of him and learn from him, watch how he approaches each and every day, I mean, I was ecstatic,” Hill told the media. “I’ve been fortunate to have some great veterans around here, from Mark Ingram [II] to Gus [Edwards], and I’ve learned a lot from all of them.
“(Derrick Henry) is definitely giving me some gems and stuff that I’m going to apply, but I’ll just keep that under wraps until y’all see it.”
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