Tag: Baltimore Ravens

Aug 19, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) makes a catch with pressure from Carolina Panthers cornerback Keith Taylor Jr. (28) during the first half of a preseason game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: WR Nelson Agholor signing with Ravens

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor is signing a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, multiple outlets reported Friday.

The $3.25 million deal for the 29-year-old free agent is worth up to $6.25 million with incentives, per the reports.

Agholor caught 31 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (seven starts) with the New England Patriots last season.

The former first-round draft pick (20th overall in 2015) has 340 receptions for 4,246 yards and 31 scores in 118 career games (95 starts) with the Philadelphia Eagles (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020) and Patriots (2021-22).

–Field Level Media

1. Todd Monken, Georgia offensive coordinator, $2,005,000 Syndication Online Athens

Ravens hire Georgia’s Todd Monken as OC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Baltimore Ravens named Todd Monken their new offensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Monken, 57, helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships in that role the past two seasons.

He replaces Greg Roman, who resigned from John Harbaugh’s staff in January after four seasons as OC and six overall as assistant coach.

The Ravens conducted 21 interviews with 14 candidates before announcing their decision.

“Todd’s leadership and coaching acumen were evident from the beginning,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “He has a proven track record for designing and teaching offensive systems that allow players to succeed at the highest level. We’re excited to get to work and begin building an offense that will help us compete for championships.”

Before spending the past three seasons with the Bulldogs, Monken was the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2019) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18).

Monken also interviewed for the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator position this offseason.

Monken also has head coaching experience, going 13-25 in three seasons (2013-15) at Southern Miss.

The Ravens (10-7) finished 16th in the NFL in total offense and 19th in scoring offense during the 2022 campaign.

–Field Level Media

1. Todd Monken, Georgia offensive coordinator, Syndication Online Athens

Report: Ravens interview Georgia OC Todd Monken

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Baltimore Ravens interviewed Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken this week about their vacant OC position, NFL Network reported Saturday.

Monken, whose Bulldogs have won back-to-back national championships, is eyeing a return to the NFL and is also scheduled to meet with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per the report.

Baltimore parted ways with Greg Roman earlier this month after his four seasons as the offensive coordinator. The Ravens finished 10-7 in 2022 and lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round.

Tampa Bay fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich after four seasons on the job following the Jan. 16 wild-card playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Monken, 56, joined Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s staff in 2020 after working as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2019) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18).

The Bulldogs are 29-1 in the past two seasons. Georgia averaged 41.1 points and 501.1 yards per game during the 2022 season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) calls a play at the line during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens’ QB situation unsettled going into playoff game at Bengals

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Lamar Jackson hasn’t been on the field since Dec. 4 and his string of missed games is about to reach six.

The Baltimore Ravens are more hopeful backup quarterback Tyler Huntley will be available than the injured Jackson when they visit their NFC North-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night in the AFC wild-card round.

Jackson injured his knee against the Denver Broncos five-plus weeks ago and progress has been slow. A big part of Jackson’s game is his legs, and he missed his 16th consecutive practice Wednesday due to knee swelling that has yet to subside.

Jackson could become an unrestricted free agent after the season if a contract extension isn’t reached. Baltimore could slap the franchise tag on him in that case to keep him off the free-agent market.

Jackson operates as his own agent, leading to speculation the big money at stake is part of this equation.

“I don’t really have anything to say to them right now because I’m focusing on the game,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the contract fodder. “That’s what we’re focusing on.”

Harbaugh said he has “no updates at this time,” per Jackson’s health and that leaves sixth-seeded Baltimore (10-7) hoping Huntley will be available. He missed last Sunday’s 27-16 loss in the regular-season finale to these same Bengals due to shoulder and wrist injuries.

Huntley was limited in Wednesday’s practice while dealing with shoulder soreness.

“He’s doing a lot better,” Harbaugh said of Huntley. “He was out there in practice and took a bunch of plays. I’d say he’s on schedule, hopefully, and we’ll see where it goes.”

If Huntley is unavailable, Anthony Brown will get the call. He made his first career start against Cincinnati last weekend and was 19-of-44 passing for 286 yards but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

There are no concerns about the quarterback on third-seeded Cincinnati’s side of the field. Star Joe Burrow is aiming to lead the Bengals (12-4) back to the Super Bowl for the second straight season.

Cincinnati won its final eight regular-season contests since losing to the Cleveland Browns on Halloween. And Burrow is ready to ignite his burning desire to add more postseason wins to the resume.

“You can’t go out there scared in the moment,” Burrow said. “You have to be a little arrogant to go out there in that moment and make plays you need to make.”

Second-year wideout Ja’Marr Chase played on a national championship team with Burrow in college at LSU three seasons ago and also saw him step up during last season’s postseason run.

So Chase has seen this episode before.

“It’s something he probably always wanted to be in, every big-time game he probably dreamed of being in,” Chase said. “That’s a moment he’s always ready for, he studies for. That’s what he’s always in meetings for.”

The Bengals were a Cinderella-like squad last season before the fairy-tale run that included back-to-back road wins over the top-seeded Tennessee Titans and second-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.

This time around, Cincinnati is viewed as an upper-echelon AFC squad along with the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. And coach Zac Taylor isn’t expecting the season to be ending against the Ravens.

“I expect our guys to come out on fire,” Taylor said. “With the stadium we’re going to have, the atmosphere we’re going to have Sunday night, it’s going to be electric, and our guys are going to embrace it and play their tails off.”

The Ravens won the season’s first meeting with Cincinnati, but the Jackson situation has certainly dimmed their chances of winning in the eyes of outsiders.

“I don’t know if everybody’s going to believe in us outside the locker room, but we’re for dang sure going to believe in ourselves here,” Ravens six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell said. “We’re going to give it our best shot.”

In addition to Jackson, running back Gus Edwards (concussion) and long snapper Nick Moore (illness) missed Wednesday’s practice due to injuries. Cornerback Brandon Stephens (illness) also sat out but is back in Baltimore after being hospitalized in Cincinnati last Sunday after becoming “acutely ill,” according to the team.

Receiver Tee Higgins (illness) sat out for the Bengals, while guard Alex Cappa (ankle) will miss the contest. Max Scharping will start in his place.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (18) drops back in passed coverage during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Ravens, LB Roquan Smith reach $100M deal

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The Baltimore Ravens have agreed in principle with inside linebacker Roquan Smith on a five-year, $100 million contract extension, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

The deal includes $45 million fully guaranteed and would make Smith the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in NFL history at $20 million per campaign, per the report.

Smith, who was acquired in an Oct. 31 trade with Chicago, represented himself with the Ravens after failing to reach a long-term deal with the Bears.

Smith, 25, recorded 86 tackles, two sacks and one interception in nine games with the Ravens (10-7), who visit the Cincinnati Bengals for an AFC wild-card game on Sunday.

Smith registered a season-high 16 tackles against the Bengals in the regular season finale.

Pass rusher salaries at outside linebacker are generally higher than traditional inside linebackers. Dating to 2016 with the Denver Broncos, outside linebacker Von Miller established a record for the “linebacker” position with a six-year, $114.5 million deal in 2016.

Smith’s impact appears evident since he was acquired from the Bears.

Before Smith arrived, the Baltimore defense ranked 20th in points per game allowed and 24th in yards allowed. They rank second in both categories since, according to the team.

Coach John Harbaugh praised Smith’s leadership at his press conference on Monday.

“He has been fantastic that way. He’s all about it. He doesn’t worry about what people think; he doesn’t care,” Harbaugh said.

“He wants to do the things that are required to be a great player and to be a great unit and then to impact your team. That’s what he’s all about – 100 percent – [and] that’s what I love about him. He’s one of the top guys I’ve ever seen that way, and I think that does always impact everybody as a leader, for sure. I want all of our guys to lead that way.”

Including eight games with the Bears, Smith finished the 2022 season with a career-high 169 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Smith has 18.5 sacks, 54 tackles for loss and eight interceptions in 78 games (76 starts) since Chicago drafted him eighth overall in 2018 out of Georgia.

A long-term extension with Smith frees up the Ravens to potentially use their franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) talks with team staff on the sideline in the second quarter after being sacked against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has sprained PCL

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday’s win over the Denver Broncos and could be sidelined up to three weeks, ESPN reported Tuesday.

He left the game in the first quarter and was replaced by Tyler Huntley. Coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game that Jackson’s injury was not season-ending but will be a “number of days to weeks.”

The Ravens (8-4) are scheduled to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7) on Sunday.

Jackson is crucial to the Ravens offense. Last season, he missed the final four games because of an ankle injury, and Baltimore was 0-4 in his absence.

The league MVP in 2019, Jackson has completed 62.3 percent of his passes this season for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s the team’s leading rusher, running for 764 yards with three touchdowns.

The Ravens signed veteran quarterback Brett Hundley to their practice squad on Monday.

–Field Level Media