Ravens Camp Buzz: Ja'Kobi Lane Is Stealing the Show and Lamar Looks Faster Than Ever
BALTIMORE -- The 2026 Ravens are a whole new vibe. Jesse Minter has taken the wheel, Lamar Jackson is slinging it with a chip on his shoulder, and a rookie receiver named Ja'Kobi Lane is turning Under Armour Performance Center into his own personal highlight reel. Camp is only a week old, but the energy? Immaculate.
The New Regime Has Juice
Minter replaced the legendary John Harbaugh, and he's already shaking things up. Morning practices? Yes. A defense that's flying around? Also yes. Players are buying what he's selling, and the results are showing. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, the longest-tenured Raven, put it simply: Minter just pumps belief into everyone in the building.
Ja'Kobi Lane? Yeah, He's Different.
The USC third-rounder is the runaway star of camp. We're talking one-handed grabs along the sideline, leaping touchdowns in the back of the end zone, and deep balls ripped out of the air over All-Pro corners. Even Derrick Henry was jumping around after Lane's latest circus catch. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle compared his hands to former NFL great Mike Thomas. High praise? Absolutely. But Lane is delivering it every single day.
He's locked in as the No. 3 receiver behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, and he's making a serious case for more targets in this offense.
Lamar Still Has the Keys
Word out of camp: Lamar looks faster. Like, somehow, at 29, he found another gear. Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton noticed it immediately. And while Jackson's rushing numbers dipped to a career-low 349 yards last season, he's airing it out early in camp, connecting deep with Flowers and Bateman. He finished 10-of-13 in the first practice and looks locked in, even with a new playbook.
Also, Zay Flowers added 8 pounds this offseason to break more tackles. He and Lamar are on the same page, and after signing a four-year, $140M extension, Flowers is a cornerstone.
Defense Is Stacked (Finally)
The Ravens' pass rush was painfully quiet last season -- only 30 sacks. But Trey Hendrickson is here now on a four-year, $112M deal, and he's bringing J.J. Watt energy, per defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The defensive backs are eating too: Kyle Hamilton is living in the backfield, T.J. Tampa is making plays, and Nnamdi Madubuike is finally back on the field after neck surgery.
Even Calais Campbell is back for year 19, practicing after a devastating offseason. This defense has the potential to be elite.
Redemption SZN for Tyler Loop
Remember when Tyler Loop's missed 44-yarder ended Baltimore's season? Yeah, he remembers too. The Ravens didn't bring in any competition, showing all their faith in him. And he's responding, drilling a 43-yard game-winner in front of 20,185 fans at Maryland and going 7-for-7 -- including a 61-yard bomb -- in another session. Lamar gave him a hug after the kick. That's how you bounce back.
What's Next?
The position battles are heating up: center is a three-man fight, the No. 3 tight end spot is up for grabs, and cornerback depth looks solid. The preseason opener is August 13, but right now, this Ravens team is flying. Can Minter and Lamar finally get over the hump? If camp is any indication, don't bet against them.