The third padded practice at Ravens camp played out like a controlled stress test—one the offense failed. Lamar Jackson went 7-for-19 in full-team drills, his passes drifting under pressure and without two of his top targets. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. The absences added context but didn’t explain away the timing issues, the blown protections, or the stretch of penalties that stalled any momentum. When Jackson finally escaped with a 75-yard run, it felt more like an improvisational bailout than a statement. From the sideline, the offense didn’t look outmatched… It looked disconnected.

Meanwhile, the defense sharpened. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie baited Jackson twice, nearly intercepting one misfire, while Tavius Robinson knocked down passes and overwhelmed the edge. In one-on-ones, the receivers showed life, Tylan Wallace, Dayton Wade, and DeAndre Hopkins each had their moments. But they didn’t translate when the field widened. Even the final live-tackling period, mostly backups, ended with rookie Devin Leary beating the blitz for a 45-yard touchdown to Sam Pitz. More signal of what the defense allowed than what the offense built. With Flowers sidelined and Isaiah Likely now out 6–8 weeks, the Ravens’ offensive operation isn’t panicking—but the margin for error is already thinning.

Yet the camp hasn’t only been about the Ravens’ physical collapse; Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh has further protected Jackson in contact drills. A debate arose after practice, questioning whether Lamar would’ve scored if the defense was allowed to hit Jackson in training camp. To which Harbaugh said, “We do protect Lamar. But I wanted them to get a little closer, at least make it legitimate that he thinks you had a chance to get him.” Even outside linebacker Odafe Oweh added his side on the debate, “I mean, I’m just saying coach [Harbaugh] is telling us to stay away from him.” So, the message is clear: Baltimore might be overplaying caution to the point of emasculating reps.

Jackson’s last season’s numbers, 4,172 passing yards paired with 915 rushing yards, remain solid indicators of elite film. Among the best dual-threat players in the NFL? Indeed. And on the ground, as teammates chest-bumped with Lamar after his 75-yard dash around the edge and into the end zone, the meta-narrative was a mismatch: one savant running at top speed, while the offense around him sputtered. Without structure? That dual threat becomes inharmonious.

Add to the mix more complications: Zay Flowers, Jackson’s top-down slant target, tweaked an ankle and is expected to miss into next week; Isaiah Likely, the breakout tight end from last year, was carted off and is now out for around six weeks with a small foot fracture. Coach Harbaugh confirmed a surgery and projected a return in time for Week 1, but a likely absence from all preseason games.

But as the Ravens’ offense unraveled under the weight of its own mistakes, the most telling blow didn’t come from a missed route or a busted protection; it came from John Harbaugh’s post-practice comments that quietly exposed a deeper issue behind the dysfunction.

John Harbaugh talks about the Ravens’ mentality for the 2025 season

John Harbaugh rarely calls players out without a reason. This time, his message was clear. The Ravens’ real issue isn’t physical. It’s mental. Focus, grit, urgency. The lack of it is starting to concern the coaching staff. The penalties. The sloppy cadence. The missed reps. Harbaugh wasn’t critiquing the playbook. He was calling out their mindset. And in his eyes, they’re falling short.

With temperatures hitting 102 in Maryland, Harbaugh saw an opportunity. He wanted to show them the mentality he expects… Not the one they’re showing. When asked whether the team’s execution was suffering from mental fatigue during camp, as the Ravens were also battling one of the hottest days of camp, Harbaugh said, “I do think it factors in some of the mental stuff, but it forces you to really concentrate and work at the mental challenges of the game. So that’s what we need this time of year.”

His tone wasn’t made in panic; it was preventive. After more than a decade of playoff experience, he’s seen talented teams fail not because they weren’t fast or physical. But because they weren’t mentally ruthless. Harbaugh has one Coach of the Year Award. He received it in 2019 from the PFWA, when he led the Ravens to a 14–2 record. Furthermore, he has a major First-Time HC Record, as he is the only head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first 5 seasons.

That vigor and standard require a prime mentality. John Harbaugh has built a career on toughness, structure, and late-season execution. With 17 seasons, a Super Bowl ring, and a reputation for playoff grit, his voice carries more weight than most. So, when he warns of mental lapses in the dog days of training camp, it’s not coach-speak… It’s a call to sharpen up or fall short. The Ravens have the talent. But if Harbaugh senses a psychological gap forming in July, it could be the one thing that derails them in January.