OWINGS MILLS — Ravens coach John Harbaugh planned to run three plays in the red zone near the end of practice to allow some of the younger defensive players a chance to work on their technique.
However, offensive coordinator Todd Monken called a fade on the first snap and Devin Leary found Devontez Walker in the corner of the end zone, where he made a leaping catch for a touchdown. Walker was then hoisted into the air by teammates for the exceptional reception.
The practice ended with the play and Harbaugh was pleased with Walker’s performance.
“He’s a rookie,” Harbaugh said. “He’s learning; he makes mistakes, then he corrects them. It’s a process for all the rookies; I think he’s doing a really good job. I see talent, and the speed, and he can change direction. He can catch the ball. All of the things are there; let’s just see how fast he comes along.”
Walker, a rookie from North Carolina, has been active in the meeting rooms and is getting a better grasp of Monken’s playbook. At 6 feet 1, 193 pounds, Walker is a physical wide receiver and should complement the speedy players on the roster.
Scouts said that Walker does need to improve on his route running, but he has been lauded for his ability to make contested catches in tight coverage.
He is behind Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor on the depth chart. But he is putting himself in position to get on the field because of the way he is progressing in practice.
“[Walker] is a sponge,” Ravens wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. “He wants to know everything, and he’s doing a great job with that. You see his length and his speed out there on the field and [him] making big-bodied catches but then he can take the top off coverages. He’s doing a great job as far as the offense is concerned, learning and understanding what we’re trying to do is different than what he did in college.
“It’s a lot of nuances, and he’s picking them up seamlessly, so I’m excited [for] where he’s at now and where he can go in the future.”
