OWINGS MILLS — Ravens running back Derrick Henry has not played at full speed, but he is already showing the punishing style of play the team can expect when the regular season begins.
With temperatures in the mid-90s, Henry had numerous touches in the team’s 10th training camp practice on Thursday and bounced off defenders who had trouble getting their arms around him to tackle. It was clear that once Henry gets to the second level against a defense, he’s going to be difficult to contain.
In one instance, Henry completely ran over cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis.
“We’re excited as heck to have Derrick,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “They are things that he does, and his skill set that allows you to, not maybe from a creative standpoint, but maybe a little bit differently. Maybe certain ways that you want to run the football, utilize his skill set, utilize his speed and maybe getting him on the perimeter where he can really get that speed and get running downhill. So that’s exciting. That really is.”
Henry has primarily been a running back who worked under center formations. The Ravens traditionally run more plays out of shotgun or pistol formation.
Monken said the team will be adaptable to Henry’s playing style, but he doesn’t foresee a problem with running in multiple formations.
“Early on, we had been doing in what we do, in installing and rotating the running backs, so we can see it,” Monken said. “What we saw on tape [and] what he’s done in the past is a reflection of what we anticipate, but we’d like to see it. We’d like to see it play out, from a receiving end, from a running end, [the] type run schemes, so we’re just in the process in seeing it all develop and talking to him [about] what he likes and where we go as an offense.”
Hamilton vs. Andrews: All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and tight end Mark Andrews are having some of the most contested battles in training camp. On Thursday, Andrews had a leaping reception on a pass by Lamar Jackson, but Hamilton pulled the ball out of his hands for an interception. It was one of the most impressive plays in two weeks of training camp.
Bounce back: Ravens rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins got beat on a deep route by wide receiver Isaiah Washington. On the next play, Wiggins broke up a pass over the middle.
Armour-Davis shines: Jalyn Armour-Davis, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, is having a strong camp. He had a one-handed pass breakup on Thursday and has locked down opposing wide receivers.
More interceptions: Linebacker Malik Harrison made an interception on a pass from Josh Johnson in the middle of the field. Rookie safety Sanoussi Kane also read the eyes of quarterback Devin Leary and made an interception down the sideline.
Cleveland leaves early: Ravens guard Ben Cleveland walked off the field with a trainer midway through practice and did not return. Coach John Harbaugh later said that Cleveland hit his head,
