Saturday, August 12, 7:00pm EDT
Eagles @ Ravens
If you are like me, everything after the 4th of July seems to happen in fast forward. Suddenly, it’s August and the preseason is about to begin. In a flash, fall will be here, and we’ll be watching games that count on Sunday afternoons. But as much as I’m ready for the regular season to begin, there is still plenty to watch during the preseason and lots to learn about this 2023 Ravens team. Below a few areas of interest for Preseason Week 1.
The Streak
As you’re most likely aware, the Ravens have won an astounding 23 straight preseason games dating back to 2016. That’s an NFL record (go figure), and it highlights the organization’s consistency and scouting and coaching acumen. Will the Ravens keep their preseason winning streak alive with some new coordinators and a new batch of young players? We’ll see, but the odds are in their favor—Baltimore opened as a 4.5-point favorite over Philadelphia. Amazingly, the Ravens are 20-3 against the spread during their winning streak, so it seems that Vegas has yet to catch up with Baltimore’s preseason prowess. If you are of an inclination to wager on sporting events, you may want to throw a few dollars at Baltimore in this one.
The Secondary
You won’t see Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Williams, or Kyle Hamilton take the field on Saturday. But there are several potential impact players trying to secure their spots on the depth chart who may get playing time. #25 Kevon Seymour, a 6th round pick out of USC in 2016, has been in the Ravens organization since 2021, mostly on the practice squad. However, he’s had a fantastic training camp and may be in line for rotational work at corner/nickelback. Other players to watch for include #5 Jalyn Armour-Davis, a fourth-round pick by the Ravens in 2022, and #34 Arthur Maulet, a six-year veteran who last played for the Steelers and has also made a good impression during training camp.
The Rookies
#4 Zay Flowers
Will Baltimore play rookie WR/training camp star Zay Flowers on Saturday? For the sake of pure entertainment, I sure hope so. Praise for Flowers has poured in from every direction, including beat writers, team staff, and even Peter King. If Flowers dominates in his preseason appearances, the hype train—which long ago left the station—might just self-implode. With Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham, Jr. sure to rest for the first preseason game and the rookie Flowers needing as many reps as he can get, we may not have to wait long to see him play.
#34 Keaton Mitchell
Keaton Mitchell went undrafted in 2023, though not for lack of success in college (Mitchell rushed for over 3,000 yards at East Carolina, averaging a whopping 6.5 yards per carry). He was then signed by Baltimore, where his father, safety Anthony Mitchell, played for three years, including on the 2001 Super Bowl team. All reports out of training camp say that #34 looks explosive and shifty, with good hands, as well. He still faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster with JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Melvin Gordon, and Justice Hill also in the mix—but Mitchell will have an opportunity to prove himself during the preseason.
#71 Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Is Aumavae-Laula, a sixth-round pick out of Oregon, the biggest surprise of training camp so far? He’s certainly in the conversation. Aumavae-Laula has gotten all of the first-team reps at left guard and is likely to start on opening day—but he, like Flowers, will need as many reps as he can get before then. Look for the impressive rookie to build on his early success, possibly starting this weekend.
#47 Travis Vokolek
One final name to watch for is Tight End Travis Vokolek, an undrafted free agent from Nebraska. He is listed at 6’6” and 259 pounds and, according to reports out of camp, he has good hands and finds ways to get open despite his lack of blazing speed. The Ravens have a familiar trio of tight ends in Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar, but Vokolek will get plenty of opportunities during the preseason to stand out. If he keeps making plays like he has in training camp, the coaching staff will have a tough decision when it comes time to cut down to 53 players.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Chris has been a local sports fan his whole life. His first love was the Orioles, thanks in large part to his grandfather–but ever since the Ravens arrived, football has been his passion. By day, Chris works as a Medical Writer supporting the National Institutes of Health. He now lives in Sykesville with his wife and two daughters.