Mike Green Draws Comparison to Ravens’ Single-Season Sack Leader
Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green has been impressive from the moment he stepped onto the Ravens’ practice field, and he was among the standouts in Baltimore’s 24-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason opener Thursday night.
After watching Green dominate at the Ravens-Colts joint practice earlier this week, WJZ analyst and former Ravens wide receiver Qadry Ismail said the second-round pick reminded him of former Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil.
That’s high praise considering Dumervil owns the franchise’s single-season sack record with 17 in 2014. The five-time Pro Bowler had 105.5 sacks in his 11-year career with the Ravens, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers.
“[Green’s] ability to bend and get around the edge is where the guy that I see is Elvis Dumervil,” Ismail said on the “Locked On Ravens” podcast. “Mike Green is the Elvis Dumervil version of this day and age’s rush end on the outside. He just dips it so quickly you can’t get him. I think for him disrupting the way he was disrupting just spoke volumes.”
Former Ravens WR @IamQadryIsmail compares rookie pass rusher Mike Green to an ELITE former Ravens pass rusher
“The guy that I see is Elvis Dumervil…Mike Green is the Elvis Dumervil version of this day and age’s rush end on the outside” pic.twitter.com/3GZhoBNijc
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) August 7, 2025
Green had several quarterback pressures in Thursday night’s game, including one that nearly led to Anthony Richardson throwing an interception on the Colts’ opening drive. On another play, Green got a hand on Richardson and Adisa Isaac brought the quarterback down.
Uhhhhhhh Mike Green had 14 pass rush snaps last night on true dropbacks and his win rate was 50%.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) August 8, 2025
LaJohntay Wester’s NFL Debut ‘Like Something From a Dream’
Rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester electrified the crowd at M&T Bank Stadium with his 87-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The sixth-round pick also led the Ravens in receiving with two catches for 41 yards, including a 30-yard reception that was the longest for either team.
Wester earned rave reviews from pundits for his NFL debut. Here’s a sample:
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer: “The sixth-round pick’s second meaningful punt return inside M&T Bank Stadium was like something out of a dream. He made one Colt miss with a juke, slipped another arm tackle, accelerated through a gap, broke another tackle attempt and was then off to the races. Wester is still only a couple of mistakes away from losing the Ravens’ punt return job, but his 87-yard touchdown distanced himself from the competition.”
The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon: “LaJohntay Wester went from a relative unknown to a borderline household name among Ravens fans looking to fill out the final spots on the 53-man roster. With his 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, he almost certainly solidified himself as a core member of the special teams unit while also flashing the potential to get some reps at wide receiver.”
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec: “On a night when the Cooper Rush and Devin Leary-led offense struggled to get anything going, Wester, the rookie sixth-round pick who played his final college season for Deion Sanders at Colorado, totaled 104 yards and a touchdown on three punt returns. He showed both confidence and aggression on his first return as he ran up to field a short punt in traffic and picked up 17 yards. It was the type of return Baltimore didn’t get often last year. Wester’s mad dash was also a nice stage-setter for his 87-yard touchdown return later in the first quarter. Wester caught the ball in the middle of the field, bounced off a few tackles and headed up the Indianapolis sideline, where he found nothing but space. The closest players to Wester as he crossed the goal line were teammates Keith Kirkwood and [Malaki] Starks.”
Player like Coach 👀
Ravens WR LaJohntay Wester looking like his former HC Deion Sanders on his 87-yd Punt Return
🎥/Edit Taylor Sadusky pic.twitter.com/1yH8B8F4wU
— Taylor Sadusky (@taylorjsadusky) August 8, 2025
HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE FAU LEGEND LAJOHNTAY WESTER!!!!!!!
— Dalton Wasserman (@PFF_Dalton) August 7, 2025
LaJohntay “Devin Hester” Wester
— Baltimore Beatdown (@BmoreBeatdown) August 7, 2025
Granted, this was only one preseason game. But after cycling through Deonte Harty, Tylan Wallace, Steven Sims and Desmond King last year, the #Ravens and Eric DeCosta have to love what they saw from LaJohntay Wester tonight as a punt returner.
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) August 8, 2025
Why Keaton Mitchell’s Performance Is ‘Terrific News’ for Derrick Henry
Running back Keaton Mitchell showed the explosiveness and speed against the Colts that he had as a rookie in 2023 before suffering a major knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season.
The Baltimore Sun’s Josh Tolentino said a return to form by Mitchell, who rushed for 68 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown, on nine carries (7.56 yards per carry), is “terrific news” for running back Derrick Henry.
“The 31-year-old enjoyed a historic 2024 campaign, and the Ravens are hoping he can avoid regression. Ultimately, the Ravens need Henry and the rest of their key starters healthy come January,” Tolentino wrote. “With Mitchell’s reemergence, Baltimore could have a true depth option in addition to reliable pass protector and fellow tailback Justice Hill.”
NFL.com’s Grant Gordon also noted how a healthy Mitchell can impact the Ravens’ rushing attack.
“If Mitchell, who also had three kick returns for 64 yards, is indeed all the way back, he’ll push Justice Hill for playing time behind Derrick Henry and could be a stellar change of pace for King Henry,” Gordon wrote.
Henry and Mitchell are the epitome of a thunder and lightening running back duo
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) August 7, 2025
Rasheen Ali Bolsters Case for Roster Spot
Mitchell was not the only Ravens running back to shine in the game. Rasheen Ali also made a positive impression, both as a running back and kick returner.
The Ravens have an embarrassment of riches at running back with Henry, Hill, and Mitchell, but Ali showed a glimpse of what he is capable of.
“Do the Ravens have space for a fourth running back on their 53-man roster? Probably not, but Ali can bolster his case with standout special teams play,” Shaffer wrote. “He had a 69-yard kickoff return in the second quarter — more than Mitchell had on his three attempts total (64), and longer than any Ravens kickoff return last year. Ali, who finished the short-field touchdown drive with two carries for 21 yards, has impressive open-field speed and could be difficult to sneak on to the practice squad.”
Ali, a 2024 fifth-round pick whose rookie season was marred by injuries, finished the game with nine carries for 37 yards and a touchdown. Head Coach John Harbaugh said after the game that Ali had an injury “situation,” but did not give specifics.
“Hopefully he’s okay. We’ll see where we’re at,” Harbaugh said.
My pick for Ravens’ preseason star is RB Rasheen Ali. A 5th-round pick from a year ago, Ali has shown more elusiveness in this year’s camp.
With Baltimore’s top backs (Derrick Henry and Justice Hill) not playing, Ali should get plenty of carries as he looks to make the 53.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 7, 2025
Davante Adams: Travis Hunter ‘Better Do Some Ninja [Stuff]’ if He Tries to Tackle Henry
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams referenced Henry when explaining why he’s skeptical about Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter’s attempt to play on both sides of the ball.
“The more you’re on the field, I mean, it’s already a 100% injury guarantee. Once you get out there playing both sides and now you’ve got to tackle? You’ve got to tackle Derrick Henry with that frame? I mean, he’s athletic as hell, but the athleticism, he better do some ninja [stuff] if he wants to use that to get him down,” Adams said on “The Pivot Podcast.”
Hunter won’t get the opportunity to tackle Henry this season unless the Ravens and Jaguars meet in the playoffs.
Praying for Bilhal Kone. Got the privilege of working with him before the draft.
We are all thinking of you down here in Tampa, we love you @BilhalK!
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) August 7, 2025
