Ravens News 6/14: Jimmy returns, minicamp notes and more

News & Notes: Tony Jefferson Makes ‘Game-Winning’ Interception - Ryan Mink

- Offensive lineman Alex Lewis (back spasms) was still out. The Ravens kept the same first-team offensive line group they had Tuesday with (left to right) Ronnie Stanley, Jermaine Eluemunor, Matt Skura, James Hurst and Orlando Brown Jr.

- Brown Jr. is getting a lot of hard coaching from Offensive Line Coach Joe D’Alessandris and had a lengthy chat with Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda on the sideline between plays. Yanda was clearly giving Brown some technique suggestions and the rookie seems to be handling it all well.

- Another interesting note is that Nico Siragusa, who has returned from last year’s season-ending knee injury, was taking some practice snaps at center.

- Inside linebacker Patrick “Peanut” Onwuasor looks much more confident on the field. He’s more decisive against the run and has been in the backfield to tag down runners each of the past two days. He seems to have a strong hold on the starting job next to C.J. Mosley.

Offensive line continues to be the Ravens most intriguing position group.

‘Wolverine’-like cornerback Jimmy Smith returns to practice, with recovery on schedule - Jonas Schafer

“I’m sure everyone was surprised,” safety Eric Weddle said Wednesday. “I don’t know if Jimmy’s like half-Wolverine, but the dude is, like, healed up [in] half the time than normal, regular human beings with an Achilles. But he’s worked extremely hard. I’ve been in here since after the Pro Bowl every week, and he’s been in here rehabbing, and the medical staff’s done a great job. So it was nice to see him out here doing backpedaling and just be a part of the team.”

Smith did not speak to reporters after practice, but defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said the 29-year-old is “right on schedule.”

“What the schedule is, I don’t know,” he joked. “But he’s on it.”

Smith was in the midst of an All-Pro caliber season when the Achilles began bothering him last November. A healthy Jimmy would greatly improve the Ravens postseason prospects.

AFC weak spots: Can Blake Bortles rise? Pats flawed on edges? - Gregg Rosenthal

Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco

The invaluable Chase Stuart at Pro Football Reference wrote a piece this week noting that Flacco has played longer for one team than any below-average quarterback, according to adjusted net yards per attempt. I’d argue that Flacco wasn’t below average until the last three seasons, but three seasons is a long time in the NFL. The presence of first-round pick Lamar Jackson puts the veteran on a short leash. With a new cast of receivers and a rare healthy offseason, Flacco might need to get out of the gates quickly to keep his job.

Rosenthal claims the Bengals weak spot is ‘inspiration‘, the Browns weakness is at offensive tackle and the Steelers will have trouble at inside linebacker following Ryan Shazier’s debilitating injury.

After losing 2017 to torn ACL, Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan back at practice - Jonas Schafer

Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan returned to practice at Wednesday’s mandatory minicamp, his first action since tearing his ACL last preseason.

The linebacker injured his knee during a non-contact drill in a training camp practice Aug. 23. He missed the 2017 season after a career year in 2016. In 11 starts, nine at strong-side linebacker and two at weak-side linebacker, he made a career-high 52 tackles.

McClellan, a special teams ace with the versatility to man every linebacker position, is expected to battle Kamalei Correa for one of the final roster spots.