The first preseason game for the Ravens on Thursday night was supposed to be a chance to look at some of the team's rookies.

While several of them made sparkling debuts — particularly outside linebacker Matthew Judon, with a team-leading seven tackles, and running back Kenneth Dixon,who had a team-high 44 yards on nine carries — another player without much of game experience also made an impressive introduction in a 22-19 win over the Panthers.

Linebacker Chris Carter, who has played almost exclusively on special teams in six NFL seasons with three teams, overcame an early scare to make his first sack (though still unofficial) in a game. He was credited with three quarterback hurries.

Asked whether it was a matter of getting a chance or just growing as a player, Carter said: “I think it's a little bit of both, opportunity and progression. Growing every year. You get around seasoned vets like Arthur [Brown]and Albert [McClellan]and they teach me a lot of skills and moves.”

The scare came after the opening kickoff, when Carter took a hit and had to be taken to the locker room to go through a concussion protocol.

“I was hoping they would let me back in,” Carter said with a laugh. “In the NFL, they want to make sure we don't have any concussions. Honestly I couldn't be mad at anybody. I went out there, a play came up and I wasn't going to turn the other cheek. It's a man's game and that's what we do. Fortunately we both walked away healthy and get out there and keep playing.”

Judon, who was a Division II All-American at Grand Valley State, seemed to be focused right from the start.

“I really didn't think about anything, you can't think out there,” said Judon, a fifth-round draft pick who had a sack Thursday night. “I go out there and rely on your training and know that the coaches put you in the right situation. ... You just want to come out here and play as hard as you can and show what you can do.”

Dixon got off to a strong start himself, rushing for 19 yards on his first carry from scrimmage.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh was happy with what he saw from his young players.

“It is so important, to see those guys play in games. I don't think you ever really know,” Harbaugh said. “The last couple of days, I was waiting for this game to get here. ‘How are they going to play? How are they going to look against another team?' You just don't know until you see something happen. These young guys, we drafted them for a reason and they showed up tonight.”

Despite delay, Ravens fans cheer Phelps: Despite an announcement before the game that Michael Phelps'race in the Rio Olympics would be shown live to the fans on the video board, the game kept going until well after the race had been won by the 31-year-old Baltimorean.

Eventually, the game was stopped momentarily for a television timeout as players from both teams, including those on the field, watched one of the big boards. A huge roar went up and the crowd went into an impromptu chant of the “Seven Nation Army” theme song. Several Ravens players pumped their fist as they watched Phelps win.

A Ravens spokesman said the replay was scheduled at the first television timeout in the fourth quarter. When it wasn't called, the spokesman said, “we couldn't stop in the middle of the game.”

Players from both teams, some of whom were on the field during a timeout, stood and watched the screen behind the end zone. Several Ravens who were not on the field pumped their fists and turned sheets of paper into makeshift confetti after Phelps won.

Harbaugh started his postgame news conference with words of congratulation, though he had lost count of Phelps' gold-medal total.

“Congratulations to Michael Phelps — 21?” Harbaugh said.

Told that it was gold medal No. 22, Harbaugh asked: “Is there any more? He's got one later. We're still counting.”

Fans at M&T Bank Stadium didn't seem to mind that the race wasn't shown live.

“That's just awesome, what can you say, the guy's just amazing,” said Mike Brown of Smithfield, Va. “We didn't know he won, but they said they were going to show it at 10 o'clock. It's still pretty cool” watching on tape.

Jeremy Laroches of Parkville chanted “USA, USA” as he walked down from his seat as the game was about to end.

“I knew he was going to win. It's Michael Phelps,” Laroches said.

A big arrival: Defensive tackle Brandon Williams announced on Twitter the birth Wednesday of his second son, Nash Calhoun Williams. According to his tweet, Nash weighed in at 10 pounds, 3 ounces and was measured at 22 inches. Williams did not play for the Ravens on Thursday.

Williams and his fiancee, Alyssa, also have a 4-year-old son, Ryder.

Remembering Walker: A blue banner on a stadium wall near where the Ravens enter the field honors cornerback Tray Walker, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Miami in March. He was 23. On Twitter, the Ravens posted a picture, which included his name, number and the years he lived, with the words “Always in our [heart].”

Too many Cams on the field: Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's first and only series ended with the NFL's reigning Most Valuable Player overthrowing Ted Ginn Jr. in the back of the zone and Carolina settling for a 26-yard field goal by Graham Gano.

Unfortunately for linebacker A.J. Klein, Newton got back onto the field for one more play.

It came in the middle of what appeared to be a long interception return for a touchdown by Klein off Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallett. Somewhere along the way, Newton ran onto the field to celebrate and was called for a penalty.

It didn't matter, as backup Derek Anderson, who played for the Ravens during the preseason as a rookie in 2005, completed two passes to put the Panthers up 10-0.

don.markus@baltsun.com

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