The Ravens had a new face at practice Tuesday.
Baltimore bolstered its wide receiver depth by signing veteran Russell Gage. The 28-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons and was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past two years, but he missed all of last season after tearing his patellar tendon during training camp.
A 2018 sixth-round draft pick out of LSU, Gage has 2,491 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 74 games over five seasons. His best years came in 2020 (72 catches for 786 yards and 4 TDs) and 2021 (66 catches for 770 yards and 4 TDs).
“He’s a guy that’s proven,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Tough player. Physical player. Great hands. Just starting today but looked good. He got his helmet at about 1 [p.m.] and was out there at 1:20.”
Baltimore’s receiver depth was thin entering this season — Harbaugh said none of the Ravens’ young receivers have pushed veterans for larger roles in the offense through two weeks of training camp. That took another hit Monday when Rashod Bateman exited practice after landing awkwardly on the ball after a catch.
In a career-high 16 games last season, Bateman posted just 367 receiving yards and one touchdown. He was experiencing an up-and-down camp after signing a contract extension in April as his connection with quarterback Lamar Jackson fluctuates daily. Harbaugh said that Bateman’s injury is “not serious.”
“Kinda hit the ground hard,” the coach said. “Nothing long-term.”
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was also absent Tuesday with a sprained ankle, Harbaugh said. Center Tyler Linderbaum missed his fourth consecutive practice with a soft tissue injury. Cornerback Trayvon Mullen, outside linebacker Quincy Roche and defensive lineman Deadrin Senat were also out.
Rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, who missed the first two weeks of training camp on the non-football injury list, and receiver and returner Deonte Harty returned to practice Tuesday. Isaac, a third-round pick, practiced in full for the first time since rookie minicamp as he works back from a hamstring injury.
The next few weeks will be critical for Isaac as he acclimates to the defense, which is looking for linebackers and edge rushers to fill large vacancies.
“We’re gonna have to ramp him up a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “He hasn’t done anything from the first day really. We’re gonna bring him along. But the good news is, it’s still pretty early in camp. He’s excited to be back.”