The Baltimore Ravens have learned a ton about themselves over the past two days. Their joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday were telling, and while they built some excitement, they also built some worry.
There was plenty of good, plenty of bad, and even some ugly. Let’s look at whose stock is up and whose is down following Baltimore’s practices against Minnesota.
Stock report following Baltimore Ravens’ uneven joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings
Stock up: Ja’Kobi Lane
Two more practices, at least two more Ja’Kobi Lane highlights. The rookie third-round wide receiver has been putting on an absolute masterclass over the past month, and that didn’t stop in Baltimore’s visit to Minnesota. He was once again a favorite target of Lamar Jackson on Wednesday and Thursday.
It really hasn’t mattered what area of the field Lane has been in. He can win over the top on deep shots, win contested battles with ease, and even sneak his 6-foot-4 frame over the middle of the field into open space. He’s doing just enough as a route runner and is proving that he doesn’t need much space to make a play.
Somehow, the Lane hype train keeps picking up speed.
Stock down: Ronnie Stanley
Minnesota’s Brian Flores-led defense was bound to dial up relentless blitzes against Baltimore this week, and unfortunately, they found a ton of success. The offensive line as a whole struggled to prevent the dam from breaking, but on Thursday, Ronnie Stanley was at the center of attention (in a very bad way).
Vikings third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner had a field day against Stanley. He took the veteran offensive tackle’s lunch money, beating him for at least two sacks. That’s obviously not what you want to see from Jackson’s blindside protector and franchise left tackle.
There are some question marks about Stanley’s potential regression, and this past week hasn’t helped calm any concerns. The Ravens need him to avoid that regression and return to top form if they want to be true contenders in 2026.
Stock up: Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins
Squaring off with the Minnesota offense, the Ravens secondary had a golden opportunity to sharpen their skills against a talented wide receiver room. Most notably, Justin Jefferson offered a huge test as one of the league’s best, and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins were up for the challenge.
According to numerous reports, Humphrey had quite possibly his two best practices of training camp, getting the best of Jefferson on several occasions. Humphrey also noted that the team’s Wednesday practice might’ve been the best he’s experienced since becoming a Raven in 2017.
Wiggins did very well in his matchups with Jefferson, too. He wasted no time getting back on the right foot after returning from a scary leg injury, forcing incompletions against the four-time Pro Bowler on numerous occasions. And even when he got beat, he impressed with blanket coverage.
Baltimore needs those two to get back on track in 2026, and showcasing their skills versus Jefferson is undoubtedly the best possible way to do that.
Stock down: Ravens offense
The Ravens offense continues to look sluggish. They had a tough time solving the Vikings defense, getting bombarded by Flores’ blitzes, and failing to connect consistently on those explosive plays that Declan Doyle is looking to bring to Charm City.
The unit was able to hit on some quick hitters to combat the blitz, but issues remained throughout the two-day stretch. The flashes from the likes of Lane and Rashod Bateman weren’t enough to overshadow the lingering troubles that not only plagued Baltimore against Minnesota, but also the difficulties they’ve had pretty much all camp.
Simply put, Doyle and company must figure it out.
Stock up: Kyle Hamilton
I’m not sure a player’s stock could get any higher. Kyle Hamilton is widely considered the best safety in the NFL, and there’s not an area of the game where he doesn’t make an impact. He’s a game-wrecking weapon to have on the field, and in joint practices, he’s unfair.
In coverage, Hamilton jammed a Vikings wide receiver so bad that he couldn’t get off the line of scrimmage, and against the run, he helped make statement-making stops. He’s an absolute monster and is poised to only grow in Jesse Minter’s system.
Stock down: Justice Hill
In the midst of a lackluster week for Baltimore’s offense, it was probably Justice Hill who had the worst play of the two practices. On Thursday, he had a pass from Jackson deflect off his hands and into the grasp of Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman. That’s poor from the eighth-year running back.
Of course, it’s one play. When those situations go down, you need to have the memory of a goldfish and forget about it. And with Hill’s experience, he knows that as well as anyone; however, it’s also a big year for Hill.
Hill is the go-to backup for Derrick Henry once again this year, and after the team let Keaton Mitchell hit free agency and eventually depart, a lot of judgmental eyes will be on Hill. Training camp is a time to iron out the kinks, but Hill can’t afford those moments come time for the regular season.
Stock up: Jovaughn Gwyn
The circumstances are really tough here. Baltimore lost Danny Pinter to a torn patellar tendon on Wednesday, creating a wider opening in the center competition. As a result, Jovaughn Gwyn saw more first-team reps and didn’t disappoint.
The highlight of Gwyn’s joint practice showing was undoubtedly when he paved the way for a huge gain by Derrick Henry on the ground. He displayed the nastiness that every coach wants in his offensive linemen, and that’ll likely make him a bigger factor in starting conversations over the coming weeks.
This also comes following a dominant 2026 preseason debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he posted a 90.8 grade, per Pro Football Focus. Safe to say, Gwyn’s arrow is pointing straight up.
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