Head coach Jesse Minter recently challenged his players to make the upcoming roster cuts difficult for the coaching staff, and several athletes took that mission to heart during Friday night’s dominant 41-3 victory over the Washington Commanders. From start to finish, the Ravens maintained complete control of the game, allowing bubble players on both sides of the ball to showcase their skills. While some established themselves as locks for the final 53-man squad, others provided mixed results as they fight for their professional lives in Baltimore.
On the offensive side, undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano continued his impressive preseason trajectory. Looking poised in the pocket and decisive with his reads, Fagnano went 19-of-27 for 162 yards and a touchdown without turning the ball over. He found a favorite target in LaJohntay Wester, who capped off a highlight reel sequence with a one-handed touchdown grab and a celebratory dance known as The Wester Bop. Running back Adam Randall also made waves by mirroring Derrick Henry’s physical style, utilizing a vicious stiff arm on a 24 yard run to lead the team with 70 total yards from scrimmage.
The defense was equally suffocating, led by high energy plays from those fighting for depth chart spots. Outside linebacker Ethan Burke set the tone on the very first play from scrimmage by forcing a fumble that was quickly recovered by defensive lineman C.J. Okoye. This play proved pivotal in setting up an early score and highlighted Okoye’s value in what Minter described as the most competitive position group on the team. Further pressure came from OLB Kaimon Rucker, who tallied four tackles and two sacks, while Adisa Isaac added another sack on fourth down to seal the rout.
Not every performance was flawless as some players faced uphill battles toward the end of camp. Second year kicker Tyler Loop experienced an inconsistent evening, splitting his field goal attempts five for eight and struggling specifically with distance beyond fifty yards. Meanwhile, center Ethan Pocic saw significant playing time but suffered a costly holding penalty that wiped away a twenty yard gain. Despite these hiccups, the sheer dominance displayed across the board suggests that many of these young players have successfully put immense pressure on Minter as he prepares to finalize his roster.