Ravens Open Preseason Against Eagles: Young Players Take Center Stage in Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens will finally get their first look at the 2026 roster in game action Saturday night when the Philadelphia Eagles visit M&T Bank Stadium for the preseason opener.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15 in Baltimore. The game will be televised locally on WBAL-TV Channel 11, with Kyle Youmans, Rod Woodson and Evan Washburn on the Ravens broadcast.
Do not expect this to look much like the Ravens team that will take the field when the regular season begins.
Head coach Jesse Minter has already announced that quarterback Lamar Jackson will not play, and Baltimore plans to sit several other established veterans. Jackson has not appeared in a preseason game since 2021. Minter has emphasized that the opener will instead provide extended opportunities for younger players, rookies and those battling for spots on the 53-man roster.
That makes Saturday much less about the final score and much more about finding out how deep Baltimore’s roster really is.
Tyler Huntley Gets His Opportunity
With Jackson sitting and Skylar Thompson recently placed on injured reserve, Tyler Huntley becomes one of Baltimore’s most important players to watch Saturday.
Huntley returned to Baltimore after again proving valuable behind Jackson in 2025. He threw for 426 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions last season and enters 2026 as the experienced option behind Jackson.
Huntley made it clear Thursday that he views the preseason as an opportunity to get himself and Baltimore’s younger offensive players ready for meaningful football.
The Ravens also recently signed quarterback Austin Reed, while undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano remains on the roster following Thompson’s move to injured reserve. That should leave Baltimore with plenty of quarterback snaps to distribute after Huntley gets his work.
For Huntley, the goal should be simple: run the offense efficiently, protect the football and give Baltimore’s young receivers opportunities to make plays.
Ja’Kobi Lane Has Been One of the Stars of Camp
Perhaps no young Raven enters Saturday with more attention than rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.
Baltimore selected Lane in the third round with the No. 80 overall pick in April, and the 6-foot-4 receiver has quickly become one of the biggest stories of training camp. Lane has consistently produced highlight-reel catches and has impressed teammates, coaches and observers with his catch radius and ability to win contested passes.
Baltimore drafted Lane specifically to bring more size to the receiving corps. He ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and has the combination of length, vertical ability and speed to become a legitimate downfield target.
Practice highlights are one thing.
Saturday provides Baltimore its first opportunity to see if Lane’s outstanding summer translates when defensive backs are allowed to finish tackles.
Lane may be the No. 1 Raven to watch against Philadelphia.
Elijah Sarratt Gets His First NFL Test
Lane is not Baltimore’s only rookie receiver with a chance to earn meaningful snaps.
Fourth-round pick Elijah Sarratt has also made an impression since arriving from Indiana. Sarratt produced one of the best catches of Baltimore’s minicamp with an over-the-shoulder sideline reception in tight coverage and could eventually give Jackson a larger receiving option from the slot.
Minter said during minicamp that Lane and Sarratt could have larger opportunities than most rookie receivers normally receive.
With Zay Flowers and Baltimore’s established veterans unlikely to need extensive preseason action, both rookies should receive plenty of targets Saturday.
Rookie Tight Ends Could Be a Major Story
Baltimore doubled down at tight end during the draft by selecting Matt Hibner and Josh Cuevas, and both have given the Ravens reasons to be excited.
Hibner has been steady throughout camp, particularly as a short-area receiver, and has also shown potential as a special teams contributor.
Cuevas has been one of Baltimore’s most productive red-zone players in practice. At one point, Cuevas caught five touchdown passes over a two-day stretch of training camp.
With Mark Andrews firmly established atop the position, preseason games could determine how quickly Hibner and Cuevas earn regular-season roles.
Cuevas’ versatility may be particularly valuable. Baltimore believes his blocking ability could allow him to handle some H-back responsibilities after Patrick Ricard’s offseason departure.
Do not be surprised if Huntley looks toward both rookie tight ends Saturday, particularly near the goal line.
Vega Ioane Begins His First-Round Journey
Another Raven who deserves significant attention is first-round guard Vega Ioane.
Baltimore selected Ioane No. 14 overall out of Penn State, making him the centerpiece of an 11-player draft class. The Ravens have been evaluating several combinations along the offensive line throughout camp, and Saturday provides Ioane his first NFL game experience.
The interior offensive line is especially important because Baltimore continues evaluating its starting and backup combinations.
Second-year lineman Emery Jones Jr. should also receive substantial playing time. Minter said Thursday that Jones has had a strong offseason and camp and that the Ravens want to evaluate his positional versatility.
For a Baltimore offense built around Jackson and its running game, identifying dependable offensive line depth is one of the biggest jobs of August.
Zion Young Headlines the Young Pass Rushers
Defensively, keep an eye on second-round outside linebacker Zion Young.
Baltimore selected Young No. 45 overall out of Missouri after making improving the pass rush one of its offseason priorities. The Ravens recorded only 30 sacks last season, among the lowest totals in the league.
Young joins a crowded outside linebacker group that includes Trey Hendrickson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac, Tavius Robinson, Kaimon Rucker and others.
Preseason production will matter in determining how snaps are divided behind the established veterans.
Young’s explosiveness against Philadelphia’s reserve offensive tackles will be one of the more interesting individual matchups Saturday.
Baltimore’s Cornerback Depth Will Be Tested
The Ravens may also get an important look at their secondary depth.
Nate Wiggins recently suffered a left leg injury during practice, though subsequent testing reportedly revealed no structural damage. Minter indicated that both Wiggins and veteran Marlon Humphrey could return early next week.
That opens opportunities Saturday for Baltimore’s younger cornerbacks.
The Ravens drafted Chandler Rivers in the fifth round and also have players such as T.J. Tampa trying to strengthen their standing on the depth chart.
Against an Eagles roster with considerable receiver depth, Baltimore’s reserve secondary should receive a legitimate test.
Eagles Quarterback Situation Worth Watching
Philadelphia has its own quarterback intrigue.
Jalen Hurts remains the unquestioned starter, but the Eagles currently list Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee together behind him, with rookie fifth-round pick Cole Payton also fighting for a role.
The Eagles have not publicly committed to how much their starters will play.
That means Baltimore could see significant snaps from Dalton, McKee and Payton.
Philadelphia specifically views Saturday as an opportunity to evaluate how its quarterbacks operate against Baltimore’s pressure packages.
For the Ravens’ young pass rushers and defensive backs, that should provide valuable work.
Makai Lemon Gives Philadelphia Another Young Weapon
One of Philadelphia’s more interesting young offensive players is wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Lemon is currently listed with the first group on Philadelphia’s depth chart opposite DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, while veterans Elijah Moore, Hollywood Brown and Darius Cooper are also part of a deep receiver competition.
Philadelphia has spent much of camp evaluating that group.
Cooper is particularly worth remembering. He entered the 2025 preseason as an undrafted player and opened that preseason with six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. He eventually earned a place on the Eagles’ 53-man roster.
He represents exactly what preseason football is about: players turning August opportunities into NFL jobs.
Eagles Running Back Competition
Baltimore should also get a strong look at Philadelphia’s running back depth.
Saquon Barkley remains the starter, but the Eagles currently list Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele and Ja’Quinden Jackson behind him.
Bigsby specifically discussed taking advantage of his preseason opportunities this week, and several of those backs could receive significant work against Baltimore.
That should provide a good early test for Baltimore’s reserve defensive line and linebackers.
Eagles Offensive Line Battles
Philadelphia also has considerable competition behind one of the NFL’s most established offensive lines.
The projected starters remain Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen and Lane Johnson.
Behind them, Willie Lampkin has emerged as one of Philadelphia’s more interesting camp stories. The 5-foot-11, 290-pound interior lineman has used his wrestling background and leverage to impress coaches throughout the summer.
Saturday will help Philadelphia decide whether players such as Lampkin, Jake Majors and rookie Micah Morris can become reliable depth pieces.
Players to Watch — Ravens
WR Ja’Kobi Lane — Maybe the most anticipated rookie debut on Baltimore’s roster after a spectacular training camp.
QB Tyler Huntley — Should receive meaningful work with Jackson out and Thompson on injured reserve.
WR Elijah Sarratt — Big-bodied fourth-round pick fighting for offensive snaps.
TE Josh Cuevas — Has been extremely productive in red-zone drills.
TE Matt Hibner — Reliable pass catcher who can contribute on special teams.
G Vega Ioane — Baltimore’s first-round pick gets his first NFL game experience.
OL Emery Jones Jr. — Could play extensively as Baltimore evaluates his versatility.
EDGE Zion Young — Second-round rookie who can begin carving out a role in the pass-rush rotation.
CB Chandler Rivers — Young secondary depth becomes more important with Wiggins and Humphrey dealing with injuries.
Players to Watch — Eagles
QB Tanner McKee — Experienced young quarterback who should get an opportunity to run Philadelphia’s offense.
QB Cole Payton — Fifth-round rookie facing an NFL defense for the first time.
WR Makai Lemon — Young receiver already sitting high on Philadelphia’s initial depth chart.
WR Darius Cooper — Turned a strong 2025 preseason into a roster spot and enters another competitive receiver room.
RB Tank Bigsby — Competing for work behind Barkley.
RB Will Shipley — Another explosive option fighting for position in the running back rotation.
C/G Willie Lampkin — One of Philadelphia’s more intriguing offensive line depth candidates.
S Andrew Mukuba — Listed atop one of Philadelphia’s safety spots and another young defender to follow.
A First Look at the Jesse Minter Era
Saturday also carries significance beyond individual players.
It will be Jesse Minter’s first game as the Ravens’ head coach, and he plans to continue calling Baltimore’s defensive plays while handling his new responsibilities.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will also call plays in a game for the first time for Baltimore.
That makes this preseason opener a dress rehearsal for more than the players.
Baltimore’s entire new operation will be tested: substitutions, communication, game management, challenges, play calling and situational football.
The final score will be secondary.
What matters is whether Baltimore’s young players begin separating themselves.
For Ravens fans, the biggest names may spend Saturday night watching from the sideline. The players fighting to become the next big names, however, will have the field largely to themselves.
And after weeks of training camp practices, Baltimore finally gets a chance to see who can perform when another team is trying to stop them.
Prediction: Ravens 23, Eagles 20
Preseason predictions are always difficult because playing time varies so dramatically, but Baltimore’s young receiving talent and familiarity with Huntley could give the Ravens enough offense to edge Philadelphia at home.
