Commanders Battle Ravens Before, During, and After the Whistle on Day 1 of Joint Practices

Joint practices bring an expectation of good work for both teams and even some tension. The Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens got both on Tuesday.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Washington Commanders started the first day of joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens motivated. 

The Commanders finished it pleased, but a little on edge after fights broke out on both practice fields with the biggest coming after Ravens tight end delivered a late 'hit' on cornerback Danny Johnson.

That story leads off our training camp notebook for Day 16.

SCRAPPY PRACTICE

It's a tradition as old as the game-opening coin flip and as joint practices grow closer the anticipation of fighting grows with it.

It didn't take long for the tempers to rise as Washington's first-team offense and Baltimore's defense started shoving almost as soon as they stepped on the field.

The second team's offensive line and defensive lines started shoving before the first snap - getting into each other's faces briefly as they simply walked onto the field for the first time.

Of course, it all came to a head on the field the Commanders' defense was practicing, and the news cameras were there to catch it all.

Punches were thrown at Commanders and Ravens joint practice @wusa9 #RavensFlock #HTTC pic.twitter.com/X5rXCO9clG

— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) August 15, 2023

HOWELL WATCH

Washington quarterback Sam Howell went six for nine in 11-on-11 team drills on Tuesday with his best set coming on the second session where he went four-for-five and delivered a beautiful pass to receiver Jahan Dotson just out of reach of Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton.

It wasn't a perfect outing, but it was by far better than the day prior when he and the offense struggled to get on the same page for their entire practice.

RESILIENT OFFENSE

After a poor showing on Day 15, the offense came back stronger on Day 16. 

Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh will come away happy with his performance after getting to Howell twice in 11s, but outside of that the offensive operation looked mostly smooth for the Commanders. 

In lineman one-on-one drills Washington's starters went 5-4 against the Ravens' starting defensive line with the biggest win coming from left guard Saahdiq Charles who won early and left Baltimore defensive tackle Broderick Washington laying on the practice field.

Day 1 of joint practices was a success and Day 2 promises to bring more good work for the Commanders and is likely to produce a few more tense moments between the two geographic neighbors.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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