Ravens Soar: Baltimore’s Preseason Dominance Reveals Breakout Stars and 2025 NFL Title Hopes

The Baltimore Ravens close out the 2025 NFL preseason on Saturday in the much-anticipated “Battle of the Beltway” against the Washington Commanders, a matchup that has become a late-August staple for football-hungry fans in Maryland and D.C. Preseason Finale Headlines • Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET at FedExField, giving the Ravens a final live audition before the regular-season opener. Washington has already declared 33 players inactive, signaling that Baltimore’s depth pieces will face plenty of second- and third-team competition. • Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that most starters, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, will see limited snaps, while bubble players fight for the last 10–12 roster spots. Lamar Jackson Injury Update Charm City collectively exhaled earlier this week when Harbaugh revealed Jackson’s foot injury was merely a scare and wouldn’t affect his Week 1 status. Expect the former MVP to engineer one or two series before yielding to backups Josh Johnson and rookie Devin Leary. Five Roster Battles to Watch 1. Kicker: Rookie Tyler Loop has pushed veteran Justin Tucker all camp; a flawless afternoon could earn Loop the kickoff specialist role. 2. Wide Receiver 6: Undrafted speedster Reuben Lowery needs another splash play to edge out Tylan Wallace. 3. Cornerback Depth: Fourth-round pick Keyon Martin vs. incumbent Kevon Seymour for the final outside-corner slot. 4. Inside Linebacker: Third-rounder Jay Higgins tries to unseat Malik Harrison as the top backup behind Roquan Smith. 5. Return Specialist: Running back Rasheen Ali can lock up the primary kick return duties with one more big runback. What to Watch: Offensive Tweaks New coordinator Todd Monken has quietly installed more pre-snap motion and RPO looks designed to get rookie slot receiver Tez Walker isolated in space. While Baltimore won’t unveil its full playbook, expect a glimpse of faster tempo and split-back formations featuring Justice Hill and Gus Edwards. How to Stream and Listen • TV: NFL Network (national) and WBAL (locally) • Live stream: NFL+ and Ravens Mobile App (in-market) • Radio: 98 Rock (WBAL-FM) and 1090 AM SEO Quick Hits & FAQs – When is the Ravens vs. Commanders preseason game? Saturday, Aug 23 @ 12 p.m. ET. – Is Lamar Jackson playing? Yes, in a limited capacity after clearing an injury precaution. – Which rookies should fans watch? Tyler Loop, Jay Higgins, Rasheen Ali, and WR Tez Walker headline the rookie class. – Where can I watch the Ravens game today? NFL Network nationwide or streaming on NFL+ with a subscription. Outlook for Week 1 Baltimore opens the regular season at M&T Bank Stadium against the Cleveland Browns on Sept 7. A clean, injury-free outing this weekend would send the Ravens into divisional play with momentum and clarity on their final 53-man roster. Bottom Line Search volume for “Ravens preseason,” “Lamar Jackson update,” and “Ravens vs Commanders” has spiked this week, underscoring national interest in Baltimore’s depth chart decisions and Jackson’s health. Saturday’s showcase offers the last real-time data point before roster cuts and should answer lingering questions about special teams, secondary depth, and the evolution of Monken’s offense.