It will be interesting to see how much Johnson’s playing time gets squeezed since Likely is the top receiving tight end, and Ricard and
Manhertz have defined roles as blockers. Johnson is the most well-rounded tight end on the roster, but his maddening drops have continued in camp. Johnson should see plenty of snaps alongside Likely in two-tight end sets, but he needs to be more consistent.
Patricia Traina·
Apart from his size, Ricard has been one of the most efficient blockers at his position, meaning he could be just the right piece to help pave the way for wider rushing lanes for his teammates to earn their keep on the ground. That could mean a heavy dose of rushing formations, with Ricard playing a larger role than he has in Baltimore. Since the 2019 season, Ricard has been present for at least 31% of his team’s offensive snaps, including his peak of 64% during the 2022 season, when the Ravens owned the NFL’s second-highest rushing yards and third-best average yards per attempt. Last fall, the veteran fullback topped off at 41% of Baltimore’s offensive snaps, and the influx of power between him and Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry was on full display, as the Ravens finished the year with another top 3 season in all four major rushing categories. Seeing that level of success when Ricard is on the field and the concerning state of the receiver room and how quickly they might gel with Dart in 2026, expect that snap number to take another jump as Harbaugh falls back on his secret weapon to open the gaps for the rushing game.
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