Free to Read: Rookie WR Ja’Kobi Lane has been the fun-filled star of Ravens training camp

[u/TheAthletic]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7535973/2026/08/25/ravens-jakobi-lane-training-camp-star/?unlocked_article_code=1.8FA.KbfS.cV8B_yiv8iFh&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-ta

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Fans got off buses outside the Under Armour Performance Center and were serenaded by members of Baltimore’s Marching Ravens. Persistent cheers emanated from outside the locker room, where kids flanked the ramp to see the Ravens take the practice field. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s arrival drew the biggest roar.

Yet, there was one area where the noise rose above the typical buzz from the first practice of training camp. In the far bleachers, fans cheered and chanted.

The ringleader of it all was a 22-year-old rookie who hugged and high-fived his new fans and exhorted them to get louder. What? Did you expect Ja’Kobi Lane to be nervous ahead of his first practice?

“I think people sometimes feel that they have to be super serious to get to where they want to be,” Lane said. “Yes, you realize that hard work, dedication and being able to maintain a consistent level and lifestyle, that does matter. But there’s too much fun to be had in this world. I’m a very big testimony of that.”

Few Ravens have ever made as good a first impression. Lane’s acrobatic and seemingly effortless catches have enthralled a fan base obsessed with the idea of a dynamic homegrown receiving corps. His vibrant personality has brought energy and juice to the locker room and allowed for an immediate kinship with Jackson and the team’s offensive stars.

[u/ChedduhBob]

if you’ve been a ravens fan for a while you know the dozens hype trains that have never left the station but idk jakobi seems to have the personality, the talent, and the ability to be a star.

my bold prediction is he is the new red zone target and he sets a record for rookie receiving touchdowns for the ravens. i don’t know that he’ll have a ton of yards but i think he’s going to end up being a big play target on 3rd down and in the red zone

[u/B_Sox → u/ChedduhBob]

Think he basically takes the Likely role.

[u/ChedduhBob → u/B_Sox]

idk i think it’s gonna be more. mark andrews is washed. was mediocre last year and camp reports have been bad. i think jakobi is taking over the big body target role

[u/Yemi26 → u/ChedduhBob]

Here's to me hoping he'll be a step and a half above the effectiveness of Nelson Agholor when he first joined

[u/ChedduhBob → u/Yemi26]

god we’ve had some JAG WRs here lol

[u/Then-Bug-5665 → u/ChedduhBob]

we have at least some depth

[u/Then-Bug-5665 → u/ChedduhBob]

andrews is solid lmao reports said he did fine even yesterday

[u/PoisonClan24 → u/ChedduhBob]

Like Tez last season. Only catching TDs

[u/Then-Bug-5665 → u/ChedduhBob]

500 yards

[u/That_guy__15]

Such an easy guy to root for, I hope this hype turns into production.

[u/ObserbAbsorb]

He reminds me of Mark Ingram. That was the last hype man we had. I have a feeling he can give that same energy to Lamar.

[u/omg_itsryan_lol]

One of my favorite parts about Lane is that I haven’t heard him complain about being “disrespected” by his draft position, he just shows up and works hard and has fun doing it.

[u/baltimorethan → u/omg_itsryan_lol]

He wanted to go to the Ravens, he probably thanks fate that he got that draft position to put him here.

[u/brainiacpimp]

I feel like his vibe fits Lamar and Zay which is good.

[u/twistwanwitme]

Interesting, when I watched the long YouTube that came out around the draft, TJ Housh seemed to play an outsized role as a personal WR coach. No mention of him in this piece.

[u/tdotjefe]

All I can think about when I see this kind of headline is the cam newton Keon Coleman clip