Ja'Kobi Lane is making an early impression at Baltimore Ravens training camp.
The third-round pick out of USC has worked his way into the team's receiver depth chart, slotting in as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. That is a meaningful position for a rookie to hold this early in camp, and his play has backed it up.
According to a report by Yahoo Sports, Lane put together back-to-back standout moments in a recent practice. He first drew attention by going up over two defenders to haul in a leaping, 30-yard catch over the middle. Later, in one-on-one drills, he went to work again. As writer Jamison Hensley described it, Lane used "a double move to get behind cornerback T.J. Tampa and catching a long touchdown pass from Jackson."
Tampa is not a soft matchup. The cornerback has been one of the Ravens' more competitive defensive backs in camp, making Lane's ability to beat him with a route concept all the more notable.
Lane played at USC, where he developed a reputation as a difficult cover at every level of the field. His combination of route running and athleticism made him a consistent playmaker for the Trojans, and that skill set appears to be translating early in the NFL.
The Ravens finished last season as one of the better offenses in the league, built largely around Lamar Jackson's dual-threat ability and a strong running game. The receiving corps, however, has not always had a reliable vertical threat on the outside. Flowers is a slot-heavy receiver, and Bateman has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. A wide receiver who can win downfield and stress cornerbacks in one-on-one situations fills a real gap.
Jackson is a two-time MVP, and he has made the most of the weapons he has had available. A receiver who can make contested catches and beat corners off the line gives him a different kind of option. The 30-yard leaping grab Lane made over two defenders is exactly the kind of play that sticks in a quarterback's memory.
Camp is still early, and the depth chart can shift. But Lane has done what young receivers need to do in the first weeks of practice: he has made the plays that get people talking.
