The Ravens returned to the practice field Wednesday with a new quarterback, a new offensive lineman and, by the end of the day, a new kicker.
Baltimore got an early jump on preparation for Monday night's home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, using the extra time created by last week's Thursday night game to install new pieces after its self-scout. The biggest of those pieces is quarterback Jacoby Brissett. But the most immediate questions on Wednesday centered on the offensive line, where deadline acquisition Ryan Neuzil took the field for the first time, and on special teams, where the Ravens held kicker tryouts and signed Riley Patterson after Jake Moody left for the Falcons.
Here is what head coach Jesse Minter, center Cam Jurgens, Neuzil and others had to say.
Minter: Cam Jurgens Is 'the Future of Our Offensive Line'
When Baltimore acquired Neuzil from Atlanta at Tuesday's deadline, one obvious question followed: would the Ravens move Jurgens to guard and put Neuzil, a full-time center with the Falcons, in the middle?
Minter shut that down quickly.
"I don't anticipate anything changing with Cam [Jurgens] and what position he plays, and we think he's the future of our offensive line," Minter said. "I think it's just a piece that adds depth, and I do think he'll have some position flexibility as he gets here and as he gets going. Wherever that leads, I think we'll see as we go."
That is a strong endorsement for a player the Ravens paid a 2028 second-round pick to acquire from Philadelphia in October. Jurgens, a two-time Pro Bowler, has started the past two games at center and said he believes the unit is beginning to jell.
"It's definitely getting better, but there's so many areas we can still improve on," Jurgens said. "I thought we did a much better job passing games off and hitting combo blocks together as a group."
Asked directly whether he expected to stay at center or move to guard, Jurgens kept it simple: "I'm going to do whatever they ask me to do." Asked whether Monday could bring a new starting line, he was even shorter: "I don't set lineups."
He also welcomed the newcomer rather than viewing him as a threat. "I think it's never a bad thing to have more guys that can snap, right?" Jurgens said. "Ryan [Neuzil]'s a guy that's played a lot of football, and I'm excited to have him in the room. He's been with 'Led' [offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford] and he's going to be a great addition."
Jurgens Targets Snap Exchange Problems
Jurgens was candid about one issue that hurt the Ravens in their 33-10 loss to Jacksonville: ball security at the line of scrimmage.
"I feel like this last game we had too many balls on the ground [between the] QB-center exchange [and] tight end exchange," Jurgens said. "We just need to get more reps in that in practice, especially if it's a rain game. There's things that we can do. [We can] pour water on the ball and try to simulate that a little bit."
With Brissett becoming the fourth quarterback to take snaps for Baltimore this season, Jurgens said he plans to put in extra work with him before and after practice. He also pointed to Brissett's experience as a stabilizer during all the change up front.
"Communication is always key when you're going through a lot of change," Jurgens said. "There's been a lot of different centers. There's been different quarterbacks, and so it's nice to have him in here and be a good steady voice for us."
Ryan Neuzil: 'Just Wherever They Need Me'
Neuzil's first 24 hours as a Raven were a blur. The Falcons were coming off an international game in Spain, and the trade came together with no warning.
"[There] wasn't really any talks or anything," Neuzil said. "[There] was pretty much just a phone call at the end of the deadline and [they] just told me I'm coming here."
He arrived late Tuesday night and spent Wednesday morning working through physicals and introductions, leaving no time yet for a conversation about his role. "I'm not sure really the plan right now," he said. "I'm just here to get better and fill in wherever they need me to."
That includes guard. Neuzil has played exclusively at center in recent seasons, but he said he spent time at guard early in his Atlanta career before moving inside. "I played a little bit of guard my first year, and then transitioned to center, but just wherever they need me," he said.
What makes Neuzil's transition easier than most is his offensive line coach. Ledford, now Baltimore's run game coordinator and offensive line coach, coached Neuzil throughout his time with the Falcons after recruiting him to Appalachian State.
"It definitely helps a lot," Neuzil said. "I was with [Ledford] for five years in Atlanta, so [I] understand what he wants and what he sees in offensive linemen, so it's definitely a plus."
Ravens Sign Riley Patterson; Minter Says Moody 'Had a Choice'
Baltimore filled its hole at kicker Wednesday, signing veteran Riley Patterson after he worked out for the team alongside several other free agents, NFL Network first reported. Patterson, 27, is expected to kick Monday against the Chargers, making him the Ravens' third starting kicker in as many games. Full story on the Patterson signing here.
Patterson has connected on 86.6% of his career field-goal tries across five-plus seasons, though long attempts have been a weak spot. He opened this season with Miami, making 7 of 9 field goals and 5 of 6 extra points before the Dolphins let him go on Oct. 20.
Earlier Wednesday, Minter made it clear the Ravens didn't simply lose Moody without a fight.
"We'll have some guys in, and we'll figure out the best situation for us," Minter said. "Obviously, we feel great about our personnel department and us having a really good kicker available on Monday. [Jake] Moody had a chance to be here. He had a choice to make and went somewhere else, [and I'll] leave it at that."
The rules explain why it came down to Moody's choice. Moody kicked in the loss to Jacksonville as a one-game practice squad elevation, then automatically reverted to the practice squad without ever signing a 53-man roster contract. That left him free to sign with any team willing to put him on its active roster. His practice squad deal with Baltimore was terminated Tuesday, and he signed with Atlanta on Wednesday, taking over for the released Nick Folk. Moody, who overlapped with Minter at Michigan in 2022, chose a starting job with the Falcons.
Brissett Already Commanding the Huddle
Brissett has been in the building only a few days, but Minter said the 11-year veteran has already made an impression.
"Even just like in our walk-through today, this is a guy that has a commanding presence, commands the huddle, commands the whole operation even with it being new and [Jacoby Brissett] puts in all this extra time," Minter said.
Minter expects that leadership to be especially valuable for Baltimore's younger receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen. "[He's] not afraid to speak up and say, 'Hey, I like this, I like that. Hey, you need to do this [to] make sure we're on the same page here,'" he said.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins, a former teammate of Brissett's in New England, gave the move his own endorsement. "That's my boy. That's a good move," Hawkins said. "[He's] talented, [has a] good arm [and] he's a leader."
Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said the addition has lifted the locker room. "The guys in the locker room are excited with Jacoby [Brissett] coming in, and it brings a lot of excitement," he said.
Minter Praises Declan Doyle's Poise
Minter credited offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for keeping the offense functional through a run of quarterback injuries that forced Baltimore to its third-string quarterback early in the Buffalo game.
"[Doyle has] a very, very even-keeled, smart, problem-solving type of identity," Minter said. "It's never, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe this happened. Woe is me.' It's always like, 'How do we adjust? How do we solve the problem?'"
Minter noted that Brissett's background should make this transition easier than the last one. Quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork coached Brissett in Arizona, and Minter said there is "a lot of carryover" between Baltimore's system and the one Brissett came from.
Jaylinn Hawkins Returns to Practice
Hawkins was back on the field Wednesday, and Minter said the next couple of days will determine whether the starting safety can play Monday.
"It's good to get him back out there," Minter said. "[We'll] see how it does today, see how it responds, see where it's at to see if he may have a chance to go on Monday."
Hawkins said watching the defense struggle from the sideline was difficult, but he believes a turnaround is possible. "Things have not been going the way we want them to be going, but we know what we're capable of," he said.
Madubuike on Lamar Jackson
Madubuike said he has reached out to Lamar Jackson since the quarterback's thumb injury and that Jackson is "in a good space." He has seen the reports that Jackson hopes to return later this season but said he hasn't heard that from Jackson directly.
"With injuries, it's kind of tough. Just like mine last year, people were talking about this and that," said Madubuike, whose 2025 season ended with a neck injury. "You just hear things, and you always want to be optimistic and hope for the best for everybody."
Minter on Facing Harbaugh and Herbert
Monday night will be Minter's first game against the Chargers since leaving his job as their defensive coordinator for Baltimore. He spent two seasons there under Jim Harbaugh after working with him at Michigan.
"It feels like you're going against somebody you care a lot about, which sometimes makes it even more competitive," Minter said. "I know how Jim feels about it, I'm sure."
He also defended Justin Herbert, whose struggles this season have become a national talking point, pointing to the quarterback's fifth or sixth offensive coordinator since entering the league. "I see extreme arm talent and I see extreme athleticism, which I've seen a bunch in the practice field the last couple years," Minter said.
Kickoff Information
Matchup: Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
When: Monday, Nov. 16, 8:15 p.m. ET
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV: ESPN