Three fail to pass test for fitness

Ravens offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor and Orlando Brown Jr. and outside linebacker Shane Ray did not participate in the first day of training camp Thursday after failing their conditioning tests.

To get back on the field, coach John Harbaugh said they’ll either have to pass the test or the team will have to create a conditioning protocol for them.

“Really we want to make sure that they’re ready to practice the way we want to practice,” Harbaugh said. “And we have a standard for that and we stick to it.”

Brown, who established himself at right tackle during his rookie season in 2018 after veteran James Hurst went out with a back injury, was 6-feet-8 and 345 pounds at earlier offseason workouts.

Brown’s 4.8% allowed-pressure rate on pass-blocking snaps was eighth best among all right tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and he looked like he had a solid handle on the starting spot. Now, Hurst is back at right tackle.

At the end of mandatory minicamp in June, Harbaugh warned Eluemunor he had to work on his conditioning. The third-year lineman had been taking snaps at left guard, but the competition for the starting role was hardly decided.

“I’m going to go back to Texas, work my butt off and come back in the best shape I can,” Eluemunor said before leaving minicamp.

In his absence, rookie Ben Powers was taking first-team reps Thursday.

Ray, who signed with the Ravens in May, has had trouble with a wrist injury and underwent his fourth surgery in 2018. He has a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Ravens.

Harbaugh defends brother

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh’s comments about mental health and NCAA transfer rules were “distorted,” Ravens coach and Jim’s brother John Harbaugh said Thursday after the first day of Ravens training camp.

At Big Ten media days, Jim Harbaugh advocated for a one-time transfer for all undergraduate Division I football players. Under NCAA rules, athletes must sit out one season after transferring to a new school. But in 2018, the NCAAstarted allowing immediate eligibility to be granted on a case-by-case basis.

In an appearance on ESPNU Big Ten Radio, Jim Harbaugh mentioned how mental health has been used as a way for athletes to transfer without having to sit out a season.

“The youngster that says, ‘This is a mental health issue. I’m suffering from depression.’ Or that’s a reason to get eligible,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Once that’s known that ‘hey, say this, or say that’ to get eligible, the problem I see in that is you’re going to have guys that are ‘OK, yeah, I’m depressed,’ … Say what they’ve got to say. But down the road, I don’t see that helping them down the road if it’s not a legitimate thing.”

John Harbaugh said his brother was talking about transferring, not stating an opinion on mental health, but it wasn’t perceived that way online. The Michigan coach’s comments were widely criticized on social media, and some connected his comments to former Michigan offensive lineman James Hudson, who cited mental health concerns as a reason for transferring. Hudson was denied immediate eligibility at Cincinnati.

But Jim Harbaugh’s main point, John Harbaugh said, was that the NCAAhas “ridiculously stupid rules” about transferring and athletes are being forced to use mental health as a way to transfer.

“That’s the loophole that lawyers have been forced to use to put young people in position — it’s not even a mental health conversation,” John Harbaugh said. “It’s being in a position to use that to get a transfer, to be eligible to transfer without having to sit out for a year.

“That’s the NCAA. That’s the powers that be, putting young people in that kind of position.”

Jim Harbaugh clarified his comments with a follow-up tweet Saturday.

“I am clearly advocating for rights that college football players have not had,” Jim Harbaugh wrote. “This would put the decision totally in the hands of the student-athlete and family and would protect all from disclosing information rights afforded under HIPAA and FERPA.”

Jones returns after health issue

After missing organized team activities and mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed health issue, cornerback Cyrus Jones participated in the first day of training camp.

Jones said he did not want to talk about the health issue because “it’s past me,” but he said he feels 100% healthy.

Jones said he just needed some “time off” to get through what he was dealing with, but he never had the thought that he wouldn’t return.

He said he’s just excited to be back where he’s supposed to be and to be able to compete for the punt returning job again. Jones said he’s also looking forward to being a part of the defense again.

Six players not suited for practice

Six players did not participate in the first day of training camp: Offensive linemen Alex Lewis, Brown Jr. and Eluemunor, wide receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Quincy Adeboyejo and Ray.

Lewis was limited by a shoulder injury at the end of the 2018 season and Harbaugh said at mandatory minicamp that Lewis had been in charge of overseeing his own rehab. Lewis is on the physically unable to perform list.

Brown, who had Lisfranc (foot) surgery, passed his conditioning test but still needs to pass his physical before he can practice with the team. He was on the sideline working Thursday. Brown is on the nonfootball injury list, but Harbaugh said he expects him back soon.

No reason was given for Adeboyejo’s absence. He was later waived with a non-football-injury designation. The Ole Miss product missed all of last season with a lingering leg injury.