The Baltimore Ravens are taking drastic measures to try to turn their disappointing 1-5 season around. Head coach John Harbaugh, his staff, and veteran players have reportedly removed ping pong tables, basketball hoops, and other recreational activities from the players’ locker room — a move intended to eliminate distractions and reignite focus. But the decision has reportedly left some players frustrated, especially as the results haven’t improved.
Ravens’ John Harbaugh Removes Locker Room Games Amid Losing Streak
Once viewed as a fun and competitive locker room, the Ravens’ Owings Mills facility has undergone a noticeable transformation. According to The Baltimore Sun, after the Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Harbaugh ordered the removal of the ping pong tables, cornhole boards, basketball hoop, and gaming consoles that once served as stress relievers during long days at the facility.
The idea, per the report, was to get the team’s mindset back on football after dropping four straight games. Harbaugh has reportedly used this tactic before when his teams have struggled, but this time the change hasn’t sparked the desired turnaround — the Ravens went on to lose to both the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams afterward.
“It’s about focus,” one insider told the outlet. “The staff wanted to remind everyone what’s at stake.”
However, some players are said to be upset with the change, arguing that the games helped maintain a positive team atmosphere during stressful stretches. Without them, the locker room reportedly feels tense and disconnected — not exactly the spark Harbaugh may have hoped for.
Lamar Jackson’s Return Brings Hope to Baltimore Ravens
The one bright spot for Baltimore heading into Week 8 is the return of star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson, who has been sidelined since Week 4 with a hamstring injury suffered against the Chiefs, returned to practice this week as a limited participant.
“Lamar – he’s our quarterback; he’s a great guy,” Harbaugh told reporters earlier in the week. “The energy level changes when he’s out there.”
Jackson is expected to suit up Sunday against the Chicago Bears, giving the Ravens a much-needed boost. The team hasn’t scored more than 17 points in any of its past three games without him, and the offense has struggled to find rhythm behind backup quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley.
Such is the urgency of the moment that Jackson will be expected to perform immediately. At 1-5, the Ravens’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread — and another loss would likely end them. Only four teams since the AFL-NFL merger have started 1-5 and gone on to make the postseason.
“Is that putting too much on Jackson’s plate after being out for three weeks? Possibly,” one NFL analyst said. “But that’s the reality. The Ravens need him to be Lamar again — right now.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Harbaugh insists he still believes in the locker room and the organization’s ability to turn things around.
“If I didn’t think we had the talent, the ability, the work ethic or the care factor from everybody in the building, then I wouldn’t be as optimistic as I am,” Harbaugh said last week. “I’m not trying to stand up here and feed anybody any baloney or talk out of both sides of my mouth. I’m trying to be as honest and straightforward as I can about where we’re at and what we need to do.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Baltimore Ravens Remove Locker Room Distractions After Disastrous Start: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.