For Ravens running back Derrick Henry, retirement is the last thing on his mind

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry smirked before the reporter was even done asking the question. He’s been asked it before, after all, and this is typically the time of year where it becomes a talking point.

He’s now 32 years old, an age where running backs are typically phased out. He’s logged 2,860 carries and had 202 receptions between the regular season and playoffs, and has been the focal point for most defenses for nearly the entirety of his 10-year career.

So at some point, the thought of retiring has had to cross his mind, right?

Well, no.

“I don’t try to enter another season thinking about retiring and have that on my mind,” Henry said after the Ravens’ training camp practice Thursday. “That’s not even my mindset. My mindset is: How can I get better, be the best I can be so we can be the best team we can be? But no, I haven’t thought about retirement at all.”

The five-time Pro Bowler remains as motivated and as driven as ever. He wants to win that elusive Super Bowl ring — “that’s the No. 1 goal, always” — and seems to relish the challenge of reminding everyone that not all running backs need to be put out to pasture after they turn 30.

In two seasons with the Ravens, who signed him when he was 30, Henry has rushed for 3,516 yards, averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 34 touchdowns. Yet he still talks like a player who believes there’s another level he can and will reach.

“Some days you’re going to feel better than other days, but if that’s what you want to do — if it’s what you’re determined to do and you’re focused and you want to be the best — then you have to overcome it,” Henry said. “This game always comes with adversity and moments that are better than others, but I love the game, and once I feel like that love is gone, then I’ll hang it up. But I’m just focused on getting better.”

Henry doesn’t talk about it much, but he’s acutely aware of where he stands on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. He’ll enter his 11th season, ranked 10th all time with 13,018 rushing yards. With a 1,500-yard season, he’d move past Eric Dickerson (13,259), Jerome Bettis (13,662), LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684) and Curtis Martin (14,101) into sixth place all time.

Still, it will take several more standout seasons to eclipse the all-time mark, established by Emmitt Smith, who rushed for 18,355 yards over 15 seasons.

”The thing that strikes me the most about him is just his intent every day,” Ravens coach Jesse Minter said. “The success that he’s had is a combination of being gifted and having some tools, but one of the craziest work ethics and just work demeanors that I’ve been around (with) how he goes about his business.”

Ja’Kobi Lane has a day

You often hear Lane before you see him. The third-round rookie receiver is a high-energy guy and loves to engage with teammates and fans. In Thursday’s practice, he made his loudest statement yet with his play.

Lane was the offensive standout during a practice where many of the young pass catchers took turns making plays. The former USC Trojan had a solid day overall, but his leaping catch of a Lamar Jackson pass is an early candidate for one of the best plays of training camp. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound rookie went up high over cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Malaki Starks to haul in a big gain and spur some oohs and aahs from the crowd.

A few players later, Jackson again tried to find Lane in the middle of the field, but this time, his throw sailed over the receiver. Safety Kyle Hamilton let Lane hear about it, too.

“Ja’Kobi is a confident player, but confidence has to come day after day, period after period, and then teammates gain confidence in them when they do that,” Minter said. A lot of times, the young guys — they have got a lot of confidence. They have been really good players, but it ultimately comes down to Lamar trusting him and the other offensive players and the defensive players trusting him to be out there and make plays for us.

“That’s the way it has always been. I think those guys will have a ton of opportunities to gain trust of the coaches and the players, and he made a couple of nice plays today.”

Zay Flowers mum on contract

Flowers has been clear that he wants to remain in Baltimore and he’d like to get a contract done. General manager Eric DeCosta has said he very much wants the same for the two-time Pro Bowl receiver.

The two sides have been negotiating amid a soaring wide receiver market but are apparently still working toward an agreement.

“I’m just working right now, trying to get better,” Flowers said, maintaining he leaves the contract talks to his agent, Joel Segal. “Right now, I am trying to learn this offense, get closer to my teammates and my coaches, and just keep getting right for the season.”

Flowers is signed through the 2027 season after Baltimore picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The Ravens, however, would love to finalize a deal before he reaches that fifth year.

Other camp notes

• Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was intercepted on consecutive plays in Thursday’s practice with cornerback Chidobe Awuzie picking him off after Devontez Walker fell down on a route, and then safety Keondre Jackson hauling in his next pass in traffic. Veteran quarterback Skylar Thompson also threw a screen attempt right to defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny, but the ball bounced out of the rookie’s hands and landed in the gut of rookie guard Evan Beerntsen.

• Expected to have a much bigger role this year, Walker had an uneven practice with the highlight being his catch and sprint down the sideline as Humphrey and Starks chased. Walker, however, fell down on Huntley’s first interception, was sent off the field by offensive coordinator Declan Doyle after a false start and was unable to catch a deep ball on cornerback Amani Oruwariye late in practice.

• Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith, who looks noticeably slimmer, acknowledged that he spent the offseason working on his body and trying to prevent some of the soft-tissue injuries that plagued him last season.

“I feel really good,” Smith said. “It will just echo throughout the season because a lot of people can talk, but it is more so about your actions and what you do on the field. I am not in the talking business. I am more so in the results business. It is a lead-up to that, and I am just getting myself there, just like each and every person out here. I am excited for the journey, and the journey is always the best when it is the way it is supposed to be.”

• Second-year outside linebacker Mike Green has been one of the most impactful players throughout the first two days of training camp. Green has given Ravens offensive tackles issues and been a regular visitor in the backfield. Fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is also off to a strong start in camp.

• Minter said defensive linemen Travis Jones (pectoral) and John Jenkins (undisclosed), who are both on the physically unable to perform list, are at least a week away from returning to practice. The Ravens are thin along the defensive front with Calais Campbell also not practicing.

• Minter said the Ravens will likely do some live tackling in training camp practices, but it will only involve a select group of players who could benefit from the exercise. In other words, the Ravens likely won’t be tackling players to the ground with veterans on the field.

• Former Ravens players Pernell McPhee and Haruki Nakamura are with the team this summer as coaching fellows.