Oof. Mansolino had said on Thursday that Mountcastle would be out “a while” and now we find out it’s going to be two or three months. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues without injured reserve spots should probably cut bait as that’s an awfully long time to wait for the production that Mountcastle could provide upon his return.

The comment comes during an NFL Insider’s spot in which Rapoport broke down the Ravens’ need to extend and restructure Lamar Jackson’s current deal. One week ago, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he wants to see Likely “be an All-Pro” this season, helpfully providing the 25-year-old tight end with positive commentary for the negotiating table. Likely has proven himself as an above-average receiver at the position but has been limited by his sidekick role behind Mark Andrews. Hopefully, all this talk about lofty expectations and a big payday signals a breakout campaign for Likely. He is scheduled to hit free agency at the end of the season, and if Harbaugh plans to feature him in the passing attack, it would make sense for the team to get a deal done beforehand.

Rapoport suggests that extending Jackson well before his contract’s scheduled end following the 2027 season was all part of the plan. The Ravens inserted “really high” salary cap numbers partway through the deal, in order to facilitate Jackson’s $72.8 million prorated signing bonus. Indeed, his hefty $43.5 million salary cap number in 2025 looks small compared to the consecutive $74.5 million salary cap hits scheduled in each of the next two seasons. Signing Jackson to an extension would help free up salary cap space and allow the Ravens to “potentially do” some other deals, including an extension for TE Isaiah Likely.

Per Popper, “Johnston has been working consistently with the first-team offense” while rookie WRs Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith work through their “acclimation plan,” following time spent on the pre-draft “banquet circuit.” Mike Williams is also expected to "[push] Johnston for playing time on the outside.” We can’t put too much stock in Lal’s “starter” comments for Johnston, as he is effectively competing against himself at this point, but it appears as though he is at least in the No. 2 wide receiver role, rather than being immediately supplanted by Williams, who returned to the team back in March. Johnston could still have mild fantasy relevance if he can secure one of the Nos. 2 or 3 wide receiver roles.

The 23-year-old superstar shortstop will get a rare night off with opposing left-hander JP Sears on the mound for the Athletics. Jorge Mateo will start in his place and will bat ninth for the O’s on Friday evening at Sutter Health Park.

While he came away from the session feeling well, the real test will be to see how the 42-year-old right-hander is feeling on Saturday. It sounds like Verlander may not require a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the Giants’ rotation, so as long as he’s feeling alright they could choose to insert him back in there at any time.