Ravens and Vikings give each other a valuable test on the first day of joint practice

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings each have designs on returning to the playoffs after underperforming in 2025 and making significant changes.

Both teams have big plans for this week involving each other, too.

The joint practices preferred across the NFL for regular-season readiness over putting important players at injury risk in exhibition games could hardly be more ideal for these teams and their particular makeups.

The Ravens under new coach Jesse Minter are focused on reviving a defense that stumbled in predecessor John Harbaugh's 18th year before his firing. The Vikings are breaking in yet another new quarterback in Kyler Murray, who will be their fourth season-opening starter in four years.

The NFL's only two teams with purple as a primary uniform color held their first of two dual sessions on a sunny Wednesday afternoon at Minnesota's spacious practice facility.

“This is a huge part of where our league’s going moving forward to prepare players for the season and we need to be able to use these days and practice the right way,” Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said.

As is often the case with these workouts, the defenses on both sides had the upper hand. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was true to his play-calling reputation by sending a variety of blitzes at the Ravens' offense in full-team drills. Lamar Jackson had little time to throw to intermediate or deep routes with the pressure Flores had his players generating.

“It’s a great test. It’s a unique scheme,” said Minter, who was previously the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. “He does a great job. I have tons of respect for him.”

The Ravens were handed the biggest setback when new center Danny Pinter went down with an injury during a full-team drill. The sixth-year veteran, who signed as a free agent after playing his first five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, slammed his hand down and shouted in frustration as he was carted off the field.

Pinter, who was in line for his first starting role in the NFL in the bid to replace three-time Pro Bowl pick Tyler Linderbaum, left the facility with a large brace on his right leg. If Pinter winds up missing time, two other newcomers will likely be in competition for the spot.

Ethan Pocic, who started 57 games over the last four years for the Cleveland Browns and has entered his 10th season in the league, is still ramping up from a torn left Achilles tendon he suffered last December. Jovaughn Gwyn, who spent the last three years with the Atlanta Falcons, played there for new Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. Gwyn got good reviews from the coaching staff in his preseason debut last week.

“That’s why you sign guys like that — one, to put them in the competition, and two, to make sure you have enough,” Minter said. “I certainly feel good about the way Jo played in the game and then about Ethan and the way that he’s played throughout his whole career.”

Minter and O'Connell warned their players not to engage in or initiate any unsportsmanlike conduct, which typically pops up in at least a couple of joint practices across the league each summer. The Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints had multiple fights break out this week.

“There’s just no place for it,” O'Connell said.

For the most part, the players heeded the message. One-on-one kick coverage drills, mostly comprised of young players trying to impress enough to make the team, were particularly intense. Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin, who also had several pass breakups on defense during those drills, threw a punch at Vikings cornerback Da'Veawn Armstead at the end of their feisty matchup. But after several teammates joined the mild shoving match, order was restored.

“Everybody’s a grown man out here,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “If you feel somebody tried you a certain way and you feel like you need to do something about it, do something about it, but it’s not like that’s the goal.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) practices his receiving during a joint NFL football practice with the Minnesota Vikings, Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Minnesota Star Tribune via AP)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) takes a snap during a joint NFL football practice with the Minnesota Vikings, Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Minnesota Star Tribune via AP)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane, left, makes a contested catch in front of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Charles Demmings (20) during a joint NFL football practice, Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Minnesota Star Tribune via AP)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) makes a contested catch and out runs Baltimore Ravens cornerback Bilhal Kone (31) during a joint NFL football practice, Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Minnesota Star Tribune via AP)

The Israeli military said Wednesday it will conduct criminal investigations into the killings of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl and her family and the separate killings of 15 paramedics, following a review of troop conduct during the war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, France announced it will expel two Iranian diplomats in response to the expulsion of French diplomats from the Islamic Republic this week. And the Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator landed in neighboring Iraq for a three-day visit.

Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Wednesday. Full coverage can be found here.

The Israeli military said it would investigate the killings of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her family members in February 2024, and the killing of 15 Palestinian medics in March 2025. Both drew international attention.

The announcement followed reviews of 150 incidents of troop conduct during the war in Gaza. The military said it would not launch criminal investigations into three other attacks that killed aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders.

Rajab was killed when Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle that also was carrying her aunt, uncle and four cousins as they tried to flee Gaza City amid an Israeli offensive.

The 15 paramedics were killed when Israeli troops opened fire on their vehicles in the southern city of Rafah, then bulldozed over the bodies and buried them in a mass grave. Troops first shot at an ambulance that was driving to retrieve casualties from an Israeli offensive, then fired on several other emergency vehicles that went out to look for the first one, according to phone footage and the sole survivor.

At least 10 people were killed Wednesday in two airstrikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The attacks cast further doubt on whether new U.S. efforts can advance a tenuous ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

Just two days after U.S. negotiators reportedly asked Israel to draw down attacks in Gaza, Israeli troops also crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel at dawn, two witnesses and a Hamas official said. They spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety.

— Samy Magdy and Wafaa Shurafa

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit where he will meet with Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political coalition.

Iran-backed Iraqi militias have launched drone attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic targets both within Iraq and abroad, piling pressure on Baghdad, which for years has delicately tried to maintain strong ties with both Washington and Tehran.

Qalibaf praised the country’s Tehran-backed militias, which he called the “resistance in Iraq," describing them as a “key component of the country’s national power.”

Iraq is asking Iran to grant special status to Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz because the country has been affected greatly by Iran's war with the U.S. and needs to guard its economic interests, according to a statement from Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi.

Iraq relies on oil revenues for roughly 90% of its budget, and most of its oil is exported through the strait. Since the war erupted and Iran asserted control over the strait, halting most shipping traffic, Iraq has turned to alternate routes, including sending oil over land to Syria, which is less efficient and more expensive.

France announced it will expel two staff members of the Iranian Embassy in France, in response to what the French Foreign Ministry described as an assault by Iranian security forces against two French diplomatic staff in the Islamic Republic last month.

Iran accused the French pair of taking part in a secret meeting with “suspects in a major case involving foreign infiltration and interference,” Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. The French diplomats were expelled on Monday.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot slammed the Iranian authorities for not investigating what he called a “premeditated and deliberate attack.” He called the allegations fabricated and said the two Iranians will leave Paris in the coming days.

Associated Press writers Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut, Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf visits the site where Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport, during an official visit to Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

An Iraqi security officer stands guard at the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, during a visit by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi security officers stand guard at the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, during a visit by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf visits the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf addresses attendees at the site near Baghdad International Airport where Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)