The Baltimore Ravens held a hot practice on Thursday, in every sense of the word.

Wednesday’s showers dialed up the humidity at The Castle, and the team’s third padded practice in four days dialed up the intensity. Motors were running hot, as were several players’ tempers. Tight end Mark Andrews and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson butted heads after one physical blocking encounter, and center Ethan Pocic and linebacker Reid Williford jawed at each other in an unexpected veteran/rookie encounter. Quarterback Lamar Jackson spiked his helmet in frustration after one rough sequence for the offense. And most notably, edge rusher Tavius Robinson and offensive linemen Carson Vinson and John Simpson got in a post-play scrap that was quickly snuffed out by the rest of the team.

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Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said on Tuesday that he does not like to see fights at practice. None of today’s scuffles rose to that level, due in part to Minter’s careful management of his players. He brought the team in for an extended huddle after the Robinson-Vinson-Simpson fracas to ensure the tension did not persist.

But after practice, Minter said that he loved the competitive spirit and physicality of the period. In fact, it seemed to be by design.

“We wanted it to be a really physical day,” Minter explained. “We wanted it to be a long practice. We wanted them to kind of fight through some things — long drive drills, where it is intentionally an eight- or nine-play drive, regardless of the down and distance. You want to be able to do all that with a high, high level of physicality and also keep your wits about you.”

Indeed, Thursday was the Ravens’ longest practice of training camp, extending past the two-hour mark for the first time this summer. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive tackle C.J. Okoye both left the field early – no major concern for players that tip the scales at well over 300 pounds, but still a reflection of the day’s intensity. Minter even allowed live tackling to end practice with rookie running back Adam Randall getting all three of the offense’s touches in that period. The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder was brought down twice – once by a physical tackle from cornerback Marquise Robinson – and closed it out with a touchdown catch from Skyler Thompson.

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Even the coaching staff got in on the action. The Ravens’ defensive backs took turns tackling various assistant coaches, who will probably be feeling it tomorrow morning despite multiple layers of protection.