OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Ryan Jensen has been described as a brawler. He's been referred to as a brutal competitor.

Some of his Baltimore Ravens' teammates even called him another b-word. Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley, who's known Jensen for four years, said one of the NFL's top rising centers can be a "butthole."

"I take that as a compliment," Jensen said with a laugh.

Jensen offers no apologies for his nasty streak, which has become as synonymous with him as the long red hair flowing out of the back of his helmet. A beast of a blocker, he will push defenders to the whistle (or perhaps a second afterward). A self-proclaimed agitator, he will also push every button to draw the ire of his opponent.

In Sunday's game in Oakland, Jensen knocked Marquel Lee to the ground and then drove his right shoulder into the gut of the Raiders linebacker. If that final blow was enough, Jensen stood over Lee, which instigated Lee to shove Jensen.

"Jensen is Jensen," wide receiver Mike Wallace said after the 30-17 win. "He almost had like four fights, so you know, good day."

Jensen's demeanor is a welcomed addition to a Baltimore offense that lost some edge with the retirement of wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and toughness with the season-ending injury to guard Marshal Yanda. His style of play also serves as entertainment. After wins, the team will rewind the film and look at Jensen either flattening someone or rubbing a defender the wrong way.

"You need that kind of player," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "You love to have those guys on your side."

While everyone on the Ravens knew Jensen wouldn't back down to anyone, one of the bigger question marks on offense was how he would hold up at center in replacing three-year starter Jeremy Zuttah. A sixth-round pick in 2013, Jensen had never started there in his five-year career, and he was a healthy inactive for the last nine games of last season.

Baltimore never intended to hand the job to Jensen. The Ravens brought in free agent Nick Mangold for a visit and held a competition between Jensen and John Urschel. Soon, it was Jensen's job by default after Mangold wanted too much money and Urschel retired hours before the first practice of training camp.

Jensen improved throughout the season and is now currently ranked as the No. 3 center by Pro Football Focus. He's only behind Alex Mack and Jason Kelce, and he's two spots ahead of three-time Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick.

"I am not surprised that he is playing well," coach John Harbaugh said. "We expected him to play well. We knew what kind of player we had there, potentially, but he is in the process of making a name for himself."

Jensen finished with the best grade of any center in Week 5. He didn't allow a pressure on 26 pass blocking snaps.

"He is a savage," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "He is definitely an old school, mauler tough guy. He likes to rumble, likes to fight. We have to remind him that we are wearing purple in this damn locker room, because he will take off on one of us."

Jensen can't remember how many fights he's been since he began football at the age of 7.

"I think it is just the red hair in me, it is kind of ornery," Jensen said. "I used to have a really short temper, and now I've kind of controlled it."

Still, if punches are being thrown during Ravens training camp or their regular season, Jensen typically is near.

"In season, it's not bad. In camp, he gets a little feisty; he'll throw a helmet here and there," Mosley said. "He's a great competitor, and you want that kind of play with all your players, especially on the O-line. He's not going to let anyone [bully] him. He's always going to get the better end of it."