Despite missing the entire practice week with a lingering knee injury, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was activated for Thursday night’s game at Tampa Bay.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection was deemed good to go after an on-field workout, but it remained to be seen how effective Andrews would be against the Buccaneers after he was held without a catch for the first time since his 2018 rookie season in last Sunday’s win over Cleveland. Leading the team in receptions (39), targets (59), receiving yards (455), and touchdown receptions (five) this season, Andrews has practiced just once over the last two weeks, speaking to how problematic his knee has been for someone who rarely sits out team workouts.
#Ravens TE Mark Andrew’s testing his knee. All expectations have been he’d be a go tonight against the #Buccaneers and the workout has looked fine so far. pic.twitter.com/G9sxqUqr2i— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 27, 2022
As expected, wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) and running back Gus Edwards (knee) were activated after being officially listed as questionable, but starting inside linebacker Josh Bynes (quadriceps) was scratched after logging only a single limited practice on the short week. Bynes, 33, was banged up at a couple points against the Browns, so the trio of Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch, and A.J. Klein will need to pick up the slack next to starter Patrick Queen.
On Wednesday, Baltimore ruled out six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell with an undisclosed illness that kept him out of practices all week.
Defensive tackle Isaiah Mack and outside linebacker Devon Kennard were elevated from the practice squad to play against Tampa Bay. The Ravens once again signed veteran cornerback Daryl Worley from the practice squad to the 53-man roster with rookie corner Jalyn Armour-Davis being a healthy scratch for a fifth straight game.
Baltimore did not activate outside linebackers Tyus Bowser (Achilles tendon) and David Ojabo (Achilles tendon), wide receiver DeSean Jackson, or tight end Charlie Kolar (sports hernia surgery) for Thursday’s game. The 21-day practice window for Bowser and Ojabo expires next week, meaning the Ravens will need to move them to the 53-man roster by that point at the very least.
Having already ruled out six players — five of them staters — on Wednesday, Tampa Bay downgraded defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (foot) from questionable to out on Thursday afternoon. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles had described Hicks — who only returned to practice this week after being sidelined since Week 2 — as “probably doubtful” before the final injury report was released Wednesday.
In better news for Tampa Bay, seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones (knee) was active for just the third time this season after being listed as questionable on the injury report.
Below were the Week 8 inactives:
BALTIMORE
ILB Josh Bynes
DE Calais Campbell
WR Tylan Wallace
CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
RB Mike Davis
G Ben Cleveland
TAMPA BAY
TE Cameron Brate
CB Carlton Davis
WR Russell Gage
G Luke Goedeke
DT Akiem Hicks
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
S Antoine Winfield