OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens are still feeling the effects of a physical battle with Pittsburgh as nine players sat out Wednesday’s practice with preparations ramping up for the Week 6 meeting with Cincinnati.
Baltimore lost starting safety Tony Jefferson to a season-ending knee injury in the fourth quarter against the Steelers, but four others playing key roles in the 26-23 overtime win are dealing with ailments and a season-high four players received veteran days off Wednesday. The list of injured players was headlined by rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown and second-year tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens’ two leading receivers
Brown left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with a right ankle injury and didn’t return until early in the fourth quarter. However, he appeared limited while catching just one pass for three yards in his return to action. It’s the opposite foot from the Lisfranc injury he sustained last season at Oklahoma.
“He should be [fine], yes,” head coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “He should be. Nothing serious.”
Andrews left Sunday’s game with a shoulder issue midway through the fourth quarter, but he was able to return on the next offensive series. Harbaugh didn’t reveal the specifics of the ailment Monday, but he reminded the 2018 third-round pick is still dealing with the effects of a lingering foot injury that’s cost him practice time dating back to Week 2.
“He’s just dealing with the thing; he’s dealing with his foot,” Harbaugh said. “He just has to keep working on that, and that’s just part of the process.”
The other two health-related absences came on the opposite side of the ball as inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor is nursing an ankle injury and cornerback Maurice Canady was listed as having a thigh injury. Harbaugh said Onwuasor turned his ankle in the Pittsburgh game, but he was spotted wearing a boot on his right foot in photos posted on the team’s official website Tuesday. Onwuasor did speak to reporters Wednesday and wasn’t wearing the boot.
Drawing his first start of the season in place of the demoted Anthony Averett, Canady recorded a team-high seven tackles and forced a fumble against the Steelers. However, injuries have hampered him throughout his four-year career, leaving some concern about his status for Week 6.
“Maurice really stepped up. He played well,” Harbaugh said Monday. “He covered man, covered zone, made plays on the ball, made tackles. I thought he played very well. It’s nice to see a guy step up when the opportunity comes, and he did it.”
Canady was already filling in for the injured Jimmy Smith, who remains out with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee and appears likely to miss his fifth straight game Sunday. The 31-year-old Smith has increased his activity level, but Harbaugh wouldn’t reveal any timetable for when he might begin practicing.
Smith was injured on the sixth defensive play of the season-opening win at Miami and has now missed at least four games in seven of his nine NFL seasons.
“I wouldn’t want to speculate on it exactly because you just can’t say for sure,” Harbaugh said. “I’d just say he’s doing well, and I’ve got my fingers crossed for soon.”
Smith has often been tasked with matching up against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green over the years, but the seven-time Pro Bowl selection won’t play Sunday as he continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained on the first day of training camp in July. That’s good news for the Ravens, who are just 4-8 against the Bengals since Super Bowl XLVII and 2-6 in games in which Green has played.
The winless Bengals were also without left tackle Andre Smith (ankle) and safety Shawn Williams (thigh) for Wednesday’s practice. Starting left tackle Cordy Glenn (concussion) was listed as a limited participant, but he hasn’t played since suffering a head injury in the preseason and practiced on a limited basis two weeks ago before again sitting out last week, leaving his status in doubt.
Cincinnati placed wide receiver John Ross (shoulder) on injured reserve last week, further damaging a passing attack already missing Green.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Mark Andrews (shoulder), WR Marquise Brown (ankle), CB Brandon Carr (non-injury), CB Maurice Canady (thigh), RB Mark Ingram (non-injury), LB Patrick Onwuasor (ankle), CB Jimmy Smith (knee), G Marshal Yanda (non-injury), S Earl Thomas (non-injury)
CINCINNATI
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DT Ryan Glasgow (thigh), WR A.J. Green (ankle), OT Andre Smith (ankle), S Shawn Williams (thigh), DE Kerry Wynn (concussion)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Alex Erickson (concussion), OT Cordy Glenn (concussion), G Michael Jordan (ankle), G John Miller (groin), LB Nick Vigil (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: K Randy Bullock (back)
