OWINGS MILLS, Md. — On the same day Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams returned to practice, safety Earl Thomas says the two are “on the same page” after last Sunday’s post-game dispute.
An NFL Network report indicated the two were involved in a “heated” discussion after Williams missed the Week 4 loss to Cleveland with a knee injury. The veteran lineman hadn’t been on the injury report until Saturday and was deactivated after a lackluster on-field workout before Sunday’s game. Without their run-stopping tackle anchoring the defense, the Ravens gave up a season-worst 193 yards in the 40-25 loss to the Browns.
Baltimore is allowing 4.9 yards per carry, which currently ranks 27th in the NFL.
“We talked about it. I just want him out there,” said Thomas about his spat with Williams. “He’s a Pro Bowler. We’re better when he’s out there, so I was a little frustrated. I just wanted to see what was going on with him because I knew he had practiced earlier in the week. I didn’t know.
“It just kind of hit me out of the blindside, but hopefully he’ll play this week. We’ll get it fixed.”
Williams practiced on a limited basis after sitting out Wednesday’s session, a positive sign for his availability for Sunday’s trip to Heinz Field to take on Pittsburgh. However, the Ravens were without center Matt Skura, who missed Thursday’s workout with a knee issue. Starting left guard Bradley Bozeman is listed on the team’s depth chart as the backup center, but undrafted rookie Patrick Mekari would be another option if Skura weren’t able to play.
Tight end Mark Andrews (foot) was a limited participant on Thursday after receiving the previous day off. He has now missed parts of four straight practice weeks, but he appeared to be moving better against the Browns than he did in the previous week’s loss to Kansas City, catching four passes for 31 yards and a touchdown in Week 4.
There is no shortage of urgency with the Ravens having lost two straight and not wanting to fall to 0-2 in AFC North play against the Steelers, who registered their first win of the season Monday night.
“We know what this game entails. It’s a rivalry,” Andrews said. “We know it’s going to be a hostile environment. We have a bunch of fighters in this locker room, a bunch of resilient guys, and I trust these guys.”
Reserve safety Brynden Trawick (elbow) was placed on injured reserve a day after returning to practice on a limited basis. Trawick had missed each of the last two games with the injury. The Ravens did not immediately announce a corresponding roster move.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are dealing with their own health concerns as wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe), running back James Conner (ankle), and tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder) have yet to practice this week. McDonald didn’t play in Week 4 while Smith-Schuster and Conner were banged up in Pittsburgh’s win over Cincinnati.
Below is Thursday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: C Matt Skura (knee), CB Jimmy Smith (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Mark Andrews (foot), DT Brandon Williams (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION: S Earl Thomas (non-injury)
PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Anthony Chickillo (foot), RB James Conner (ankle), G Ramon Foster (non-injury), TE Vance McDonald (shoulder), RB Roosevelt Nix (knee), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe)
FULL PARTICIPATION: LB Mark Barron (non-injury), DT Cameron Heyward (quadricep), C Maurkice Pouncey (non-injury), LB Vince Williams (hamstring)
