OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While welcoming back wide receiver Rashod Bateman and outside linebacker Justin Houston to the practice field on Wednesday, the Ravens had a fresh list of health concerns to monitor ahead of their Week 7 meeting with Cleveland.
Tight end Mark Andrews (knee), defensive end Calais Campbell (foot), and fullback Patrick Ricard (knee) joined running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) and right tackle Morgan Moses (heel) as non-participants because of injury-related reasons. Dobbins and Moses exited in the first half of last Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, but head coach John Harbaugh labeled Andrews’ absence “a rest day” a little over an hour before the official injury report was released, which should ease concern about his availability.
More than 20 minutes late coming out to the field during the portion of Wednesday’s workout open to media, quarterback Lamar Jackson was officially listed as limited because of a hip issue. Harbaugh said the training staff was “just getting him warmed up” before a “full” practice, but Jackson wasn’t moving around much while only playing catch during the final minutes of the open period. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback still conducted his normal Wednesday press conference before the injury report was sent out, another indication that there isn’t much concern about an injury.
Houston’s return was an encouraging development with the 33-year-old edge rusher having missed the last three games with a groin injury suffered in Week 3. Bateman had missed the last two games with a left foot sprain sustained against Buffalo in Week 4, and his return coincided with the arrival of 35-year-old receiver DeSean Jackson, who officially signed to the practice squad on Wednesday. Harbaugh was noncommittal about the veteran newcomer’s chances of being elevated to play against the Browns on Sunday, but he said the speedy wideout appeared to be “in great shape, fluid, healthy” during Tuesday’s tryout.
After practice, the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver stayed on the field to put in extra work with his new quarterback, whom he compared to “a new era of Michael Vick” while answering questions in the Ravens locker room.
“It was awesome. He looked like the DeSean when he first got to the league [and] got introduced to the league,” Lamar Jackson said. “He’s still floating around, running great routes. I’m excited.”
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Running back Justice Hill was a full participant after returning to practice on a limited basis last week. The status of both Hill and Gus Edwards — who is moving closer to a return to game action from last year’s serious knee injury — could prove more important if Dobbins’ knee tightness leaves him in danger of missing Sunday’s game against Cleveland.
Outside linebackers Tyus Bowser (Achilles) and David Ojabo (Achilles) and tight end Charlie Kolar were also present and working as they continued their respective 21-day practice windows. A rookie fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, Kolar practiced Wednesday for the first time since undergoing sports hernia surgery in early August.
“He got the word yesterday that he was going to get a chance to come up,” Harbaugh said. “He was in the training room, which he’s been spending a lot of time there, and everyone was really happy for him. They wanted to give him a cake or something [like], ‘It’s time to graduate out of the training room.’ He had a good day today, so I think he’s going to be fine.”
The Browns were also missing a number of key players during Wednesday’s practice, a list including defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), right tackle Jack Conklin (ankle), defensive end Myles Garrett (shoulder/biceps), cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion), and right guard Wyatt Teller (calf). Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Teller, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection, is doubtful to play this week after injuring his calf in the first half of last Sunday’s loss to New England.
Clowney and Ward didn’t play against the Patriots in Week 6.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Mark Andrews (knee), DE Calais Campbell (foot), G Ben Cleveland (foot), RB J.K. Dobbins (knee), WR Devin Duvernay (rest), OT Morgan Moses (heel), CB Marcus Peters (rest), FB Patrick Ricard (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Rashod Bateman (foot), OLB Justin Houston (groin), QB Lamar Jackson (hip), OT Ronnie Stanley (rest/ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: RB Justice Hill (hamstring)
CLEVELAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: G Joel Bitonio (rest), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), OT Jack Conklin (ankle), WR Amari Cooper (rest), LB Tony Fields (illness), DE Myles Garrett (shoulder/biceps), OL Joe Haeg (concussion), TE David Njoku (rest), G Wyatt Teller (calf), CB Denzel Ward (concussion)
FULL PARTICIPATION: DE Alex Wright (quad/glute)
