The bye week comes a week earlier due to COVID-19-related rescheduling around the NFL, but the Ravens won’t mind after Sunday’s 30-28 win in Philadelphia.
In addition to nearly squandering an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, Baltimore lost starting running back Mark Ingram (left ankle), starting right guard Tyre Phillips (hand), and reserve cornerback Anthony Averett (shoulder). Both Ingram and Averett were declared out for the remainder of the game at halftime while Phillips exited in the fourth quarter and was replaced by backup center Patrick Mekari.
“I have not talked to the trainer about those guys since during the game,” head coach John Harbaugh said after the game. “I don’t think those are any long-term injuries, but we’ll find out after.”
Ingram limped off the field after a 2-yard run on the first play of Baltimore’s third drive. After having his ankle taped on the sideline, the 30-year-old briefly returned to the game early in the second quarter, carrying once for five yards before departing for good.
In Ingram’s absence, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins each registered season highs in carries, but the pair combined for a modest 54 yards on 23 attempts as quarterback Lamar Jackson led the ground game with 108 yards, which included his 37-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Edwards had a 7-yard touchdown run late in the first half while the rookie Dobbins’ best run was a 16-yard gain in the second quarter. Dobbins caught two passes for only one yard in addition to his nine rushing attempts for 28 yards.
“It’s always tough to see somebody like Mark go down even if it’s not even too serious because I want to see him succeed and do great things,” Dobbins said. “Going out there, I felt like I was ready for it, and I feel like my teammates helped me. It was good to get thrown in the fire at this moment, but we have to do better.”
The Ravens were already dealing with notable health concerns prior to Sunday’s game as defensive end Derek Wolfe was deactivated with a neck injury and concussion sustained at practice last week and nose tackle Brandon Williams was placed on the reserve-COVID-19 list on Saturday after coming in close contact with an infected individual.
With those two sidelined, five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell turned in his finest game as a Raven with three sacks, another tackle for a loss, and an additional quarterback hit. The 34-year-old said Williams remains on his teammates’ minds, but an absence of that nature is part of reality “with this current climate we’re in.”
Williams was the first Baltimore player placed on the virus-related list since undrafted rookie safety Nigel Warrior in late July.
“It was one of those things where you hate to see it happen, but you know it’s always a possibility,” Campbell said. “I know he’s going through the whole process. You feel bad for him and his family, but you know that he’s just trying to work to get back.”
