The Ravens will be without the most consistent member of their defensive line for a challenging Thursday night game at Tampa Bay.
Sidelined all week with an undisclosed illness, six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell was declared out on Wednesday’s final injury report and will miss his first game of the season. The 36-year-old had registered a sack in back-to-back contests and will be a tough loss as Baltimore tries to hand seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady and the Buccaneers their third straight defeat. Tampa Bay ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards per game, but Campbell remains a keg cog for a pass rush that’s performed better over the last two weeks.
The Ravens could also be without All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews, who was designated as questionable and didn’t practice all week because of a lingering knee injury. Despite logging only one limited practice last week, the 27-year-old still played 56 of 64 snaps against Cleveland, but he was held without a catch for the first time since his 2018 rookie season. One would figure Andrews will want to give it a go against Tampa Bay, but the Ravens must also consider the big picture with the bye still a couple weeks away.
Of the seven others designated as questionable for Baltimore, inside linebacker Josh Bynes (quadriceps) and running back Gus Edwards (knee) were the only ones not to be listed as full practice participants on Wednesday. Bynes was limited after sitting out practices on Monday and Tuesday while Edwards is expected to play after practicing on a limited basis all week, which was likely a precautionary measure since he made his season debut this past Sunday.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) sat out Tuesday’s practice, but his full participation a day later should diminish any real concern about his availability. Before practicing fully on Wednesday, left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) told reporters he “should be ready to go” despite sitting out Monday and Tuesday workouts.
Since outside linebackers Tyus Bowser (Achilles tendon) and David Ojabo (Achilles tendon) and tight end Charlie Kolar (sports hernia surgery) aren’t currently on the 53-man roster, they weren’t included on the injury report. Bowser would seem to have the best chance to be activated for Thursday night since Ojabo didn’t practice on Tuesday and Kolar only began practicing last week.
The Ravens have until 4 p.m. Thursday to make any roster moves or elevations from the practice squad for their game against the Buccaneers. That would include whether to activate 35-year-old wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who has been practicing with the Ravens for the last two weeks and appears to be ready for game action in at least a limited role.
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Tampa Bay was in a worse position from an injury standpoint with five starters ruled out for Thursday night, a list headlined by Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerback Carlton Davis. Starting defensive tackle Akiem Hicks was designated as questionable, but Bucs head coach Todd Bowles indicated earlier Wednesday that he was “probably doubtful” since he just returned to practice this week from a foot injury that’s kept him out since the second game of the season.
Below is the final injury report for Week 8:
BALTIMORE
OUT: DE Calais Campbell (illness)
QUESTIONABLE: TE Mark Andrews (knee), WR Rashod Bateman (foot), ILB Josh Bynes (quad), RB Gus Edwards (knee), CB Marlon Humphrey (hamstring), CB Marcus Peters (quad), OT Ronnie Stanley (ankle), CB Brandon Stephens (oblique)
TAMPA BAY
OUT: TE Cameron Brate (neck), CB Carlton Davis (hip), WR Russell Gage (hamstring), G Luke Goedeke (foot), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad), S Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Akiem Hicks (foot), WR Julio Jones (knee)
