Canty misses second straight practice, Ravens make change at long snapper

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Defensive end Chris Canty missed his second straight day of practice as the Ravens move closer to a Week 16 meeting with the Houston Texans.
The veteran is nursing an ankle injury, but he downplayed its significance when talking with reporters on Wednesday. Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (illness), safety Will Hill (non-injury), and left guard Kelechi Osemele (non-injury) all returned to practice Thursday after not participating the day before.
The Ravens also experienced their latest season-ending loss as long snapper Kevin McDermott was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury and Patrick Scales was signed to take his place on Thursday morning. Previously signed to take the roster spot of the injured Morgan Cox (knee), McDermott beat out Scales in a tryout back in late October.
Scales spent the 2011 and 2012 offseasons with the Ravens and is held in high regard by special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg.
“It’s certainly not ideal. It’s not something you plan on doing or you want to have happen,” Rosburg said. “But the good news is we have a guy coming here [who] has been here before. Our guys know him. He knows our system. He understands our calls. He has been through it for two training camps, so we’re not starting from scratch. We’re making the best out of an unfortunate situation.”
The transaction means the Ravens now have 17 players on IR, their highest total since 19 were sent to IR in John Harbaugh’s first season as head coach in 2008.
Tight end Owen Daniels and linebacker Daryl Smith both received Thursday as a veteran day off.
Cornerback Anthony Levine (ankle) and running back Bernard Pierce (back) were both practicing after being listed as limited participants on Wednesday.
While the Texans remained mum on their starting quarterback situation Thursday, head coach Bill O’Brien said tight end Garrett Graham is unlikely to play Sunday as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) is considered a game-time decision against the Ravens.
Below is Thursday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DE Chris Canty (ankle), TE Owen Daniels (non-injury), LB Daryl Smith (non-injury)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Anthony Levine (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: S Will Hill (non-injury), WR Jacoby Jones (illness), G Kelechi Osemele (non-injury), RB Bernard Pierce (back)
HOUSTON
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Garrett Graham (ankle), WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle), CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle), LB Mike Mohamed (concussion), QB Tom Savage (knee), G Xavier Su’a-Filo (back)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: LB Brian Cushing (ankle), RB Arian Foster (hip)
FULL PARTICIPATION: T Tyson Clabo (foot), LB Akeem Dent (neck), CB Kareem Jackson (knee), WR Andre Johnson (concussion), LB Whitney Mercilus (back), LB Jeff Tarpinian (knee), DE J.J. Watt (non-injury)