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Ravens-Rams pre-game notes

Second-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor will start in place of Joe Flacco as the Ravens will rest most starters.

No changes to attendance for Tuesday's practice

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens conducted their final full practice Tuesday in preparation for their final preseason game in St. Louis and were without the same six players absent from Monday’s workout. Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda (knee) was not present during the portion of practice open to media and hasn’t worked since last Monday when he was accidentally undercut by linebacker Chavis Williams. Coach John Harbaugh has said on two separate occasions that the injury isn’t considered to be serious, but his extended absence is beginning to create questions on whether the “tweak” is more serious than originally thought. However, the Ravens continue to say Yanda will be ready to play in time for the season opener on Sept. 10. “Absolutely,” said offensive coordinator Cam Cameron when asked if he expected the Pro Bowl guard to be ready. “Until I’m told differently, we’ll be ready for Marshal to play.” Offensive lineman Jah Reid (calf), Sean Considine (concussion), wide receiver Tommy Streeter (foot), and linebackers Ricky Brown (undisclosed) and Josh Bynes (back) were also absent from the portion of practice open to media. The Ravens worked in helmets, shells, and shorts Tuesday afternoon and will conduct a walk-through Wednesday

Former Ravens kicker Cundiff finds new home in Washington

Former Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff has found a new home two days after having his contract terminated. The 2010 Pro Bowl selection has signed with the Washington Redskins, meaning the 32-year-old will have a chance to kick against his former team on Dec. 9 when the Ravens travel to FedEx Field in Landover. Washington also released incumbent kicker Graham Gano, who held off veteran Neil Rackers for the kicking job this summer. Maligned throughout his tenure with the Redskins, Gano went 55-for-76 on field goal attempts over the last two seasons. Cundiff made 28 of 37 attempts last season while struggling on the road and from beyond 50 yards. He went 11-for-20 on kicks away from M&T Bank Stadium and missed five of six tries from 50 or more yards in 2011.

Yanda, five others absent from Monday's practice

(Updated: 6:15 p.m.) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Fielding a smaller contingency of players after trimming the roster to 75 players, the Ravens were without Marshal Yanda and five others for Monday’s practice. Yanda (knee) hasn’t worked since last Monday when he was undercut by linebacker Chavis Williams. The starting right guard finished the practice but missed the Ravens’ third preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Thursday. Coach John Harbaugh has said on two separate occasions that the injury isn’t considered to be serious. Offensive lineman Jah Reid (calf), wide receiver Tommy Streeter (foot), linebackers Ricky Brown (hip) and Josh Bynes (back), and safety Sean Considine (concussion) were also absent from the portion of practice open to media. Linebacker Sergio Kindle (shoulder) appeared to be practicing without a red non-contact jersey for the first time since sustaining a stinger in the second preseason game of the summer. “He’s not a lock, but he’s done very well,” Harbaugh said. “This game will be important for him.” Tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta were practicing on a limited basis for the second straight workout after returning to the field Saturday. To no surprise, Harbaugh squashed any lingering chance of the

Ravens continue trimming roster down to 75

After news broke that they had waived veteran kicker Billy Cundiff earlier Sunday, the Ravens continued trimming their preseason roster from 90 players down to 75. The most notable of the eight other players to be waived Sunday was tight end Davon Drew, who was a 2009 fifth-round pick of the Ravens but never established himself as a legitimate NFL player in Baltimore. Drew entered training camp as the favorite to win the third tight end job behind Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta. However, he failed to take advantage of increased reps after the two tight ends went down with injuries this summer and was supplanted by veteran tight end Billy Bajema on the totem pole. The Ravens also announced they had waived wide receivers Devin Goda and Patrick Wiliams, offensive lineman Addison Lawrence, center Cecil Newton, cornerback Jordan Maybin, long snapper Patrick Scales, and quarterback Chester Stewart. Newton is the brother of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. The roster currently stands at 81 players and must be down to 75 by 4 p.m. Monday.

Reserve safety Cook lost for season due to broken leg

BALTIMORE — Have already lost defensive lineman Ryan McBean to a season-ending injury in the preseason opener, the Ravens can add Emanuel Cook to the list as the reserve safety suffered a broken right leg in Thursday’s 48-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury occurred early in the second half when Cook collided with teammate Anthony Allen on kickoff coverage. Cook’s lower right leg was immobilized before he was carted off the M&T Bank Stadium field. The 24-year-old posted on his Twitter account that he was undergoing surgery late Thursday night. “One of my favorite guys broke his leg,” coach John Harbaugh said following the game. “He’s had a really good camp. He’s one of our most valuable special teams guys from last year. That was tough.” Cook was the primary backup to free safety Ed Reed, and his loss likely increases the chances of both fourth-round pick Christian Thompson and rookie free agent Omar Brown making the 53-man roster. The Ravens suffered another hit at safety as veteran Sean Considine suffered a concussion for the second week in a row. After last week was labeled as Considine being “dinged” in Harbaugh’s words, the one sustained against Jacksonville is

Harbaugh in "middle of the pack" of NFL head coaches?

Despite being the only head coach in the NFL to lead his team to the postseason and win at least one playoff game in each of the last four seasons, John Harbaugh apparently isn’t getting much love from at least one national pundit. Ranking the 32 head coaches, NFL.com writer and regular WNST.net guest Gregg Rosenthal says Harbaugh ranks in the “middle of the pack” while listing 10 other coaches in higher categories in a tier-based ranking system. Rosenthal explains that the Ravens coach “inherited a great situation” while placing him in the same category as Mike Smith, Jeff Fisher, Gary Kubiak, Lovie Smith, Marvin Lewis, Pete Carroll, and Ken Whisenhunt. What’s sure to ruffle the feathers of many Ravens fans is Rosenthal ranking former Ravens defensive coordinator and Jets head coach Rex Ryan as well as new Raiders head coach Dennis Allen — without a win as a head coach in his entire coaching career — ahead of Harbaugh. To make the discussion even more interesting, Rosenthal ranks brother Jim as one of three head coaches in the “top shelf” elite category after one season in which he led the 49ers to the NFC Championship game. Though I’d hesitate

NFLPA rejects rule changes to IR, trade deadline

Two of the most notable rule changes passed by the NFL earlier this offseason will not go into effect for the 2012 season after all. The NFL Players Association did not approve changes to the injured reserve list and the trade deadline, meaning there will not be an injured-player exemption or a later deadline for making trades for at least another season. The IR rule change passed in May would have provided teams with the opportunity to place one player on injured reserve — thus saving a spot on the 53-man roster — with the option of activating that player for the second half of the season. Under current league rules, any player placed on IR is lost for the season. Owners had also voted to move the trade deadline back two weeks from the end of the sixth week of the regular season to the Tuesday of Week 8 at 4 p.m. ET. According to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, the NFLPA had to approve both rule changes for them to take effect. According to a FOXSports.com report, the new rules were linked to alterations to in-season practice rules, which led to the union voting against them.

Yanda absent from Tuesday's practice

(Updated: 1:35 p.m.) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Conducting their final full workout before Thursday’s preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Ravens worked without starting right guard Marshal Yanda during the opening portion of Tuesday’s practice. The Pro Bowl lineman was given the day off to rest after a defensive player rolled into his legs at one point during Monday’s workout. Though shaken up momentarily, the 27-year-old was able to finish the practice. “He kind of tweaked [the leg] a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “It’s nothing serious, but we had a little pileup there that we were kind of disappointed about. It wasn’t anybody’s fault, so we just gave him some rest today.” Defensive end Pernell McPhee also remained away from the team as he deals with a death in the family. Arthur Jones has assumed his place along the starting defensive line in his absence. Others not present during Tuesday’s practice included offensive lineman Jah Reid (calf), tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta (hand), wide receiver David Reed (knee), defensive lineman Ryan McBean (ankle), and linebackers Josh Bynes (back), Darryl Blackstock (undisclosed), and Terrell Suggs (Achilles tendon). Blackstock had returned to practice over the weekend after being

McPhee still absent from Monday's practice

(Updated 6:20 p.m.) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After being excused from the Ravens as he deals with a death in the family, defensive end Pernell McPhee was absent from practice for the second straight day Monday. With only seven other players absent due to injury reasons, the Ravens continue to look healthier as they continue preparations for their third preseason game of the summer on Thursday night. Offensive lineman Jah Reid (calf), linebackers Josh Bynes (back) and Terrell Suggs (Achilles tendon), tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta (hand), wide receiver David Reed (knee), and defensive lineman Ryan McBean (ankle) didn’t work during Monday afternoon’s practice. Wide receiver Torrey Smith (ankle) practiced for the second straight day after missing Friday’s preseason game while recovering from a sprained ankle. Linebacker Sergio Kindle (shoulder) continued to sport a red mesh jersey — indicating no contact — after suffering a stinger against Detroit. Safety Sean Considine initially wasn’t wearing a red jersey at the start of practice but wore one in team drills for the second straight day. “The doctors say he got dinged [on Friday]; he says he didn’t,” coach John Harbaugh said. “So, we’re going with the doctors. We’re going

Kindle's shoulder stinger headlines mild list of new injuries for Ravens

Unlike the preseason opener in which they suffered a season-ending injury and another multi-week one, Friday’s preseason game left the Ravens without any apparent long-term health concerns. Linebacker Sergio Kindle suffered a shoulder stinger in the second half of the 27-12 loss to the Detroit Lions and didn’t return to action. However, the 2010 second-round pick did not believe the injury to be serious following the game. In addition to Kindle’s injury, coach John Harbaugh reported after the game that fullback Vonta Leach and wide receiver LaQuan Williams suffered mild ankle sprains while reserve linebacker Ricky Brown had a hip contusion. None of those injuries are believed to be legitimate concerns moving forward. Players with preexisting injury concerns such as cornerback Jimmy Smith, linebacker Courtney Upshaw, and running back Bernard Pierce played without any concerns moving forward, according to the head coach. “The guys that had the issues injury-wise [who played in the game] got through well,” Harbaugh said. “So, that’s good news, and we’ll just move on from there.” Wide receiver Torrey Smith was listed as active but did not suit up to play as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle suffered in the preseason opener in

Ravens facing interesting decisions at wide receiver

The impressive performance of rookie wide receiver Deonte Thompson during training camp has raised questions about how the Ravens will handle roster decisions at what’s considered to be a deep position. The top of the depth chart is essentially set with starters Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith and veteran Jacoby Jones locked into the No. 3 spot, but the questions begin after that. Second-year wideout LaQuan Williams appears to have a strong hold on the No. 4 overall spot on the depth chart after an impressive camp while 2011 fourth-round pick Tandon Doss has dealt with a hamstring injury. Despite being sidelined for much of the summer, Doss’ pedigree and offseason work suggest he’s still a safe bet to make the 53-man roster, pushing the Ravens’ total to five receivers before you consider the surprising Thompson or 2012 sixth-round draft choice Tommy Streeter. Thompson has performed at a higher level overall with his exceptional speed and better-than-advertised hands in practices, but Streeter’s 6-foot-5 height and straight-line speed make him the player with the higher upside despite his limited route-running ability and inconsistent hands. However, the question of whether the Ravens can keep six — or even seven — receivers involves

Ravens-Rams pre-game notes

Second-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor will start in place of Joe Flacco as the Ravens will rest most starters.

Yanda absent from Tuesday's practice

(Updated: 1:35 p.m.) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Conducting their final full workout before Thursday’s preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars,

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