OWINGS MILLS, Md. — It’s no secret that the Ravens have been ravaged by injuries throughout the season, and coach John Harbaugh wasn’t tipping his hand regarding numerous players’ status for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Eight players were listed as questionable, including linebackers Terrell Suggs and Dannell Ellerbe, guard Marshal Yanda, safety Bernard Pollard, defensive linemen Arthur Jones and Pernell McPhee, cornerback Jimmy Smith, and fullback Vonta Leach. Tight end Ed Dickson was listed as doubtful after practicing on a limited basis all week while linebacker Jameel McClain had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game earlier in the week.
“The rest of the guys are going to be up in the air,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not something that we’re probably going to want to share, because there is no advantage to us to let anybody know whether guys are going to play or not. We’ve got an idea on some guys. We have a lesser idea on some other guys. It’s just not information that we are going to put out there. We’re just going to let it go until Sunday.”
Of the players listed as questionable, Yanda and Pollard are the biggest doubts to be available as neither have practiced all week. Yanda was still in a walking boot as of Friday afternoon, and Pollard aggravated the sore ribs with which he’s dealt since Week 2 of the regular season. It’s considered highly unlikely that either will play against the Broncos.
Suggs practiced fully for the second straight day and deemed himself a game-time decision when speaking to reporters on Friday. Meanwhile, Ellerbe returned to the practice field on Thursday and worked on a limited basis the last two days. The inside linebacker hasn’t played the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in Week 12.
“I’m looking forward to being out there [if I can],” Ellerbe said. “I’m going to work it before the game, and if I feel good, I’m going to go. If I can’t go, I’m not going to go out there and hurt the team.”
Linebacker Ray Lewis was on the field for practice on Friday, but he is not required to be listed on the injury report since he is not on the 53-man roster. The 37-year-old continues to work his way back from a torn triceps suffered on Oct. 14 and has been on injured reserve with the designation to return. The Ravens would be required to place Lewis on the active roster by 4 p.m. on Saturday for him to be eligible to return to game action against the Broncos.
Harbaugh was asked specifically if he could say anything about Suggs and Lewis after not disclosing specifics on injured players.
“No, I can’t, but thanks for asking,” Harbaugh replied.
With so many players banged up and practicing with varying degrees of participation, Harbaugh faces a difficult decision on Sunday to weigh the pros and cons of activating players who may be far less than 100 percent but might be able to offer help in limited situations.
“That’s going to be in consideration,” Harbaugh said. “Will we have enough healthy guys to get to 46 [active players on game day]? That’s a consideration. What you are talking about will come down to one or two guys at the end that we will have to make a decision [on].”
Harbaugh also announced McClain would be seeing a back specialist in Los Angeles to help determine his status moving forward. The team hopes to know more by Monday or Tuesday.
BALTIMORE
OUT: LB Jameel McClain (neck)
DOUBTFUL: TE Ed Dickson (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle), DT Arthur Jones (shoulder), FB Vonta Leach (ankle), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), S Bernard Pollard (chest), CB Jimmy Smith (abdomen), LB Terrell Suggs (biceps), G Marshal Yanda (ankle)
PROBABLE: CB Chykie Brown (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (ankle), RB Bernard Pierce (back), S Ed Reed (shoulder), RB Ray Rice (hip), WR Deonte Thompson (thigh), WR LaQuan Williams (thigh)
DENVER
QUESTIONABLE: G Chris Kuper (ankle), LB Wesley Woodyard (ankle)
PROBABLE: WR Trindon Holliday (knee), WR Demaryius Thomas (shoulder), WR Matthew Willis (knee)
