OWINGS MILLS, Md. — On the same day the Ravens welcomed standout defensive tackle Brandon Williams back to practice, six offensive players were absent with both starting wide receivers also less than 100 percent during Wednesday’s workout.
It’s the latest concern for an already-floundering offense with a challenging trip to Minnesota looming against the NFL’s fifth-ranked defense on Sunday.
In addition to the continued absences of right guard Matt Skura (knee) and running back Terrance West (calf), the Ravens were without left tackle Ronnie Stanley (mouth), tight ends Benjamin Watson (knee) and Maxx Williams (ankle), and wide receiver Breshad Perriman (concussion) as preparations continued for the Week 7 meeting with the Vikings. Making matters worse, wide receivers Jeremy Maclin (shoulder) and Mike Wallace (back) were also limited.
Maclin was sporting a red non-contact jersey during the session and missed last Sunday’s loss to Chicago despite practicing on a limited basis all last week. It remains unclear whether the veteran wideout will play this weekend.
“You just trust the doctors,” said Maclin, who wouldn’t reveal how close he came to playing against the Bears after going through a pre-game workout. “When they sit up there and they think that it’s probably not best for you to play, that’s kind of what you go with. Clearly anytime you’re dealing with any type of injury and you’re off of it, it definitely helps with the recovery process.”
The good news was that Williams (foot) and fellow defensive tackle Carl Davis (hamstring) participated fully in Wednesday’s session. Rookie cornerback Jaylen Hill (hamstring) was also a full participant after missing his sixth straight game Sunday.
Cornerback Jimmy Smith was held out of practice, but that wasn’t surprising as the Ravens continue to provide him rest for his Achilles tendinitis. The veteran defensive back played 69 of 80 defensive snaps against the Bears, his biggest workload in several weeks.
“I want to be in the game,” said Smith, who anticipated a heavy workload in Week 6. “I don’t want to be sitting on the sideline for anything.”
Inside linebacker C.J. Mosley practiced in a red non-contact vest during the portion of practice open to media, but he did not appear on the injury report.
The Ravens designated second-year cornerback Maurice Canady to return to practice 2 1/2 months after he underwent knee surgery early in training camp. Canady will now begin a 21-day practice window and could be activated for the Week 9 contest at Tennessee at the earliest.
Baltimore still has one more designation to return from injured reserve as the NFL now allows teams to bring back two players from IR after a minimum eight-week period. That second designation is expected to be running back Danny Woodhead, who suffered a long-term hamstring injury in the season opener and was placed on IR a few days later.
The Vikings are also dealing with a number of injuries to key players as standout wide receiver and University of Maryland product Stefon Diggs (groin), linebacker Anthony Barr (concussion/ankle), left guard Nick Easton (calf) and quarterback Sam Bradford (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer was noncommittal about Diggs’ status for Sunday, saying only that he is “getting better” after missing last week’s contest against Green Bay.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Breshad Perriman (concussion), G Matt Skura (knee), CB Jimmy Smith (achilles), OT Ronnie Stanley (mouth), TE Benjamin Watson (knee), RB Terrance West (calf), TE Maxx Williams (ankle), LB Tim Williams (thigh)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DB Anthony Levine (thigh), WR Jeremy Maclin (shoulder), WR Mike Wallace (back)
FULL PARTICIPATION: DT Carl Davis (thigh), CB Jaylen Hill (thigh), DT Brandon Williams (foot)
MINNESOTA
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Anthony Barr (concussion/ankle), QB Sam Bradford (knee), WR Stefon Diggs (groin), G Nick Easton (calf), WR Michael Floyd (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Mackensie Alexander (hip), CB Xavier Rhodes (shoulder), S Andrew Sendejo (groin)
FULL PARTICIPATION: LB Emmanuel Lamur (ribs), RB Jerick McKinnon (ankle)
