(Updated: 8:50 p.m.)
Turning the page from Week 2 and returning to the practice field to begin preparations for the St. Louis Rams, the Ravens were missing a number of players during practice on Wednesday afternoon.
Left guard Ben Grubbs is still dealing with a right toe injury that caused him to miss the first game of his five-year career on Sunday and did not practice on Wednesday. Swing lineman Mark LeVoir started in his place instead of veteran Andre Gurode against the Titans.
Wide receiver Lee Evans was sidelined for the second straight Wednesday practice as he continues to struggle with a left ankle injury that’s had him in and out of a walking boot following the third preseason game in August. Coach John Harbaugh said again on Wednesday that the Ravens must weigh how productive Evans can be on the field with trying to rest him in the short term.
“You just have to work through it throughout the week and then on game day, if you’re well enough, you can play.”
With Evans not running at 100 percent, opponents are unlikely to respect his normal deep-threat capability, thus shrinking the coverage closer to the line of scrimmage to key on possession receiver Anquan Boldin and tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta. The lack of production from rookie third receiver Torrey Smith hasn’t helped the Ravens’ passing game through the first two games.
For now, the Ravens will hope intermittent rest during the week will allow Evans to feel healthy enough to contribute.
“It is up and down, but there has been some progress made,” said Evans, who has been told the injury cannot get worse by continuing to play. “How much that is or where it is relatively to everything is hard to say. Right now, it’s tough. It’s hard to get a lot of rest during the season. We try to take a smart approach to it.”
Center Matt Birk also sat out Wednesday’s practice in what was a presumed day off for the veteran. After missing the entire preseason, Birk has practiced consistently without any real limitations through the first two weeks of the regular season.
Cornerback Chris Carr returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday after missing the Tennessee game and sitting out all practices last week.
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE – C Matt Birk (knee), DE Cory Redding (toe), DT Terrence Cody (concussion), G Ben Grubbs (toe), WR Lee Evans (ankle), WR David Reed, CB Jimmy Smith (ankle)
LIMITED – CB Chris Carr (thigh)
ST. LOUIS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE – DE CJ Ah You (wrist), WR Danny Amendola (elbow), RB Steven Jackson (quad), LB Ben Leber (groin), RB Carnell Williams (hamstring)
LIMITED – TE Michaeel Hoomanawanui (calf), WR Greg Salas (ribs)
