OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After deciding to place cornerback Domonique Foxworth on injured reserve earlier in the day, the Ravens saw eight more players missing from Wednesday’s practice as they begin preparations for the New York Jets on Sunday night.
Wide receiver Lee Evans and left guard Ben Grubbs headline the list after both missed Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Evans continues to rest the sore left ankle that’s given him problems since the aftermath of the third preseason game against Washington in August. He told reporters he will likely be a game-time decision, but also admitted the coaching staff will make the decision whether he plays.
“We’re just trying to do what’s best all the way around,” Evans said. “So, we’ll have to see. Right now, it does feel better having a little rest on it, so it’s progress.”
Grubbs appears to be unlikely to play and would miss his third straight game with an injured right toe. The swelling has decreased, but the fifth-year lineman has barely begun jogging and still feels pain in the toe.
With the Ravens having their bye in Week 5, could they elect to be more conservative than usual with Grubbs and Evans, potentially earning two extra weeks of recovery time?
“It’s probably a factor,” coach John Harbaugh said. “If you feel like you can’t be 100 percent in this game and if you have another answer in there, that’s a consideration. It will just depend, as the week goes on, again, how close they are to being 100 percent. But, I think the extra week of rest after this week is a factor.”
Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe also missed practice and is considered day-to-day through the week and could be a game-time decision. He left Sunday’s game against St. Louis with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Center Matt Birk and defensive end Cory Redding appeared to be receiving a day off with both players dealing with nagging injuries. Neither player practiced last Wednesday in preparation for the Rams.
Safety Haruki Nakamura joins cornerback Jimmy Smith and wide receiver David Reed as players who will not play on Sunday night. Nakamura has a partially torn PCL, but the safety expressed hope on Wednesday that he’ll return immediately after the bye week when the Ravens host the Houston Texans on Oct. 16.
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE – G Ben Grubbs (toe), WR Lee Evans (ankle), DE Cory Redding (toe), C Matt Birk (knee), LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh), S Haruki Nakamura (knee), WR David Reed, CB Jimmy Smith (ankle)
LIMITED – NONE
NEW YORK
OUT – WR Logan Payne (wrist)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE – CB Antonio Cromartie (ribs), C Nick Mangold (ankle)
LIMITED – LB David Harris (toe), DL Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPANT – DL Mike DeVito (shoulder), WR Santonio Holmes (shoulder)
