OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As if a three-game losing streak that’s taken the Ravens from the top spot in the AFC to out of the postseason field entirely entering Week 16 weren’t bad enough, their COVID-19 concerns are only accelerating ahead of Sunday’s divisional showdown with Cincinnati.
The Ravens placed five more players on the reserve-COVID-19 lists on Wednesday, a group including defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, safety Geno Stone, reserve inside linebackers Chris Board and Kristian Welch, and practice-squad offensive tackle David Sharpe. Baltimore now has 11 players from the 53-man roster on the COVID-19 list in addition to four from its practice squad. At least one Ravens player has been placed on the COVID-19 list for seven straight days and nine of the last 10.
“All of those things are just in the protocol. It’s really not for commentary — it is what it is,” said head coach John Harbaugh when asked Wednesday morning whether the Ravens had received any new positive test results. “The protocols are what they are. The days, the testing, all of that stuff, it’s kind of complicated. I don’t spend too much time with it. It is what it is, and we’ll be where we’re at. We’re getting ready for practice right now.”
While Madubuike is a starter on the defensive line and Stone started in place of Chuck Clark — also on the COVID-19 list — and relayed the calls in the defensive huddle in the loss to Green Bay, Sharpe played 47 snaps in place of injured right tackle Tyre Phillips against the Packers, making his potential absence more significant than the typical practice-squad player.
Making matters worse Wednesday was quarterback Lamar Jackson once again being absent from practice as he continues to recover from a right ankle injury. The former NFL MVP hasn’t practiced since being injured in the first half of the Week 14 loss at Cleveland on Dec. 12.
The Ravens practiced indoors, meaning no media viewing was permitted under the stricter COVID-19 protocols implemented by the NFL and NFL Players Association this week, making it unknown whether Jackson was able to do any activity off to the side.
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“I really don’t have any updates on that. That’s ‘wait and see’ for all of those guys,” said Harbaugh about Jackson’s status prior to Wednesday’s practice. “Every single guy you’re about to ask me about are all going to be day by day, and we’ll just see where they’re at as we go.”
In addition to Jackson, the Ravens practiced without cornerback Tavon Young (concussion), return specialist and wide receiver Devin Duvernay (ankle), left guard Ben Powers (foot), and Phillips (knee). In more promising news, defensive end Calais Campbell (hamstring), right tackle Patrick Mekari (hand), and fullback Patrick Ricard (knee) were all listed as limited participants in practice after sitting out the Green Bay game.
The Ravens have designated outside linebacker Daelin Hayes to return to practice from injured reserve, a meaningful development with veteran edge defenders Justin Houston and Pernell McPhee among those landing on the COVID-19 list earlier in the week. A rookie fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Hayes hasn’t played since injuring his ankle in the Week 3 win at Detroit, which was also his NFL debut.
Baltimore signed center James Murray to the practice squad a day after adding veteran cornerback Daryl Worley, who’s started 54 games in his career dating back to 2016.
The Bengals are in much better position from injury and COVID-19 standpoints with running back Joe Mixon practicing fully on Wednesday despite hurting his ankle in their Week 15 win at Denver. Cincinnati has only one player on the COVID-19 list: cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report, which doesn’t include any players placed on the COVID-19 list:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Devin Duvernay (ankle), QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), OL Tyre Phillips (knee), G Ben Powers (foot), DT Brandon Williams (non-injury), CB Tavon Young (concussion)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Nick Boyle (knee), DE Calais Campbell (thigh), OL Patrick Mekari (hand), FB Patrick Ricard (knee)
CINCINNATI
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DE Khalid Kareem (concussion), DT D.J. Reader (knee), TE Drew Sample (foot), LB Logan Wilson (shoulder)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: G Hakeem Adeniji (ankle), TE Mitchell Wilcox (toe)
FULL PARTICIPATION: QB Joe Burrow (right finger), RB Joe Mixon (ankle)
