OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Making final preparations for their trip to Pittsburgh to take on the rival Steelers, the Ravens were continuing to deal with both injuries and illness on Friday.
All five cornerbacks on the 53-man roster were officially listed as questionable on the final injury report with Marlon Humphrey and Tavon Young both dealing with illness. Though reserve cornerback Kevon Seymour tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, no one else on the roster had tested positive for the virus as of Friday. Young has missed the entire practice week while Humphrey hasn’t practiced since Wednesday, meaning their availability will hinge on how they’re feeling over the weekend.
Anthony Averett is dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries this week, but he was able to return to practice on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday, which bodes well for his status. Jimmy Smith (neck) appeared on track to return from a two-game absence after being upgraded to full participation on Thursday, but he sat out Friday’s workout with an ankle injury, the latest ailment in a frustrating season for the 11th-year defensive back. Chris Westry was listed as a limited participant on Friday, but he looks to be more of a long shot to play while continuing to recover from a thigh injury.
The cornerback picture is far from ideal when preparing to face the likes of Steelers wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool at Heinz Field on Sunday. As it stands, the Ravens appear likely to elevate at least one cornerback from their practice squad with Mazzi Wilkins being the top candidate.
“We’ll have to wait and see who we have. We don’t know,” head coach John Harbaugh said after Friday’s practice. “As a coach, you try to get as many people ready as you can. You go play the game with the people that you have, and we’ll see where we’re at with that as we go.”
Rookie outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was also designated as questionable after sitting out Thursday’s practice with a shoulder injury and practicing on a limited basis on Friday.
Still working his surgically-repaired knee back to full strength, tight end Nick Boyle played only 10 offensive snaps in last Sunday’s win over Cleveland and didn’t practice this week, leaving his availability against the Steelers in doubt. Boyle is officially listed as questionable.
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“With his kind of injury, I think it’s just incredible that he has even come back at all,” fullback Patrick Ricard said. “I think that’s very inspiring, and it’s just something that he’s going to have to work through. He’s a very tough guy, so if he’s feeling pain, you know it’s definitely there. I think he just has to do what he has to do to get back feeling healthy and feeling like himself again.”
After initially ruling out offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi with a thigh injury for a third straight game, the Ravens waived the former first-round pick out of Texas A&M who appeared in two games after the bye week. Ogbuehi was given an injury settlement, meaning he’ll become a free agent after passing through waivers rather than reverting to injured reserve.
The Steelers officially ruled out cornerback Joe Haden, who will miss his third straight game with a foot injury. Though not given a game status designation, defensive end Cam Heyward missed Friday’s practice due to an illness, a situation that will be monitored over the weekend.
Below is the final injury report for Week 13:
BALTIMORE
DOUBTFUL: WR Miles Boykin (finger)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Anthony Averett (shoulder/ankle), TE Nick Boyle (knee), OLB Jaylon Ferguson (illness), CB Marlon Humphrey (illness), OL Patrick Mekari (ankle), OLB Odafe Oweh (shoulder), ILB Patrick Queen (ribs), FB Patrick Ricard (foot/thigh), CB Jimmy Smith (ankle/neck), CB Chris Westry (thigh), CB Tavon Young (illness)
PITTSBURGH
OUT: DE Isaiah Buggs (ankle), CB Joe Haden (foot)
