OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens appear to have dodged a major injury bullet in Sunday’s 37-31 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite exiting midway through the third quarter with a left knee injury, standout safety Kyle Hamilton isn’t expected to miss too much action with multiple reports indicating he sustained a minor MCL sprain. There were initial concerns that the versatile Hamilton had suffered a more significant injury, but he eventually returned to the sideline to watch the remainder of the game, which was an encouraging sign.
“Kyle looks like he’ll be day to day, so we’ll see as we go through the week,” said head coach John Harbaugh, who wouldn’t confirm the specifics of the diagnosis. “He’ll have a chance to play in this game [against Jacksonville].”
With Hamilton emerging as one of Baltimore’s best defenders and a Pro Bowl-caliber player in his second season, the Ravens will certainly hope to have him back on the field for the Christmas showdown with NFC-leading San Francisco, which will be tabbed by many as a possible Super Bowl preview. Despite playing just 43 of 77 defensive snaps — the 2022 first-round pick out of Notre Dame also left at the end of the first quarter before returning in the second period — in Sunday’s win, Hamilton recorded seven tackles and his ninth tackle for a loss of the season, which broke Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed’s single-season team record for tackles for a loss by a defensive back.
If Hamilton isn’t able to play against the Jaguars on Sunday night, Baltimore has multiple options at the nickel. Arthur Maulet took his place in Sunday’s game, and the Ravens are also expected to activate second-year cornerback Damarion Williams from injured reserve on Tuesday.
There’s also the possibility of moving three-time Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey to the slot, which would open a spot on the outside for veteran Ronald Darby in the nickel package. Playing for the first time since injuring his calf in the Week 10 loss to Cleveland, Humphrey struggled in coverage against the Rams with Pro Football Focus crediting him with surrendering four catches for 92 yards with a couple of those coming on the drive that led to the game-tying field goal at the end of regulation.
“He had numerous really good plays where he was in great coverage and was just pretty dominant. Then, there were some tougher plays out there, but he hasn’t played in a few weeks,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been kind of on and off with the nagging kind of injury, so to me, I’d kind of attribute it to that. The more he plays, the more he practices [and] gets his technique right.
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“Marlon Humphrey is the least of my concerns. He’s a great football player, and he’s very conscientious. I know he’s going to play great football for us.”
While Hamilton isn’t expected to be out for long, Harbaugh wasn’t quite as optimistic about two-time Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Duvernay, who left Sunday’s game with a back injury and might have “a little more extended” absence. Of course, Duvernay was replaced by Tylan Wallace, who won the game with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in overtime.
To no surprise, Wallace will remain the primary punt returner in Duvernay’s absence.
“I think he’s earned it,” said Harbaugh with a smile. “Don’t discount how hard those catches were, right? Those were some tough catches out there.”
