OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With first place in the AFC North on the line in Pittsburgh on Sunday, the Ravens continue to practice without All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.
Though he briefly worked out on a side field during the media viewing portion of Wednesday’s practice, Hamilton was a non-participant for a second straight day as he recovers from a right ankle injury sustained in the first half of last week’s win over Cincinnati. Hamilton isn’t expected to miss extensive action, but it remains unclear whether he’ll be able to play against the first-place Steelers.
After being noncommittal about Hamilton’s status at the start of the week, head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that the third-year safety was “the same as what we talked about [Monday].”
Meanwhile, veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White continues learning the Baltimore defense after being acquired before last week’s trade deadline, and the two-time Pro Bowl selection knows he needs to “earn it” to become a factor for the NFL’s 32nd-ranked pass defense that needs all the help it can get. White, 29, had been a healthy scratch for his final four games with the Los Angeles Rams before being traded. A 2021 ACL injury and a torn Achilles tendon last season derailed what had been an excellent start to his career with Buffalo, but White expressed confidence that he can get his career back on track with the Ravens.
“Just playing consistent football, just continuing to let the reps stack up, and getting comfortable in the defense and learning my teammates,” White said Tuesday. “Learning where my help is on the field, so I can pretty much play to my strengths. I feel like if I get back and just play football, [I’m] getting around guys that are going to pump me up just like I’m going to pump them up.”
Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy was absent Wednesday because of an illness, but tight end Isaiah Likely made his return to the practice field after missing Week 10 with a hamstring injury. Rotational defensive end Brent Urban (concussion) and reserve cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee) were full participants in practice after sitting out Baltimore’s last two games.
One key name no longer listed on the injury report is two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had nursed back and knee issues over the last couple practice weeks and is line to face the Steelers for just the fifth time over the last six seasons. Jackson has sat out six of the last nine Ravens-Steelers meetings for a variety of reasons, which largely explains why Pittsburgh has won seven of the last eight over Baltimore.
“I get a chance to go up against them this year, so I’m good right now,” Jackson said. “Hopefully, [the] second time coming around [in December], I don’t know what to say about that. But right now, I’m looking forward to that.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has already confirmed starting outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) will miss Sunday’s game, but the Pittsburgh defense is expecting to welcome back emerging edge defender Nick Herbig (hamstring), who has missed each of the last four games. Top running back Najee Harris (ankle) and starting cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) are also expected to play against the Ravens despite their early-week absence from practice, according to Tomlin.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: S Kyle Hamilton (ankle), OLB Kyle Van Noy (illness)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Isaiah Likely (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee), DE Brent Urban (concussion)
PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: RB Najee Harris (ankle), DT Cam Heyward (rest), OLB Alex Highsmith (ankle), CB Donte Jackson (hamstring), WR Van Jefferson (quadricep), TE MyCole Pruitt (knee), G Isaac Seumalo (rest)
FULL PARTICIPATION: OLB Nick Herbig (hamstring)
