Paid Advertisement

Harbaugh, Ravens "not licking any wounds" in aftermath of Seattle loss

Paid Advertisement

Podcast Audio Vault

Paid Advertisement

With Reedโ€™s two fumbles and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, itโ€™s clear the second-year receiver wonโ€™t be returning kicks against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The man who will be back deep on kickoffs is anyoneโ€™s guess, however, as the Ravens continue to look for stability at the position after Reedโ€™s gaffes cost them dearly in Seattle.
โ€œI think weโ€™re looking for our kick returner,โ€ Harbaugh said. โ€œProbably [Lardarius] Webbโ€™s our best guy if you look at it, but heโ€™s a starting corner and heโ€™s our punt returner. You canโ€™t put too much on any one guyโ€™s plate. Weโ€™re looking for the best guy to do it. Thatโ€™s where weโ€™re at.โ€
The Ravens could elect to shift Webb to the kick return spot and use defensive back Chris Carr as their primary punt returner. Carr lacks the explosiveness needed to return kicks, but he is a safe choice to field punts cleanly and hand the ball back to the offense. Other options the Ravens might consider at kick returner would be LaQuan Williams (whose playing time as the No. 3 receiver has declined in recent weeks), reserve safety Tom Zbikowski, and starting wideout Torrey Smith.
Reed may find himself with another opportunity down the road, but Harbaughโ€™s message was clear regarding the return manโ€™s inability to protect the football on a play crucial to gaining field position.
โ€œYou canโ€™t turn the ball over,โ€ Harbaugh said. โ€œThatโ€™s job one, and David knows that. Thatโ€™s something that he works on very hard just like all our guys do. You canโ€™t turn the ball over, especially in a kickoff return situation. Itโ€™s just not something that weโ€™re going to be able to do and expect to win football games.โ€
Evans returning this week?
Despite practicing all last week on a limited basis, wide receiver Lee Evans missed his seventh straight game on Sunday with the left ankle injury heโ€™s battled since late August. The veteran did not suffer any setbacks in his return to practice, a good sign for a potential return to the field against the Bengals.
However, Harbaugh still wasnโ€™t ready to deem Evans ready to return after such a long layoff and just three days of limited work. The painfully familiar โ€œwait-and-seeโ€ approach will once again be at work regarding the 30-year-old receiverโ€™s status this week.
โ€œI think weโ€™ll see,โ€ Harbaugh said. โ€œThatโ€™s to be determined, you know. Always hopeful, but weโ€™ll have to see.โ€
The Ravens coach did not report any new injuries on Monday after the team returned to Owings Mills.

Share the Post:

Paid Advertisement

Right Now in Baltimore

Morton falters, Orioles bats go quiet in 8-2 loss to Toronto

Morton falters, Orioles bats go quiet in 8-2 loss to Toronto

Charlie Morton didn't make it out of the fourth inning in his Orioles debut, but Baltimore managed just three hits in its first defeat of the season.
Harbaugh, Ravens agree to three-year contract extension through 2028

Harbaugh, Ravens agree to three-year contract extension through 2028

Longtime head coach John Harbaugh had only one season remaining on his previous deal.
Birds bring the boom bats and big flys to Skydome on Opening Day

Birds bring the boom bats and big flys to Skydome on Opening Day

The Baltimore Orioles certainly appear posed to hit the ball this summer. As Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the big Opening Day win and big bats from Toronto, we wonder about Anthony Santander's move to the Blue Jays and howโ€ฆ

Paid Advertisement

Verified by MonsterInsights