Despite early optimism that Mark Ingram wouldn’t miss any further game action after injuring his ankle just before the bye week, the Ravens listed the Pro Bowl running back as doubtful to play against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Ingram missed his third straight workout on Friday and hasn’t seen the practice field since hurting his left ankle in the first half of the Oct. 18 win at Philadelphia. John Harbaugh said last week that the 30-year-old would “probably” be able to play against the Steelers, but the head coach sounded more cautious this week and wouldn’t address Ingram’s status after Friday’s practice, instead deferring to the final injury report.
With Ingram not expected to play against the Steelers, the Ravens will lean more heavily on the combination of Gus Edwards and rookie J.K. Dobbins. Yet to play an offensive snap in the two games in which he’s been active this season, second-year running back Justice Hill could also find himself in the mix for some touches.
Veteran cornerback Jimmy Smith (Achilles) was officially designated as questionable after returning to practice on a limited basis on Friday. The 32-year-old missed Thursday’s workout after surfacing on the injury report the previous day, but it’s unclear whether his Achilles tendon issue is related to the left one he tore in 2017. Should Smith be unavailable or limited on Sunday, the Ravens would be faced with moving Marlon Humphrey from the nickel position back to an outside corner spot and asking unproven rookie Khalil Dorsey to cover Steelers slot receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Defensive back Anthony Levine was also listed as questionable after sitting out the Week 6 win over the Eagles due to an abdominal strain and practicing on a limited basis all week.
The Steelers designated nickel cornerback Mike Hilton (shoulder) and fullback Derek Watt (hamstring) as questionable after both practiced on a limited basis on Friday and sat out last week’s win at Tennessee. Reserve safety and former Towson star Jordan Dangerfield (quadriceps) and ex-Ravens defensive lineman Chris Wormley (knee) were both ruled out for Sunday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Though wide receiver Dez Bryant wasn’t elevated from the practice squad to play against the Steelers after taking part in his first NFL practices in nearly two years, Harbaugh offered a favorable review of the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who hasn’t appeared in a game since the end of the 2017 season. Bryant will turn 32 next week and has 73 touchdown receptions in his career, all of them with the Dallas Cowboys.
“He was [playing Steelers wide receiver] Chase Claypool on the scout team and did a great job of it,” Harbaugh said. “I thought he had a good week. You know it’s only three practices in after quite a layoff, but he looked good and he’s excited. We had a great talk before practice. He’s excited, and he’s going hard. I thought he acquitted himself very well.”
According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast in Baltimore calls for rain showers and temperatures approaching the high 50s with winds 10 to 15 miles per hour and a 70-percent chance of precipitation.
Below is the final injury report for Week 8:
BALTIMORE
DOUBTFUL: RB Mark Ingram (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: DB Anthony Levine (abdomen), CB Jimmy Smith (knee)
PITTSBURGH
OUT: S Jordan Dangerfield (quadriceps), LB Ulysees Gilbert (back), DL Chris Wormley (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Mike Hilton (shoulder), FB Derek Watt (hamstring)
