OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith returned to the field for the final practice of the week and is apparently good to go for Sunday’s game in Oakland.
Despite a questionable designation on the final injury report, head coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens were merely giving Smith some rest for his sore Achilles tendon this week. The seventh-year defensive back was replaced periodically by rookie Marlon Humphrey during the Week 4 loss to Pittsburgh, a sign that he’s been dealing with the issue for some time.
Smith was a full participant in Friday’s light practice.
“I know we didn’t announce that, but [his status] was not a question,” Harbaugh said. “He’s good.”
The Ravens will need Smith to be at full strength since Raiders wide receivers Michael Crabtree (chest) and Amari Cooper (knee) were full participants in Thursday and Friday practices and were not listed on the final injury report. Crabtree sat out his team’s Week 4 loss at Denver, but he has registered 16 catches for 199 yards and four touchdowns in his last two games against the Ravens.
Defensive tackle Brandon Williams (foot) was once again absent from practice and has been ruled out for the third consecutive game. Tight end Maxx Williams (ankle) will also miss his third straight contest, but he did some limited work on his own before leaving the field during the media viewing portion of practice on Friday.
Tight end Benjamin Watson (calf) returned to practice fully on Friday after missing workouts earlier in the week. He was officially listed as questionable, but he also sat out two practices last week before registering five catches for 43 yards against the Steelers.
Veteran defensive back Lardarius Webb (thigh) and rookie cornerback Jaylen Hill (hamstring) were present and working on Friday. Webb was listed as questionable to go against the Raiders, but he is expected to play after completing two full practices without incident. Hill is doubtful to play after missing more than a month with a hamstring injury, but Harbaugh liked what he saw from the undrafted free agent in his limited practice work this week.
“It was good to see him back,” Harbaugh said. “He looked good, moved well, had a couple interceptions out there during the course of the week. That was good to see.”
The Ravens also listed wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hand) and defensive back Anthony Levine (thigh) as questionable, but neither is in danger of missing Sunday’s game.
There was a more interesting development with the Raiders’ final injury report as quarterback Derek Carr (back) was listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis for the second straight day. Head coach Jack Del Rio announced at the beginning of the week that Carr suffered a transverse process fracture in his back in Week 4 — an injury that typically sidelines a player for two to six weeks — but the Raiders are at least making it look like their starting quarterback has a chance to play Sunday.
Whether it’s merely some gamesmanship or an amazing recovery by Carr, the Ravens need to be be prepared for a quarterback who’s thrown for 550 yards and seven touchdowns in two career games against them. If Carr doesn’t play, E.J. Manuel would start at quarterback for Oakland.
The Raiders also listed starting right guard Gabe Jackson as questionable after he missed practice time this week with a foot injury.
As is their normal routine for games on the West Coast, the Ravens traveled to Oakland Friday afternoon to give themselves an extra day to adjust to the three-hour time change. Baltimore hasn’t won a game in the Pacific Time Zone since the 2012 season and is winless in its last five road games against AFC West and NFC West opponents.
According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast in Oakland calls for mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s with winds 10 to 15 miles per hour and only a 10-percent chance of precipitation.
Below is the final injury report of the week:
BALTIMORE
OUT: DT Brandon Williams (foot), TE Maxx Williams (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: CB Jaylen Hill (thigh)
QUESTIONABLE: DB Anthony Levine (thigh), WR Jeremy Maclin (hand), CB Jimmy Smith (Achilles), TE Benjamin Watson (calf), DB Lardarius Webb (thigh)
OAKLAND
QUESTIONABLE: CB David Amerson (concussion), QB Derek Carr (back), CB Gareon Conley (shin), G Gabe Jackson (foot), RB DeAndre Washington (hamstring)
