OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens continued preparations for Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the Denver Broncos without two key members of their backfield on Wednesday.
Fullback Vonta Leach (ankle) was absent during the open portion of practice while running back Bernard Pierce didn’t participate in practice for the second straight day with a knee injury. Dealing with an ankle injury for the better part of a month, Leach appeared to be practicing on Tuesday, but the Ravens did not release an injury report. He has received periodic days of rest over the last few weeks of practice, so his absence on Wednesday should be regarded with little concern.
Despite rushing for a game-high 103 yards in the Ravens’ 24-9 wild-card playoff win over Indianapois, Pierce was listed as limited all last week in practices with an ankle injury. However, the rookie was listed as having a knee injury on the first edition of this week’s report.
Left guard Jah Reid was absent for the second straight day as he continues to recover from a toe injury that kept him out of the first round of the playoffs. All signs are pointing to the Ravens staying with the same offensive line they used last Sunday, which included veteran Bryant McKinnie making his first start of the season.
Listed as a limited participant on Wednesday, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was practicing for the second straight day after leaving Sunday’s win with a sprained ankle. The fourth-year defensive player has dealt with the same ankle injury since late November, which forced him to miss three games last month.
The Broncos had only one player listed as a non-participant as cornerback Tracy Porter sat out with a concussion on Wednesday.
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: FB Vonta Leach (knee/ankle), RB Bernard Pierce (knee), G Jah Reid (toe)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Anquan Boldin (shoulder), WR Tandon Doss (ankle), LB Adrian Hamilton (illness), LB Ray Lewis (triceps), LB Albert McClellan (shoulder), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), DT Haloti Ngata (knee), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (abdominal), LB Terrell Suggs (achilles/bicep), G Marshal Yanda (shoulder)
DENVER
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Tracy Porter (concussion)
FULL PARTICIPATION: S Mike Adams (knee), T Ryan Clady (shoulder), T Orlando Franklin (knee), WR Trindon Holliday (ankle), G Chris Kuper (ankle), S Jim Leonhard (thigh), WR Matt Willis (knee)
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
Podcast Audio Vault
Share the Post:
Right Now in Baltimore
Twelve Orioles Thoughts following series win in Kansas City
Coby Mayo's long home run capped a six-run explosion in the sixth inning of Wednesday's win over the Royals.
More Orioles grand slams mean more Home Run Riches cash
The Baltimore Orioles are battling almost every night to win games and The Maryland Lottery Home Run Riches winners are cashing big checks with every big fly. Seth Elkin joins Nestor for some baseball chatter and another Birds' grand slam this week in addition to lots of fun winner stories and unclaimed big tickets this spring.
Orioles continue to contend in AL East despite injuries and slowly warming bats
It's been far from perfect but it's been good enough for the Orioles to remain very much in the hunt in the American League East as the scuffling Boston Red Sox come to Camden Yards this weekend. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the Birds taking two of three in Kansas City and tip-toeing through all sorts of injuries, cold bats and a bullpen that's provided much-needed relief to help them hover near .500 while awaiting better health and Camden Yards cooking.



















