M. Brown, Onwuasor back at practice as Ravens get ready for New England

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Aiming to make a statement against the defending Super Bowl champions and the AFC’s last undefeated team on Sunday night, the Ravens gladly welcomed back two starters in their first full practice since the bye week.
Sidelined since suffering ankle injuries in the Oct. 6 win at Pittsburgh, rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown and veteran inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor were limited participants in Wednesday’s workout. Head coach John Harbaugh said both remain “on track” to play against New England earlier this week, but Brown chose his words more carefully when asked to assess his chances of suiting up for Sunday’s game.
The Ravens are hoping a healthy Brown can help unlock a vertical passing game that’s largely been dormant since the first two games of the season when he registered a combined 12 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns. The injury to his right ankle was a frustrating development for the 2019 first-round pick, who missed spring workouts and the start of training camp while recovering from offseason Lisfranc surgery on his left foot.
“It’s very tough just to sit and watch after sitting and watching [previously] since I’ve been here,” Brown said. “It’s tough, but I have good teammates and good people around me.
“We’re taking it day by day. I want to be out there, so hopefully I can.”
Onwuasor is working his way back from a high ankle sprain and is expected to settle into a three-man rotation with starting “Mike” linebacker Josh Bynes and L.J. Fort, who started the last two games in Onwuasor’s absence. The arrivals of Bynes and Fort have helped stabilize an inside linebacker position that was very problematic early in the season, but Onwuasor’s ability to blitz from the weak-side spot could provide a boost to a pass rush that’s managed only 12 sacks in seven games.
In addition to Brown and Onwuasor, veteran cornerback Jimmy Smith is expected to make his long-awaited return from a right knee injury sustained in the Sept. 8 opener at Miami. The 31-year-old practiced on a limited basis two weeks ago before sitting out the Week 7 win in Seattle, but he deemed himself “ready to go” before Wednesday’s practice.
“Knees are a little different,” said Smith, who’s missed the last six games. “I just take it day by day working hard with the trainers and just making sure I feel good and taking care of the rest of my body because sometimes in rehab, that stuff kind of goes away. But we worked hard every day with that and made sure I could cut and do everything I needed to do to get out here for this week.”
Only one player on Baltimore’s 53-man roster was absent from Wednesday’s workout as free safety Earl Thomas sat out with a knee issue. It’s unclear whether he hurt his knee in the Seattle game or is dealing with more general soreness, but the six-time Pro Bowl selection has regularly received Wednesday practices off during the season, making his absence less concerning for the time being despite it coming off the bye week.
New England’s entire roster took part in Wednesday’s practice in some capacity, but 14-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tom Brady was limited due to a right shoulder issue. The 42-year-old’s status for Sunday isn’t believed to be in any danger, but the Patriots did re-sign backup quarterback Cody Kessler earlier this week.
The Patriots also listed wide receiver Julian Edelman (chest/shoulder), safety Patrick Chung (heel/chest), and right guard Shaq Mason (ankle) as limited participants. Mason sat out New England’s win against Cleveland last Sunday.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: S Earl Thomas (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Marquise Brown (ankle), CB Maurice Canady (thigh), LB Patrick Onwuasor (ankle), CB Jimmy Smith (knee)
NEW ENGLAND
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), RB Rex Burkhead (foot), S Patrick Chung (heel/chest), WR Julian Edelman (chest/shoulder), TE Ryan Izzo (concussion), TE Matt LaCosse (knee), G Shaq Mason (ankle), WR Gunner Olszewski (Ankle/hamstring)