OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Less than 48 hours after losing standout running back J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending knee injury, the Ravens welcomed wide receiver Marquise Brown back to practice for the first time in a month.
Sidelined since July 29th with a hamstring injury suffered over the first two days of full-team training camp, Brown was scheduled to participate in Monday’s closed walk-through, according to head coach John Harbaugh. Considering the 2019 first-round pick had been working out on a side field during practices for the better part of the last three weeks, his return was considered imminent with the preseason now in the books.
“He’ll be practicing today, so we’ll see how he does and how he looks,” Harbaugh said. “He’s excited.”
With the running game’s ceiling taking a hit with Dobbins going down, the Ravens will need more from the passing attack with Brown factoring heavily into that equation. Counting the 2020 postseason, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound wideout registered 37 receptions for 534 yards and six touchdowns over the final eight games last year.
Brown wasn’t the only offensive player to return Monday with Harbaugh announcing quarterback Trace McSorley would take part in the walk-through. Sidelined with a back injury since the Aug. 14 preseason opener, McSorley now appears unlikely to land on injured reserve, so it will be interesting to see whether general manager Eric DeCosta elects to carry him on the 53-man roster as the No. 3 quarterback or place him on waivers and attempt to re-sign him to the practice squad.
One player not ready to return to practice Monday was veteran cornerback Jimmy Smith, who’s been out with a left ankle injury sustained on Aug. 6. Harbaugh initially described the injury as a low sprain that would only keep him out for a week or two, but the 33-year-old’s availability for the start of the regular season is now in doubt.
“It turned out to be a little more serious than we initially thought, so he’s not practicing this week,” Harbaugh said. “I’m very hopeful that he’ll practice next week. He’ll be back, if not next week, very early in the season. It just didn’t come around as quickly as I think they thought it was going to in terms of his ankle. But it’s an ankle sprain, just a little slower recovery than they anticipated.”
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Boyle activated from PUP list
The status of Nick Boyle remains in question, but the blocking tight end won’t begin the season on the reserve physically unable to perform list.
On Monday, Baltimore activated the 28-year-old, which means he won’t be missing the first six games of the season as he works his way back to full strength from the serious knee injury suffered last November. A cleanup procedure in June delayed Boyle’s return to the practice field to the point where he isn’t expected back for Week 1.
“He’s getting close, but he’s not ready to play yet. Eric will figure that out,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t anticipate him being ready for the first game, but I do anticipate him being ready early in the season. That’s where we’re at with that.”
With Boyle still not healthy enough to practice, the Ravens could choose to placed him on injured reserve, which would require him to miss the first three games of the season. However, Boyle would need to be included on the initial 53-man roster to be eligible to return from IR.
More roster moves
The Ravens terminated the contract of offensive lineman Michael Schofield and waived wide receivers Devin Gray and Siaosi Mariner. Schofield, 30, had been auditioning for the swing tackle role and saw extensive action at left tackle during the preseason while Gray and Mariner were roster long shots.
Dobbins was also placed on season-ending IR, officially bringing the roster count to 74 players by Monday evening. The Ravens must set their initial 53-man roster by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
