McPhee ruled out, Ngata questionable for Sunday's game against Browns

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After missing practice all week recovering from lingering thigh and knee injuries, Ravens defensive end Pernell McPhee has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week after missing practices on Thursday and Friday with shoulder and knee injuries. However, the Pro Bowl defensive lineman is expected to play against Cleveland.
Assuming a starting role after the free-agent departure of veteran Cory Redding in March, McPhee has struggled through the first seven games of the season, collecting only 16 tackles and 1/2 sack. The second-year defensive end underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the spring and has been hampered with soreness throughout the season.
Third-year defensive end Arthur Jones is expected to start in McPhee’s place on Sunday.
“I’m just trying to get my knee back right,” McPhee said earlier Friday. “I’m pretty banged-up, nicks and bruises.”
McPhee admitted earlier in the week that he’s lacked the same explosiveness that allowed him to accumulate six sacks during part-time duties as a rookie last season. He was limited to just 16 snaps in the Ravens’ 43-13 loss to Houston two weeks ago.
The Ravens hope the extended rest that came with the bye week will allow McPhee to heal and become a bigger factor for a defensive line that’s been dominated at the line of scrimmage for much of the season.
“He has a very high standard for himself,” coach John Harbaugh said. “It means a lot to him, so when he says that, he means it. He’s been battling with a lot of nagging injuries that he’s working through right now. He didn’t practice this week, as you know. He’s working on that stuff.”
Ngata took part in Wednesday’s practice on a limited basis before sitting out the remainder of the week. He played in Week 7 against Houston on a limited basis, taking only 48 of the team’s 80 defensive snaps.
The All-Pro defensive tackle suffered a sprained MCL in the Ravens’ win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6. Harbaugh didn’t offer much when asked about Ngata’s progress on Friday.
“We’ll see. He’s working on it,” Harbaugh said.
Wide receiver LaQuan Williams was added to the final injury report after presumably having an ankle issue creep up during Friday’s practice. He was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (foot) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (abs) were both designated as probable to play after being limited in practices all week.
Meanwhile, the Browns have ruled out defensive back Dimitri Patterson and defensive lineman Brian Sanford for Sunday’s game. Standout inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week.
Cleveland also announced that defensive tackle Phil Taylor has been activated from the physically unable to perform list. He is expected to play against the Ravens.
BALTIMORE
OUT: DE Pernell McPhee (thigh)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Haloti Ngata (shoulder), WR LaQuan Williams (ankle)
PROBABLE: WR Jacoby Jones (foot), CB Jimmy Smith (abs), CB Chykie Brown (ankle), TE Ed Dickson (hand), WR Tandon Doss (illness), LB Dannell Ellerbe (hand), S James Ihedigbo (hand), DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu (knee), T Bryant McKinnie (thigh), T Michael Oher (ankle), T Kelechi Osemele (ankle), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder/chest), LB Terrell Suggs (ankle), DT DeAngelo Tyson (foot), G Marshal Yanda (shoulder)
CLEVELAND
OUT: DB Dimitri Patterson (ankle), DL Brian Sanford (knee)
DOUBTFUL: DL Ahtyba Rubin (calf)
QUESTIONABLE: LB D’Qwell Jackson (foot/toe), WR Josh Cooper (thigh)
PROBABLE: DL John Hughes (arm), DB Ray Ventrone (hand/calf), DB T.J. Ward (hand/shoulder), DB Tashaun Gipson (knee), LB James-Michael Johnson (knee/groin), OL Shawn Lauvao (groin), WR Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring), RB Chris Ogbonnaya (chest/ribs), DL Frostee Rucker (shoulder/toe), OL Jarrod Shaw (illness), QB Brandon Weeden (groin/thigh), LS Christian Yount (shoulder), DB Johnson Bademosi (hip), DL Juqua Parker, RB Trent Richardson (chest/rib)