Mosley returns to practice as Ravens continue waiting on Steve Smith

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Holding their first practice open to media since the bye, the Ravens welcomed back a key defensive player while continuing to wait on one of their top offensive contributors.
Inside linebacker C.J. Mosley practiced for the first time since injuring his hamstring in the second half of Baltimore’s Week 5 loss to Washington on Oct. 9. The 2014 Pro Bowl selection worked on a limited basis and was doing various agility drills during the portion of practice open to media.
“We felt like three weeks would be a good enough time to try to get back out there and test things,” Mosley said. “This whole time I’ve just been physical therapy, biking, and running on the turf. This is the actual [first] time to be really running and cutting and making moves. It felt pretty good.”
Wide receiver Steve Smith (ankle) was not present for Wednesday’s workout, leaving his status for Sunday’s critical meeting with Pittsburgh in question. The 37-year-old sprained his ankle in the first quarter of the Washington game and hasn’t played since then as the Ravens offense has continued to struggle in the midst of a four-game losing streak. With Smith enduring such a lengthy absence, one would think he would need at least a couple days of practice to get ready for a return to live-game action.
Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil (foot) was also absent on Wednesday and appears unlikely to play against the Steelers. The five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher has appeared in just two games this season in a frustrating recovery from offseason foot surgery.
Linebacker Terrell Suggs (biceps), offensive linemen Marshal Yanda (shoulder) and Ronnie Stanley (foot), return specialist Devin Hester (groin), and defensive backs Shareece Wright (hamstring) and Lardarius Webb (hamstring) were all present and working. Suggs and Yanda returned to the field during the bye-week practices after missing action in October.
The Ravens are hoping to have their entire starting offensive line on the field together for the first time since Week 3 after both Yanda and Stanley practiced fully on Wednesday.
“We’re excited about it. Everybody is working hard out there,” said Yanda, who missed his first regular-season action since the end of the 2012 regular season. “We’re just putting together a good game plan and getting ready to go out and have a good game on Sunday. That’s what it’s all about. We’re taking those steps toward Sunday.”
Tight end Crockett Gillmore (thigh) and linebacker Kamalei Correa (thigh) were absent during the portion of practice open to media. Correa appeared to leave the field with the injury during last Tuesday’s workout and did not participate in the Ravens’ final workout last week, but Gillmore appeared to be a full participant in bye-week activities, making his sudden absence more curious.
Baltimore signed tight end Nic Jacobs to the practice squad on Wednesday, a day after releasing running back Stephen Houston.
Meanwhile, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (knee) and running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday. Roethlisberger is attempting to return less than three weeks after undergoing left knee surgery.
“We’re going to take it one day at a time,” Roethlisberger told reporters in Pittsburgh prior to Wednesday’s practice. “I don’t know anything new. We’ll go out today and see how it feels.”
Below is the first full injury report of the week:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Kamalei Correa (thigh), LB Elvis Dumervil (foot), TE Crockett Gillmore (thigh), WR Steve Smith Sr. (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: LB C.J. Mosley (thigh), CB Shareece Wright (thigh)
FULL PARTICIPATION: OT Ronnie Stanley (foot), LB Terrell Suggs (bicep), CB Lardarius Webb (thigh), G Marshal Yanda (shoulder), CB Tavon Young (concussion)
PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: G David DeCastro (non-injury), C Cody Wallace (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: QB Ben Roethlisberger (left knee), RB DeAngelo Williams (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Antonio Brown (hip), OT Marcus Gilbert (ankle), DE Cameron Heyward (hamstring), S Shamarko Thomas (groin), WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder)