OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Having surrendered a season-high seven sacks in the 20-19 loss at Pittsburgh, the Ravens offensive line faces another big challenge with its second meeting with Cleveland in the last three weeks on Sunday.
Though having limited the Browns’ formidable defensive front to two sacks in the 16-10 win on Nov. 28, Baltimore also had the services of right tackle Patrick Mekari, who’s expected to miss Sunday’s game with a left hand injury sustained in the first half against the Steelers. One of the more pleasant surprises in a season that’s required plenty of replacement starters due to injuries, Mekari had just returned in Week 11 from an ankle injury sustained before the bye and could now miss “a few weeks,” according to head coach John Harbaugh.
With Mekari sidelined again, the Ravens will turn to second-year offensive lineman Tyre Phillips, who predictably struggled against All-Pro pass rusher T.J. Watt on Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus, Phillips surrendered five pressures and a sack in 34 offensive snaps. Coaches have acknowledged in the past that the 2020 third-round pick out of Mississippi State is better suited inside — he started the season opener at left guard before injuring his knee — but the Ravens have few alternatives with Phillips already being the fourth player to start at either tackle spot this season.
Phillips has played 292 offensive snaps and started three games this season with PFF grading him 79th out of 83 qualified offensive tackles.
“Tyre is a developing player [with] worlds of potential, and we believe in him,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “He got thrown out there. He did OK at times, and he can do better. He knows it, and we know it. That’s what we’re working towards. Tyre has worlds of potential [with] a lot of attributes you want. He’s a really dialed-in guy, and he just needs to go out there and do it down in and down out.”
Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva hasn’t fared a whole lot better in place of the injured Ronnie Stanley with PFF grading him 56th among offensive tackles this season.
In addition to Mekari, the Ravens again practiced without fullback Patrick Ricard (back) and tight end Nick Boyle (illness/knee). Ricard has practiced sparingly in recent weeks because of an array of ailments, but Boyle appears in danger of missing his second straight game as he continues a trying return from last year’s serious knee injury.
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The secondary remains a hot topic for discussion following the loss of top cornerback Marlon Humphrey for the remainder of the season, but defensive coordinator Wink Martindale expressed optimism about healthy versions of Chris Westry and Tavon Young stepping up down the stretch. Both are practicing fully this week after Westry missed the last two games with a thigh injury and Young was limited to just eight snaps against the Steelers due to illness.
“We hope that [Westry’s] healthy, No. 1. When he’s healthy and he can practice, he’s a good corner,” Martindale said. “So we’ll see what happens of who ends up playing.
“Like Tavon — the guy is tough as nails. And to play with the injuries that he’s had, the injuries that he’s had this year even. Then, he was sick as a dog at Pittsburgh. To get a healthy Tavon will be good for us, so we’ll see. Like I said, a lot of guys are going to have to play a lot of different spots.”
After sitting out Wednesday’s practice due to an illness, defensive end Calais Campbell returned to participate fully.
Below is Thursday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Nick Boyle (illness/knee), OL Patrick Mekari (hand), FB Patrick Ricard (back), OT Alejandro Villanueva (non-injury), DT Brandon Williams (non-injury)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Anthony Averett (knee), WR Miles Boykin (finger), S Chuck Clark (non-injury), DB Anthony Levine (knee), CB Kevon Seymour (illness), S Brandon Stephens (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION: DE Calais Campbell (illness), OLB Jaylon Ferguson (illness), CB Chris Westry (thigh)
CLEVELAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Harrison Bryant (ankle), DT Malik Jackson (knee), WR Anthony Schwartz (concussion), C JC Tretter (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DT Jordan Ellott (knee), S Ronnie Harrison (ankle), WR Jarvis Landry (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION: QB Baker Mayfield (foot/left shoulder), LB Sione Takitaki (shoulder)
