OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Facing one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses and arguably their biggest test of the season to date, the Ravens will officially be without starting free safety Marcus Williams against Detroit on Sunday.
Having just returned from a pectoral injury in Week 5, Williams hurt his hamstring in the third quarter of last Sunday’s 24-16 win over Tennessee in London, and Baltimore wasn’t anticipating him being ready to play against the Lions. Fortunately, backup Geno Stone has excelled in his place — starting 10 games since the start of last year — and collected his league-leading third interception of the season against the Titans in Week 6.
With Williams sidelined and special-teams contributor and backup cornerback Kevon Seymour (ankle) also out for Sunday’s game, the Ravens are likely to elevate a safety from the practice squad with veteran DeAndre Houston-Carson the most likely candidate over rookie Jeremy Lucien and the just-signed Andrew Adams. After spending a large portion of the preseason with Baltimore, the 30-year-old Houston-Carson re-signed to the practice squad earlier this month and would contribute on special teams while providing depth behind Stone and Kyle Hamilton. With Hamilton being ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit and Williams exiting in the third quarter last week, the Ravens were forced to move starting cornerback Brandon Stephens to safety for the remainder of the game.
While Williams will miss his fourth game of the season, the Ravens will be happy to welcome back outside linebacker Odafe Oweh after his own four-game absence. Oweh hasn’t played since injuring his ankle in the Week 2 win at Cincinnati, but he practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and doesn’t carry a game status designation for Sunday, meaning he’ll rejoin an outside linebacker rotation that’s been led by veterans Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy. Trying to take the next step after a disappointing second season, the 24-year-old Oweh played well in the 2023 opener against Houston with Pro Football Focus crediting him with seven total pressures and four quarterbacks hits.
“He’ll take a lot of reps I’m sure — as much as he can where he’s at health-wise,” head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. “We have a bunch of guys rotating in now. … It’s a good group, and it’s great to have Odafe back.”
The Lions ruled out starting running back David Montgomery (ribs) and starting left guard Jonah Jackson (ankle) after neither practiced this week. However, a pair of talented rookies — first-round running back Jahmyr Gibbs and second-round defensive back Brian Branch — will return to action after two-week absences.
Veteran running back Craig Reynolds was listed as questionable with hamstring and toe injuries that limited him in practice this week, making his status something to monitor with Montgomery already out for Week 7.
Detroit may also activate 2022 second-round defensive end Josh Paschal, who’s been on injured reserve with a knee issue since the second week of the season.
Below is the final injury report for Sunday’s game:
BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Kevon Seymour (ankle), S Marcus Williams (hamstring)
DETROIT
OUT: G Jonah Jackson (ankle), RB David Montgomery (ribs)
QUESTIONABLE: TE James Mitchell (hamstring), DL Josh Paschal (knee), RB Craig Reynolds (hamstring/toe)
