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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Looking for their first win in Buffalo in the 18-year history of the franchise, the Ravens are looking for their fifth consecutive 3-1 start under head coach John Harbaugh on Sunday afternoon.
The Ravens will have the services of Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice, who is active and will return to game action after missing the Week 3 win over Houston while recovering from a left hip flexor strain. Rice practiced all week on a limited basis and was considered a game-time decision, and it remains to be seen how much of the workload he’ll handle as backup Bernard Pierce is expected to receive plenty of carries against Buffalo.
Defensive end Chris Canty is active and will play after missing the Houston game with a groin injury, but veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley is inactive after he suffered a groin injury in the final practice of the week. The 37-year-old wideout had been listed as questionable.
Wide receiver Deonte Thompson and defensive tackle Brandon Williams are both active and will make their 2013 season debuts after both suffered injuries in the preseason. With Stokley out for Sunday’s game, Thompson and Tandon Doss could factor into the game plan at the wide receiver position more than you would have expected.
Third-string running back Shaun Draughn is active despite being severely limited with a high ankle sprain over the course of the week.
Meanwhile, the Bills secondary has been gutted by injuries as starting cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore and free safety Jairus Byrd are all inactive for the 19th-ranked pass defense in the league. Starting strong safety Aaron Williams will move to a cornerback spot and former Ravens safety Jim Leonhard will start at strong safety on Sunday afternoon.
Buffalo and Baltimore are meeting for the sixth time in regular-season history with the Ravens enjoying the 4-1 edge over the Bills. This is the second times these teams have met in western New York.
The Ravens will be wearing white jerseys and white pants while the Bills are sporting blue jerseys with white pants in their home stadium.
Sunday’s referee is Jerome Boger, who officiated Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
The forecast calls for temperatures to reach the low 70s, but winds of up to 15 to 25 miles per hour could be a factor Sunday afternoon.
Here are Sunday’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
WR Brandon Stokley
WR Jacoby Jones
S Jeromy Miles
LB Arthur Brown
DT Terrence Cody
OL Jah Reid
OL Ryan Jensen
BUFFALO
K Dustin Hopkins
CB Leodis McKelvin
CB Stephon Gilmore
S Jairus Byrd
CB Ron Brooks
OL Doug Legursky
WR Marquise Goodwin
Follow WNST on Twitter throughout the afternoon for updates and analysis as Nestor Aparicio and I bring live coverage from Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.
