It’s a new week, but the same list of inactives for the Ravens as they face Cleveland in their second game of the 2016 regular season.
Despite missing practices all week with a lingering ankle issue, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith was indeed active for Sunday’s game against the Browns. With five-time Pro Bowl selection Elvis Dumervil out for the second straight week, the Ravens will need Smith to serve in a pass-rushing capacity opposite veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.
It will be interesting to see how many snaps Smith will play after he led all Baltimore outside linebackers in that department against Buffalo.
Third-year offensive lineman John Urschel was inactive for the second straight game after head coach John Harbaugh declared him ready to play earlier in the week. Rookie Alex Lewis will start again at left guard and appears to have secured the job until he proves incapable of handling it.
Urschel has been a full participant in practices over the last two weeks after dealing with a shoulder injury during training camp. His deactivation meant the Ravens had only two reserve offensive linemen available against Cleveland.
Running back Buck Allen was also a healthy scratch for the second straight week, creating more questions about his status once rookie Kenneth Dixon returns from a knee injury. In the last meeting with the Browns last November, Allen ran for 55 yards and caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown in a 33-27 win.
Despite missing Wednesday’s practice with a calf injury, wide receiver Breshad Perriman was among the actives for Sunday’s game. He participated fully in workouts the rest of the week.
Cornerback Jerraud Powers (ankle) practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, but he remained inactive after being listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week.
There were no surprises among the Cleveland inactives as the Browns prepared for their home opener.
Sunday’s referee is John Hussey.
According to Weather.com, the Sunday afternoon forecast in Cleveland calls for mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-70s with winds up to nine miler per hour. However, the previous threat of scattered thunderstorms has disappeared.
The Ravens will wear purple jerseys with white pants while the Browns don white tops with brown pants.
Sunday marks the 35th meeting between these AFC North foes with Baltimore enjoying an overwhelming 25-9 advantage. The Ravens are 12-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Below are Sunday’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
CB Jerraud Powers
RB Kenneth Dixon
CB Will Davis
RB Buck Allen
OLB Elvis Dumervil
OL John Urschel
DT Willie Henry
CLEVELAND
DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
DB Marcus Burley
LB Scooby Wright
OL Shon Coleman
WR Jordan Payton
DL John Hughes
DL Gabe Wright
