BALTIMORE — The Ravens are happy to be home.
Even at 1-6 and knowing their playoff hopes are all but gone with Thanksgiving still a few weeks away, Baltimore has the opportunity to go into its bye week on a high note with a win over struggling San Diego. The Ravens will play their next three games at M&T Bank Stadium, giving them an opportunity to inch back to respectability in the month of November.
Losers of three straight like the Ravens, the Chargers sport the top-ranked passing game in the NFL, which will pose a significant challenge to Dean Pees’ 28th-rank pass defense.
As expected, starting left tackle Eugene Monroe is inactive after being listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury suffered in the fourth quarter of the Week 7 loss to Arizona. He will be replaced by second-year tackle James Hurst, who started three games in place of Monroe earlier this season.
Safety Kendrick Lewis (knee) and left guard Kelechi Osemele (knee) are both active and will start despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Both practiced all week on a limited basis, and Lewis will be making his return after missing the Monday night game against the Cardinals.
Despite being listed as probable on the final injury report, second-year safety Terrence Brooks (thumb) is inactive for the third straight game.
Meanwhile, a banged-up Chargers team received good news Sunday morning with eight-time Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates (knee) being activated despite not practicing all week and missing last week’s game against Oakland. The Ravens defense has struggled to cover tight ends through the season, making Gates a dangerous presence in the San Diego passing game.
San Diego ruled out Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle (groin) and starting inside linebacker Manti Te’o (ankle) on the final injury report of the week.
Making his return to Baltimore, former Raven and current Chargers return specialist Jacoby Jones was out on the field early visiting with his old teammates as well as his former quarterback in Houston, Matt Schaub, before pre-game warmups.
Gene Steratore will be the referee for Sunday’s game.
The Ravens will be wearing purple jerseys and white pants while San Diego dons its white tops with navy blue pants.
The forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-60s and winds up to eight miles per hour, according to Weather.com.
Sunday marks the 11th all-time meeting between the Ravens and the Chargers with the teams splitting the first 10 contests. San Diego has won two of the last three against the Ravens and will be attempting to win in Baltimore for the second straight season, a rare achievement for any team over the last 15 years.
Below are Sunday’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
WR Jeremy Butler
WR Breshad Perriman
CB Tray Walker
S Terrence Brooks
OT Eugene Monroe
OL De’Ondre Wesley
DT Kapron Lewis-Moore
SAN DIEGO
CB Craig Mager
S Eric Weddle
RB Donald Brown
LB Manti Te’o
LB Denzel Perryman
LB Tourek Williams
G Orlando Franklin
