OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens could welcome back a pair of key defensive players for Sunday’s big interconference showdown with Philadelphia.
All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday while Baltimore designated veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce to return to practice from injured reserve. Pierce, 32, has been on IR since injuring his right calf in the Week 8 loss at Cleveland and now enters a practice window of up to 21 days before the Ravens must activate him.
Smith was inactive for Monday’s win at Los Angeles, but he completed an extensive pregame workout, a sign that he was close to returning. He hurt his right hamstring in the second half of the Week 11 loss at Pittsburgh, which resulted in the 27-year-old missing his first game as a Raven because of injury.
With the Ravens preparing to face an explosive Eagles offense featuring NFL leading rusher Saquon Barkley and one of the league’s best offensive lines, Smith and Pierce playing would provide a major lift. Asked specifically about Pierce, head coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens have their “fingers crossed” that he can be ready to play Sunday.
Rookie safety Sanoussi Kane (ankle) also returned to practice after sitting out Week 12.
Tight end Charlie Kolar was not present for Wednesday’s practice after he suffered a broken forearm in the second half of the 30-23 win over the Chargers. That injury is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks and could land him on IR.
“We’re going to put another guy out there. We’re going to play with 11 guys, for sure,” Harbaugh said. “Whenever Charlie was going to be in there, there’ll be another player on the field doing football stuff and running plays and blocking and catching and whatever else would happen for that position. So, that’s how we’ll handle it.”
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Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) and cornerback Arthur Maulet (calf/knee) were also absent from Wednesday’s workout.
The Ravens re-signed tight end Scotty Washington to their practice squad, which provides another potential option to help out in Kolar’s absence.
The Eagles practiced without standout wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay (concussion) on Wednesday. Smith was inactive for Week 12 while Slay sustained a concussion in the Sunday night win over the Los Angeles Rams.
The Ravens conducted a walk-through without helmets, so their injury report is a practice estimation.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Charlie Kolar (forearm), CB Arthur Maulet (calf/knee), OLB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DT Travis Jones (ankle), S Sanoussi Kane (ankle), NT Michael Pierce (calf), ILB Roquan Smith (hamstring)
PHILADELPHIA
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Kelee Ringo (calf), CB Darius Slay (concussion), WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: RB Saquon Barkley (rest), G Mekhi Becton (rest), G Landon Dickerson (rest), OT Lane Johnson (rest), C Cam Jurgens (rest), OT Jordan Mailata (rest), OLB Josh Sweat (rest)
