On the same day he returned to the practice field for the first time since mid-December, Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith agreed to return for the 2021 season as well.
The 32-year-old defensive back and Baltimore struck a one-year, $2.5 million agreement with incentives pushing the maximum value of the deal to $5 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract assures Smith of returning for an 11th season with the Ravens and keeps him off a free-agent market that didn’t prove particularly fruitful for him last March.
Though Smith entered the 2020 season expecting to play more of a hybrid safety role in certain sub packages, a season-ending knee injury to slot cornerback Tavon Young in Week 2 pushed him to an outside corner spot in the nickel package, essentially a starting role in today’s game. The 2011 first-round pick played at a high level over the first half of the season, but various injuries have limited him to a total of 59 snaps over the last seven games.
It’s the unfortunate story of Smith’s career as the 6-foot-2, 210-pound corner has played more than 12 games in a season just twice in 10 years. He’s missed each of the last two contests since suffering a shoulder injury in the first half of the Week 14 win at Cleveland.
“I think he’s going to come back with a revenge [mentality] even this year and next year,” outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said. “He just means a lot. He’s a Raven. He’s been a Raven his whole career. He’s still a Raven. You can tell how much [general manager] Eric DeCosta believes in him. He still can play.”
Smith’s limited participation in Thursday’s workout was an encouraging sign a day after starting cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) returned to practice from his two-game absence. Top cornerback Marlon Humphrey also practiced on a limited basis after sitting out Wednesday due to knee and shoulder issues. With Humphrey being shaken up and missing five defensive snaps in last Sunday’s win over the New York Giants, the Ravens were down to the cornerback trio of Anthony Averett, Tramon Williams, and Pierre Desir at one point in the third quarter.
Peters was upgraded to full participation on Thursday, which bodes well for his availability in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati. Defensive end Calais Campbell (calf) also practiced fully after sitting out on Wednesday.
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Edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue (thigh), center Patrick Mekari (back), and slot receiver Willie Snead (ankle) were absent from practice for a second straight day after exiting Sunday’s win over the Giants.
In response to losing Sam Koch to the reserve-COVID-19 list on Wednesday, the Ravens have signed punter Johnny Townsend to their 53-man roster off Kansas City’s practice squad. Townsend spent part of training camp with Baltimore and was the full-time punter for the Oakland Raiders in 2018.
Koch’s status remains unclear after an inconclusive test landed him on the COVID-19 list, but Townsend provides insurance as both a punter and holder, the latter arguably being the more important job for the Ravens and their surging offense for Week 17.
“It’ll be a situation that we’ll assess over the next couple days,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “I can guarantee you this — we’ll be prepared for whatever situation arises.”
The Ravens also signed former Detroit safety Jayron Kearse to their practice squad to add needed depth in the secondary. With the NFL recently tweaking its COVID-19 protocols for any player who was already being tested daily with his previous team, both Townsend and Kearse will be eligible to play against the Bengals on Sunday.
Per Thursday’s transaction sheet, the Ravens also activated cornerback Terrell Bonds from injured reserve, which will require an additional roster move. Bonds returned to practice on Dec. 16 from a knee injury suffered in the Nov. 15 loss at New England.
For Cincinnati, cornerback William Jackson III and wide receiver Tyler Boyd remain in the concussion protocol, but Boyd has worked on a limited basis each of the last two days, typically a sign of a player close to being cleared to return to action.
8Below is Thursday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: RB Mark Ingram (illness), C Patrick Mekari (back), DE Yannick Ngakoue (thigh), WR Willie Snead (ankle), DT Brandon Williams (non-injury)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Marlon Humphrey (knee/shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (ribs/shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION: DE Calais Campbell (calf), CB Marcus Peters (calf)
CINCINNATI
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: C B.J. Finney (abdomen), CB William Jackson III (concussion), LB Logan Wilson (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Tyler Boyd (concussion), LB Jordan Evans (hamstring), WR Tee Higgins (hamstring), CB Darius Phillips (non-injury)
