EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Ravens are seeking a fresh start under new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg after the dismissal of Marc Trestman this past week.
The problem is having three offensive starters inactive for the Week 6 meeting with the New York Giants as both teams attempt to snap losing streaks on Sunday. As expected, No. 1 wide receiver Steve Smith (ankle), Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder), and rookie left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot) were all deactivated by Baltimore after missing practices and being listed as doubtful to play this week.
Smith left last Sunday’s loss to Washington in the first quarter and did not return while Yanda is missing his first game since the end of the 2012 regular season. Stanley practiced on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday, but he will now miss his third straight game with a lingering foot ailment.
With Stanley out, fellow rookie Alex Lewis will make his second straight start at left tackle with John Urschel starting once again at left guard. Ryan Jensen will start at right guard in place of Yanda.
Despite veteran right tackle Rick Wagner (thigh) being active, he is not 100 percent and may only be available as an emergency backup. Third-year lineman James Hurst was working as the starting right tackle during pre-game warmups.
The defense is also in rough shape as linebackers Elvis Dumervil (foot) and C.J. Mosley (hamstring) will not play after being deactivated. Dumervil was shut down again this week after quiet performances in his first two games since returning from offseason foot surgery. Mosley hurt his hamstring in the second half of the Week 5 loss to Washington and didn’t return.
With Mosley out, third-year inside linebacker Zach Orr will relay the defensive calls in the huddle and veteran Albert McClellan will move inside. Dumervil’s absence should lead to more pass-rushing opportunities for the likes of Za’Darius Smith, Matt Judon, and possibly Kamalei Correa on Sunday.
Veteran return specialist Devin Hester (thigh) is also inactive after missing practices on Thursday and Friday. How the Ravens elect to handle the return duties is more of a mystery as veterans Lardarius Webb, Mike Wallace, and Terrance West and rookies Chris Moore, Kenneth Dixon, and Tavon Young all fielded kicks during pre-game warmups. Webb did appear to field the majority of the punts, however.
In all, the Ravens will be trying to break their two-game slide with five former Pro Bowl players sidelined with injuries. Rookie defensive tackle Willie Henry was the only healthy scratch for Baltimore.
Meanwhile, there were no surprises among the New York Week 6 inactives as safeties Nat Berhe (concussion) and Darian Thompson (foot) and starting right tackle Marshall Newhouse (calf) were declared out on Friday. As expected, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (groin) and running back Rashad Jennings (thumb) were active after being listed as questionable.
Sunday’s referee will be Jeff Triplette.
According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with temperatures reaching the low 70s and winds up to nine miler per hour.
The Ravens will wear white jerseys with black pants while the Giants don blue tops with white pants.
Sunday marks the fifth regular-season meeting between these teams with Baltimore holding a 3-1 advantage, which doesn’t include the 34-7 victory in Super Bowl XXXV on Jan. 28, 2001. However, the Ravens haven’t won a road game against the Giants since Sept. 14, 1997.
Below are Sunday’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
WR/RS Devin Hester
LB C.J. Mosley
LB Elvis Dumervil
DT Willie Henry
G Marshal Yanda
OT Ronnie Stanley
WR Steve Smith
NEW YORK
CB Eli Apple
QB Josh Johnson
WR Tavarres King
S Darian Thompson
S Nat Berhe
LB Deontae Skinner
OT Marshall Newhouse
