OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Needing a victory to keep their AFC North championship hopes alive, the Ravens have a clear health advantage ahead of Saturday’s showdown with first-place Pittsburgh.
On Tuesday, Baltimore conducted a walk-through with just two players from the 53-man roster not taking part because of injury. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor is in the concussion protocol while reserve cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis is dealing with a hamstring injury sustained during pregame warmups ahead of Sunday’s win over the New York Giants.
Starting safety Ar’Darius Washington was listed as a limited participant due to an ankle issue, but he was present in the locker room and appeared to be fine after Tuesday’s workout.
Of course, those injury-related absences don’t include disgruntled wide receiver Diontae Johnson after the sides “mutually agreed” to excuse him this week, according to a statement released by the team on Monday afternoon. Head coach John Harbaugh was asked why general manager Eric DeCosta hasn’t simply released Johnson since he hasn’t returned after serving a one-game suspension for refusing to play in the Week 13 loss to Philadelphia.
“I know you guys want to hear the story. There’s a lot of moving parts,” Harbaugh said. “There are reasons for doing things that are front office-type reasons. Do I want to sit here and get into all of the different calculations that Eric makes? I really don’t. I want to think about Pittsburgh and our team getting ready for Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here playing against Pittsburgh.”
Speaking of Saturday’s opponent, the Steelers are dealing with key injuries on both sides of the ball with six-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker and 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt recovering from an ankle sprain and No. 1 wide receiver George Pickens having missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Watt hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia.
Both were listed as non-participants in Tuesday’s walk-through, but Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that he’s “optimistic” about Watt’s availability for Week 16. For what it’s worth, Watt periodically takes a veteran day off for the first practice of game weeks anyway.
The Steelers also practiced without two starting members of their secondary: safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and cornerback Donte Jackson (back). Elliott did not play against the Eagles, and Jackson exited in the first half of Sunday’s loss.
Below is Tuesday’s estimated injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Nelson Agholor (concussion), CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), WR Diontae Johnson (personal)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: OLB Adisa Isaac (hamstring), S Sanoussi Kane (hamstring), S Ar’Darius Washington (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: CB T.J. Tampa (ankle)
PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: QB Justin Fields (abdominal), ILB Patrick Queen (rest), WR George Pickens (hamstring), S DeShon Elliott (hamstring), CB Donte Jackson (back), OLB T.J. Watt (ankle), DT Cam Heyward (rest)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin)
