OWINGS MILLS, Md. — December is often a month of attrition in the NFL as the grueling 16-game regular season winds down, but don’t ask the Ravens about that.
Riding a 10-game winning streak and needing a victory in Cleveland on Sunday to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, Baltimore didn’t have a single player absent or even limited in practices for health-related reasons this week, the first time all season. That’s not to say the Ravens haven’t suffered their share of injuries along the way, but a 12-2 team already viewed as the Super Bowl favorite couldn’t ask for better health at this late stage of the regular season.
“The best we’ve been all year that way. Everybody is practicing [fully],” head coach John Harbaugh said. “That’s pretty unusual. First time, I think it’s happened for us this year — I think. You guys will have to go back and make sure that’s true, but they’ve done a great job of taking care of themselves. A couple days [off after the Thursday game] did help us, and now we have to go make it matter on Sunday afternoon.”
The Ravens officially listed left tackle Ronnie Stanley and reserve inside linebacker Chris Board as questionable for Sunday’s game, but both practiced fully all week and are expected to make their return after missing the Week 15 win over the New York Jets due to concussions.
The Browns listed six players as questionable, but all practiced on at least a limited basis on Friday. Defensive end Olivier Vernon (knee) is considered a game-time decision after missing five of the last six games, but starting defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (back) and starting center JC Tretter are expected to play for Cleveland.
According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast in Cleveland calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-40s with winds 10 to 15 miles per hour and only a 10-percent chance of precipitation.
Below is the final injury report for Week 16:
BALTIMORE
QUESTIONABLE: LB Chris Board (concussion), OT Ronnie Stanley (concussion)
CLEVELAND
QUESTIONABLE: RB Dontrell Hilliard (neck), OT Kendall Lamm (knee), S Eric Murray (knee), DT Sheldon Richardson (back), C JC Tretter (knee), DE Olivier Vernon (knee)
Ravens' health "best we've been all year" ahead of trip to Cleveland
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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