OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Preparing to face one of the NFL’s elite edge rushers, the Ravens aren’t expected to have their near-$100 million left tackle protecting Lamar Jackson’s blind side in Cleveland on Sunday.
Ronnie Stanley was listed as doubtful on the final injury report with the right knee injury suffered in the fourth quarter of the Sept. 10 opener against Houston. The 29-year-old returned to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday, a sign that his status was trending in the wrong direction. Should Stanley miss a third straight game, veteran reserve Patrick Mekari would again start in his place at left tackle and try to slow down four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett, who has 4 1/2 sacks in the Browns’ first three games.
Including the postseason, Stanley has played in just 19 games since the start of the 2020 season because of injuries.
Baltimore also ruled out wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and Rashod Bateman (hamstring), outside linebackers Odafe Oweh (ankle) and David Ojabo (ankle/knee), and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (foot) after none of them practiced all week. Beckham and Oweh will miss their second straight game while Humphrey has yet to play this season after undergoing foot surgery in mid-August.
With the Ravens light at outside linebacker, veteran Kyle Van Noy is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad despite signing only this week and not taking part in a training camp this summer.
“He looked good,” head coach John Harbaugh said after Friday’s practice. “Yes, if we bring him up, he’ll be ready.”
With just three healthy wide receivers on the current 53-man roster, Baltimore could also elevate veteran Laquon Treadwell or undrafted rookie Sean Ryan from the practice quad.
8
In more encouraging news, the Ravens may welcome back two starters with free safety Marcus Williams (pectoral) and center Tyler Linderbaum (ankle) both practicing all week and being listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Williams was a full participant on both Thursday and Friday while Linderbaum remained limited for each practice. Also listed as questionable for Week 4, safety Kyle Hamilton (back) and running back Justice Hill (foot) — who sat out last Sunday’s overtime loss to Indianapolis — appear set to play after being upgraded to full participation on Friday.
The Browns listed only one player on their final game status injury report, but it’s a significant one with starting quarterback Deshaun Watson designated as questionable because of a right shoulder injury. Watson was able to practice all three days on a limited basis, and the sentiment out of Cleveland is that the former three-time Pro Bowl selection will play despite very limited throwing this week.
Should Watson not be able to go, rookie fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson would start at quarterback.
“The kid from UCLA obviously had a great training camp and a great preseason,” said Harbaugh about Thompson-Robinson. “He looked super good out there making plays, so we’ll be prepared. But everything coming out of there is that Deshaun is going to play. And we’re preparing for the Browns. It’s the team. It’s the schemes they run [on] all three phases. They’re playing very well at home, obviously, the first two games. We’re looking forward to that challenge, and it’s not so much about any one player ever.”
Below is the final injury report for Week 4:
BALTIMORE
OUT: WR Rashod Bateman (hamstring), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle), CB Marlon Humphrey (foot), OLB David Ojabo (ankle/knee), OLB Odafe Oweh (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: OT Ronnie Stanley (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: S Kyle Hamilton (back), RB Justice Hill (foot), C Tyler Linderbaum (ankle), S Marcus Williams (pectoral)
CLEVELAND
QUESTIONABLE: QB Deshaun Watson (right shoulder)
