OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While the Ravens are dealing with multiple injuries along their defensive line, they’re still hoping to have a key member of the offensive line available for Sunday’s showdown with Kansas City.
Absent from the first two practices of the week due to an ankle injury, left tackle Ronnie Stanley was a limited participant on Friday. It’s unclear whether it’s the same left ankle that required multiple surgeries for a severe injury suffered back in 2020, but the 31-year-old moved only slowly and deliberately working out with a trainer on a side field during the portion of Friday’s practice open to media.
“He’s doing well. He’s kind of in that day-to-day world right now, so we’ll see,” head coach John Harbaugh said after practice. “He’s working hard to be there on Sunday.”
Should Stanley not be able to play against the Chiefs, veteran backup Joseph Noteboom would likely start in his place at left tackle.
After practicing on a limited basis for the last two weeks, tight end Isaiah Likely was upgraded to full participation Friday as he hopes to make his season debut. Likely underwent surgery for a fracture in his left foot on Aug. 1, but the Ravens never placed him on injured reserve, a sign that they aimed for him to return by Week 4 since an IR stint requires a minimum four-game absence.
Likely made nine catches for 111 receiving yards — both career highs — and a touchdown in last year’s season-opening loss at Kansas City.
“We’ll watch the tape [and] see how his [practice data] numbers look,” Harbaugh said. “It’s going to be a tough environment. He’s practiced one week, but he looked really good. Is he ready to go in there in this game against those guys and play at the top, top level and help us win the game, or is somebody else more suited? But he could do it. He looks good to me. I think he looks good, and we’ll just have to see if it’s the best thing for us on Sunday, and we haven’t really decided that yet.”
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After sitting out last Monday’s loss to Detroit with a hamstring injury, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy returned to practice in limited fashion on Friday. It remains to be seen whether that was enough to show he’s healthy enough to play against the Chiefs, but Baltimore could elect to keep Van Noy on a limited snap count, especially since David Ojabo — the man who took Van Noy’s place in the edge rotation against the Lions — played only six defensive snaps in his season debut anyway.
As expected, the Ravens officially ruled out defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Broderick Washington (ankle) and listed defensive tackle Travis Jones (knee) as questionable to play on Sunday. Neither Madubuike nor Washington practiced all week while Jones was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday after resting Wednesday.
With at least two starters out for Week 4, the Ravens appear likely to elevate veteran defensive end Brent Urban for a second straight game. They also signed defensive tackles Josh Tupou and Taven Bryan to their practice squad earlier this week, so either veteran could be an option for Sunday’s game.
One of the few defensive bright spots in the defeat to Detroit was veteran nose tackle John Jenkins, who’s set to play a bigger role with at least Madubuike and Washington sidelined this week.
“He played really well. His reps will go up for sure, and he’s ready,” said Harbaugh about the 36-year-old Jenkins. “He’s practiced really well, and he’s a decorated vet and a really good player. He’s done a great job, so we’re expecting a really good game from him.”
Five-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard was ruled out for the fourth straight game as he remains in “rehab mode” in Harbaugh’s words. The 31-year-old’s blocking ability has been missed in the ground game after he pretty clearly endured a setback with the calf injury sustained in mid-August.
In contrast to the Ravens’ crowded injury report, the Chiefs are mostly healthy with starting wide receiver Xavier Worthy set to make his return from a Week 1 shoulder injury. Not counting suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice, defensive end Mike Danna (quad) is the only Kansas City starter not expected to play on Sunday afternoon.
8Below is the final injury report for Week 4:
BALTIMORE
OUT: DT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), FB Patrick Ricard (calf), DT Broderick Washington (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Travis Jones (knee), TE Isaiah Likely (foot), OT Ronnie Stanley (ankle), OLB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring)
KANSAS CITY
DOUBTFUL: DE Mike Danna (quad)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Kristian Fulton (ankle), DL Ashton Gillotte (elbow)
