OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While Pittsburgh will be without top wide receiver George Pickens, the Ravens may also be shorthanded at the position for Saturday’s crucial AFC North showdown.
Baltimore listed wide receivers Rashod Bateman (foot) and Nelson Agholor (concussion) as questionable to play in Week 16 and officially ruled out disgruntled wideout Diontae Johnson, who was excused from team activities the week after serving a one-game suspension. Bateman landed on the injury report after apparently hurting his left foot during Wednesday’s practice, an injury that kept him out of Thursday’s walk-through. The fourth-year wideout was spotted in the locker room wearing a walking boot on his left foot, the same one that was surgically repaired because of a Lisfranc injury sustained two years ago.
To little surprise, head coach John Harbaugh wouldn’t comment on Bateman’s chances of playing against the Steelers.
“I really have nothing to report on any of that stuff,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll be working through all of those things in the next few hours and few days even, but we’ll be in good shape and be ready to roll on [Saturday].”
Bateman is coming off the first two-touchdown game of his career and eclipsed 70 receiving yards for the third time this season in last Sunday’s 35-21 win over the New York Giants.
Agholor wasn’t able to practice all week, but he did work on a side field Thursday, a sign that he is progressing through the concussion protocol and still has a chance to be cleared in time to play against Pittsburgh.
The Ravens also listed outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) and right guard Daniel Faalele (knee) as questionable, but both were able to practice all week despite being limited participants.
While Pickens will miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury, the Steelers did not give six-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker T.J. Watt (ankle) an injury designation, meaning he is good to go against Baltimore. Pittsburgh ruled out backup quarterback Justin Fields with an abdominal injury, listed safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) as doubtful, and designated starting cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) as questionable to play on Saturday.
Given Pittsburgh’s overall limitations in the passing game, the absence of Pickens is a big one. The third-year wideout caught eight passes for 89 yards in the Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Ravens and has 850 receiving yards on the season.
“It’s a great player. It’s no different than any of their other players or any of our guys who play or don’t play,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a factor, but it’s not unusual. This is the type of thing that happens throughout the course of the season with every team. You have to find a way to play and win games without players when they can’t play, and hopefully we don’t have too many of those from our perspective.”
Below is the final injury report for Week 16:
BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), WR Diontae Johnson (personal)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Nelson Agholor (concussion), WR Rashod Bateman (foot), G Daniel Faalele (knee), OLB Odafe Oweh (ankle)
PITTSBURGH
OUT: QB Justin Fields (abdominal), WR George Pickens (hamstring)
DOUBTFUL: S DeShon Elliott (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Donte Jackson (back), DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin)
