OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After seemingly turning the corner with the Week 3 win at Dallas, the Ravens offensive line is banged up ahead of the Sunday night showdown with undefeated Buffalo.
Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum (knee), right tackle Patrick Mekari (neck), and left guard Andrew Vorhees (ankle) all sat out Wednesday’s practice after playing every offensive snap in the 28-25 win over the Cowboys. Asked about their absence from the Ravens’ first full practice of the week, head coach John Harbaugh offered a neutral response.
“What happens in the course of the season is it’s a very physical sport,” Harbaugh said. “You have guys that are going to be working through things pretty much every week. If you look around the league, you’ll see that pretty much with every team. We have to deal with those things just like everybody else.”
Nose tackle Michael Pierce also missed Wednesday’s practice after dealing with a shoulder issue during Sunday’s game.
After officially signing to Baltimore’s practice squad on Tuesday, edge rusher and University of Maryland product Yannick Ngakoue was taking part in practice as he begins his second stint with the Ravens. It remains to be seen how much practice time he’ll need to get into football shape since the 2017 Pro Bowl selection hasn’t been with a team since ending last season on injured reserve with Chicago.
Ngakoue, 29, said he had been in communication with Harbaugh about a possible return going back to the summer before discussions heated up again recently.
“We talked even before that Miami and Carolina visit [in late July],” said Ngakoue, who has 69 career sacks over eight NFL seasons. “We’ve been [speaking], but we kind of lost a little bit of communication. Of course, it was training camp and things like that. Then, ultimately, the opportunity came, and my agent reached out to me and told me there was an opportunity here. I didn’t hesitate to come.”
The Bills will come to Baltimore on the heels of a 47-10 demolition of Jacksonville, but they’ll continue to be without starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard (pectoral) and nickel corner Taron Johnson (forearm). Bernard was injured in the Week 2 win at Miami while Johnson hurt his forearm early in the season-opening victory over Arizona.
Entering Week 4 tied for eighth in the NFL in total defense and seventh in points allowed, Buffalo has also been without former Pro Bowl linebacker Matt Milano, who suffered a torn biceps in training camp and isn’t expected to return until December at the earliest.
“They’re a chemistry defense. They play together really well,” Harbaugh said. “First of all, they have a really good team, and they have a lot of depth. They’ve done a great job; [Bills general manager] Brandon Beane and [head coach] Sean McDermott have done a great job building that team.”
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), C Tyler Linderbaum (knee), OT Patrick Mekari (neck), NT Michael Pierce (shoulder), G Andrew Vorhees (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: ILB Roquan Smith (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: G Daniel Faalele (hip), ILB Josh Ross (hip), DB Ar’Darius Washington (ankle)
BUFFALO
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: MLB Terrel Bernard (pectoral), OT Tylan Grable (groin), CB Taron Johnson (forearm)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Kaiir Elam (neck)
FULL PARTICIPATION: QB Josh Allen (left hand), TE Quintin Morris (shoulder), QB Mitchell Trubisky (knee)
