The Ravens will be without their primary return specialist and some other reserves for Monday night’s road clash with Tampa Bay.
With head coach John Harbaugh citing a knee issue “that’s been hindering him” for a few weeks, Deonte Harty was placed on injured reserve Saturday, which will sideline him for at least the next four games. Harbaugh confirmed Harty isn’t dealing with a season-ending injury, but Baltimore will now need to turn to the likes of wide receiver Tylan Wallace and running back Justice Hill in the return game.
Harty, 26, is averaging 10.6 yards per punt return and 24.5 yards per kick return this season.
“We’ll just change up the returner,” Harbaugh said. “We have Tylan who does it and other guys that can go back there as backups or even as a two-return type of a format.”
One player who won’t be part of that Week 7 contingency plan is rookie running back Rasheen Ali, who was ruled out with an ankle injury suffered in practice on Wednesday. The fifth-round pick out of Marshall made his NFL debut only last Sunday after starting the season on IR with a stinger. With Ali sidelined, the Ravens may turn to rookie practice-squad running back Chris Collier to serve as a No. 3 option behind starter Derrick Henry and Hill. Collier has already been elevated from the practice squad for three games, meaning Baltimore would have to promote him to the 53-man roster.
Reserve defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee) was designated as doubtful for Week 7 after missing last week’s game and logging only limited practice work this week. Reserve linebacker Malik Harrison was ruled out for the second straight game because of a groin injury.
Harbaugh said slot cornerback Arthur Maulet (hamstring/knee) has “a chance” to play Monday night, but the Ravens need to be sure that he’s completely recovered from the hamstring strain he sustained in his return to practice on Oct. 2. Maulet doesn’t need to be activated from IR until next week and has been sidelined since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in August.
With the Week 7 game with the Buccaneers taking place Monday night, the Ravens don’t have to make any practice-squad elevations or roster moves until 4 p.m. that day.
For Tampa Bay, five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans returned to practice as a limited participant on Saturday and doesn’t carry a game-status designation, meaning he’s good to go. However, a new concern for the Buccaneers arose with standout defensive tackle Vita Vea missing practice with a hamstring injury and being designated as questionable to play Monday night. Vea hadn’t been on the injury report prior to Saturday.
Tampa Bay ruled out starting cornerback Jamel Dean with a hamstring injury suffered at New Orleans last Sunday.
Below is the final injury report for Week 7:
BALTIMORE
OUT: RB Rasheen Ali (ankle), LB Malik Harrison (groin), WR/RS Deonte Harty (knee – placed on IR)
DOUBTFUL: DT Broderick Washington (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Arthur Maulet (hamstring/knee)
TAMPA BAY
OUT: CB Jamel Dean (hamstring), TE Payne Durham (calf), WR Rakim Jarrett (knee), WR Kameron Johnson (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: DL Earnest Brown (ribs), WR Trey Palmer (concussion), NT Vita Vea (hamstring), RB Rachaad White (foot)
