OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After two weeks of clean injury reports, the Ravens came out of Sunday’s win in Minnesota with health concerns for a pair of veteran starters that could impact their Week 11 availability.
While four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey suffered a finger injury in last Friday’s practice that ultimately hindered him throughout the 27-19 win over the Vikings, wide receiver Rashod Bateman was spotted wearing a walking boot in the postgame locker room after suffering a high ankle sprain midway through the third quarter. Though Bateman told ESPN the injury occurred on what appeared to be an illegal hip-drop tackle as he tried to score a touchdown, his ability to continue playing — which included catching a 2-point conversion pass in the final quarter — suggests he shouldn’t miss too much time even if he’s unable to play at Cleveland this Sunday.
“I think he’s going to be OK. He’s got an ankle sprain,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ll see how serious it is going forward.”
Humphrey’s short-term status is more complicated after he struggled to play with what appeared to be a splint on his left hand. While able to catch an interception thrown by Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy early in the third quarter, Humphrey looked reluctant to initiate contact at different points and exited the game after whiffing on what could have been a fourth-down sack of McCarthy on the Vikings’ final touchdown drive.
Surgery to repair Humphrey’s finger is being considered, but that would very likely require him to miss at least Sunday’s game against the Browns. The 29-year-old defensive back could also elect to try to continue to play through the injury wearing extra protection on his hand.
“He might need to get something done to tighten it up,” Harbaugh said. “It may take a week to get him back from that if he does decide to do a surgery. But it would be only a week at the most is what I was told. I don’t know. … If he decides to play with it and keep it wrapped up, then he could play in this game. That’s where he’s at right now.”
Rookie inside linebacker Jay Higgins suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s game that’s expected to sideline him for at least a few weeks, according to Harbaugh. That would make the undrafted rookie out of Iowa a candidate for injured reserve, which would require a four-game absence.
