Ravens take training camp to Annapolis for first time

(Updated: 9:30 p.m.)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Holding a public practice in Annapolis for the first time in the 17-year history of the franchise, the Ravens moved training camp to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in front of an announced 20,335 on Sunday afternoon.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith returned to practice after sitting out Saturday’s workout with the mildly-sprained ankle he suffered in the preseason opener Thursday night. Also returning to the practice field were wide receivers Patrick Williams (leg) and Logan Payne (hip).
Smith was very limited in returning to practice, participating in early individual drills and then appearing to sit out the team portions of practice. However, the second-year wideout downplayed the significance of the ankle injury.
“I felt alright,” Smith said. “Any time I’m walking, I’m not hurt, so you all aren’t going to get that out of me. It’s a little nick. It’s football. You have to deal with it; you have to learn to play with it. I’m fine.”
The Ravens were still missing 11 players from the 90-man preseason roster Sunday, but they saw no new absences in a sign that they’re slowly but surely getting healthier with the second preseason game approaching.
Tight ends Ed Dickson (shoulder) and Dennis Pitta (hand), offensive lineman Jah Reid (calf), wide receivers David Reed (knee) and Tandon Doss (hamstring), cornerbacks Chykie Brown (hamstring) and Asa Jackson (hamstring), defensive lineman Ryan McBean (ankle), and linebackers Josh Bynes (back), Darryl Blackstock (groin), and Terrell Suggs (Achilles tendon) were not working in the Ravens’ final open practice of the summer.
Center Matt Birk, defensive end Arthur Jones, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, cornerback Jimmy Smith, and running back Bernard Pierce were all practicing again after returning to action on Saturday.
Smith has been limited the last two days as he continues to work his way back to full strength after being sidelined with a back injury for a week.
“Back’s feeling better,” Smith said. “It’s something that’s happened before. I wasn’t surprised or anything. It just takes some time to die down.”
After dealing with a hamstring injury and welcoming the birth of a child over the last two weeks, Pierce is trying to play catch-up in the backup running back competition with Anthony Allen. The rookie from Temple has been limited over the last two days of practice.
The Ravens wanted to show extra caution with Pierce’s hamstring to insure that it’s completely healed.
“We went really slow with him, plus his fiancée had the baby,” Harbaugh said. “They are doing well, and they had a couple of rough spots with it, so blessings to them. Everything turned out well. That gave him a little bit more time to get the hamstring healthy, really. It worked out timing-wise, and he seems like he’s fine.”
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