OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens began a new practice week with a familiar concern ahead of Sunday’s AFC North meeting with Cleveland.
Tight end Mark Andrews didn’t practice Wednesday as he deals with a lingering foot issue that first landed him on the injury report in Week 2. The ailment didn’t hinder him much against Arizona as he caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, but he registered just three receptions for 15 yards on seven targets in Sunday’s 33-28 loss at Kansas City.
There was some doubt about his availability against the Chiefs after he was limited in practices last week, but Andrews still managed to play a season-high 43 offensive snaps — even if not appearing to be close to full strength. The 2018 third-round pick from Oklahoma didn’t appear on special teams after contributing in that phase in the first two games of the season.
“The training staff did a great job of getting me ready for this game,” Andrews said after Sunday’s loss. “My foot’s getting better and better. I’ll be alright.”
Unlike last week when he sat out one practice, Andrews was conspicuously absent from the Ravens locker room during Wednesday’s media availability time. Should Andrews not be able to play in Week 4, the Ravens would lean more heavily on fellow tight ends Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst, who combined for six passes for 72 yards against the Chiefs.
Cornerback Jimmy Smith remains sidelined with a right knee injury and walked through the locker room wearing a brace, a clear sign that he’ll miss his third straight game Sunday. Safety Brynden Trawick was also absent from Wednesday’s workout with an elbow injury sustained in Week 2.
After missing some action in the second quarter of the Kansas City game, top cornerback Marlon Humphrey was a limited participant in Wednesday’s session with a hip issue.
Trailing the Ravens by a game in the division, the Browns are dealing with significant health concerns after all four starting members of their secondary missed their Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Three of those four starters — cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams and safety Morgan Burnett — remained sidelined during Wednesday’s practice.
“It’s kind of a day-to-day thing with several of these guys,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said in a conference call. “We got Damarious Randall back today. He cleared protocol, so he’s back. As the other guys go, it’s just kind of day-to-day. We’ll just wait and see at the end of the week.”
It was a credit to the Cleveland defense for holding the explosive Rams to just 20 points despite those absences in the secondary for Week 3, but a big reason why is a defensive line that includes 2018 Pro Bowl defensive ends Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon as well as 2014 Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. In three games, Garrett has collected six sacks while defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has two quarterback takedowns.
Head coach John Harbaugh said he’s pleased with how his offensive line has performed so far this season, but Sunday presents the kind of test the Ravens didn’t see in their first three games.
“You look at that and you say, ‘Well, we’ve got a big challenge in front of us now with the Browns,’” Harbaugh said. “This will be the best defensive front we’ve played yet I’d say by a long way. This is one of the best defensive lines in football, so let’s just focus on Sunday.”
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Mark Andrews (foot), CB Jimmy Smith (knee), S Earl Thomas (non-injury), S Brynden Trawick (elbow)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: LB Otaro Alaka (hamstring), CB Marlon Humphrey (hip)
CLEVELAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: S Morgan Burnett (quad), OT Chris Hubbard (foot), OT Kendall Lamm (knee), DT Devaroe Lawrence (non-injury), S Sheldrick Redwine (hamstring), CB Denzel Ward (hamstring), CB Greedy Williams (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: G Joel Bitonio (abdomen), WR Rashard Higgins (knee), LB Adarius Taylor (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hip), LS Charlie Hughlett (shoulder), S Damarious Randall (concussion), K Austin Seibert (right hip)
