The injury hits keep on coming for the Ravens.
For the second straight week, Baltimore doesn’t have a single healthy scratch on its inactive list for Sunday’s road encounter with the Minnesota Vikings. The wide receiver position is in especially poor shape with wide receivers Jeremy Maclin (shoulder), Breshad Perriman (concussion), and Chris Matthews (thigh) out and Mike Wallace at less than 100 percent with a back injury.
The offense struggled immensely without Maclin last week, and it faces an even bigger challenge on the road Sunday against the Vikings’ fifth-ranked defense. Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes will likely match up with Wallace as much as possible, leaving Michael Campanaro, Chris Moore, and the recently-signed veteran Griff Whalen to try to make plays for quarterback Joe Flacco.
The good news for the Ravens is the return of star defensive tackle Brandon Williams, who had missed the last four games with a foot injury. The presence of Williams as well as the return of top reserve Carl Davis should pay dividends for a run defense that’s plummeted to 30th in the NFL.
Tight end Benjamin Watson is also active despite missing practices this week with a knee issue.
Rookie cornerback Jaylen Hill will make his NFL debut after missing almost two months with a hamstring injury suffered late in the preseason. Whalen and veteran linebacker Steven Johnson will also debut for the Ravens on Sunday.
The Vikings will be without wide receivers Stefon Diggs (groin) and Michael Floyd (hamstring). Diggs was officially ruled out Friday while Floyd had been listed as questionable.
Minnesota left tackle Riley Reiff (ankle) is active after being added to the injury report at the end of the week.
The referee for Sunday’s game is Carl Cheffers.
Weather obviously won’t be a factor with the game being played at U.S. Bank Stadium. This marks Baltimore’s first game at the domed facility that opened last year.
The Ravens are wearing white jerseys with white pants while the Vikings don purple tops with white pants.
Sunday marks the sixth all-time meeting between these teams with the Ravens enjoying a 3-2 advantage. However, the Ravens lost their only game in Minnesota back in 2009.
Below are Sunday’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
WR Jeremy Maclin
WR Breshad Perriman
G Matt Skura
RB Terrance West
TE Max Williams
LB Tim Williams
WR Chris Matthews
MINNESOTA
QB Sam Bradford
WR Stefon Diggs
WR Michael Floyd
CB Mackensie Alexander
G Nick Easton
OT Aviante Collins
DE Tashawn Bower
