OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Back in first place in the AFC North ahead of Sunday’s interconference clash with Minnesota, the Ravens apparently aren’t as healthy as many had hoped coming out of their Week 9 bye.
Six Baltimore players missed Wednesday’s practice for health-related reasons, a list that included running back Latavius Murray, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and right tackle Patrick Mekari. Murray hasn’t played since spraining his ankle in the Week 6 win against the Los Angeles Chargers while Watkins has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the Week 5 comeback victory over Indianapolis. Having already missed game action prior to the bye week, their absence at the start of a new practice week isn’t encouraging for their availability against the Vikings.
Mekari suffered a right ankle injury in the first half of the Oct. 24 loss to Cincinnati and appears likely to miss some more game action.
Nose tackle Brandon Williams (shoulder) and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley (illness) were also missing from Wednesday’s workout. On a more positive note, Lamar Jackson said he “feels refreshed” and “110%” coming out of the bye week after much fan and media discussion about the star quarterback taking too many hits over the first two months of the season.
Though not listed on the injury report since he’s not on the 53-man roster, defensive end Derek Wolfe (back/hip) was also missing during the portion of practice open to media. Designated to return to practice from injured reserve on Oct. 26, Wolfe, 31, has yet to play this season and practiced last week for the first time since late August, making his new absence somewhat unsettling.
Also designated to return from IR, tight end Nick Boyle and cornerback Chris Westry were both taking part in Wednesday’s practice. With 50 players currently on the 53-man roster, the Ravens wouldn’t need to make any subtractions to officially activate Boyle, Westry, and Wolfe by Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline to be eligible to play against the Vikings.
Tight against the salary cap all season, the Ravens have typically kept a couple open spots on the 53-man roster as a way to remain flexible and save some cap space over the first half of the season. The ability to elevate players from the practice squad has allowed Baltimore to continue to play with a full 48-man active roster on game days.
“If you fill out the full 53 and you know you have to bring guys back, then you’re going to have to release guys,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “And then you have the ability to bring those guys up off the practice squad for those two games [each]. We’ve kind of been working every element of that, which has allowed us to stay under 53. In a normal year, you have to be at 53. You’re working with a more flexible-type number right now, so it doesn’t have to be 53 at this time. It will settle into 53 here shortly because of the guys coming back from injuries.”
The Vikings received crushing news earlier this week that two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter would miss the remainder of the season with a pectoral injury, but it appears defensive tackle Michael Pierce is on track to return to game action on Sunday. The ex-Raven has missed the last three games with an elbow injury and was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice.
Two defensive starters — linebacker Anthony Barr (knee) and cornerback Cameron Dantzler (ankle) — were absent from the workout.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: OLB Justin Houston (non-injury), QB Tyler Huntley (illness), OL Patrick Mekari (ankle), RB Latavius Murray (ankle), WR Sammy Watkins (thigh), NT Brandon Williams (shoulder)
MINNESOTA
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Anthony Barr (knee), CB Cameron Dantzler (ankle), DE Everson Griffen (non-injury)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DT James Lynch (toe), DT Michael Pierce (elbow), S Harrison Smith (non-injury)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Dede Westbrook (ankle)
