OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens are largely healthy for Sunday’s season opener against Cleveland with only three reserve players missing Wednesday’s practice.
Wide receiver Chris Moore (finger), defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (knee), and running back Justice Hill (knee) were absent and may not be available to play against the Browns in Week 1. Moore, one of Baltimore’s best special teams players, missed all of full-squad training camp after sustaining a broken finger in August while Madubuike, a third-round rookie out of Texas A&M, hasn’t practiced since suffering a knee injury in the Aug. 29 scrimmage at M&T Bank Stadium. This is Hill’s second extended absence due to injury since the start of open summer workouts, leaving his status in doubt since he’s already considered to be fourth in the pecking order at the crowded running back position.
Starting right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was missing from the field for a portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media, but he wasn’t listed on the official injury report.
The Ravens protected outside linebacker Aaron Adeoye, offensive linemen Trystan Colon-Castillo and Will Holden, and long snapper Nick Moore on their practice squad this week, a new feature preventing them from being signed to another team’s 53-man roster through Sunday’s game. The decision to protect Moore, a 27-year-old signed in March after previously playing in the XFL, raised a few eyebrows on Tuesday, but longtime long snapper Morgan Cox was practicing as usual on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Cleveland was without starting cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder), starting outside, Mack Wilson (knee), and nickel back Kevin Johnson (liver) for Wednesday’s workout. Starting center JC Tretter was a limited participant and hopes to play after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-August and missing all of full-squad training camp.
New Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski still won’t reveal whether he or offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call the offensive plays against the Ravens on Sunday, acknowledging some gamesmanship with an AFC North rival. Baltimore is 20-4 against Cleveland in the John Harbaugh era, but the teams have split the season series in each of the last two years.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: RB Justice Hill (thigh), DT Justin Madubuike (knee), WR Chris Moore (finger)
CLEVELAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: OT Chris Hubbard (ankle), CB Kevin Johnson (liver), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder), LB Mack Wilson (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB M.J. Stewart Jr. (hamstring), C JC Tretter (knee)
