OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Moving beyond the news of cornerback Jimmy Smith undergoing groin surgery on Thursday, the Ravens received good news as Pro Bowl right guard returned to practice and defensive linemen Haloti Ngata and Pernell McPhee practiced for the second straight day.
Yanda missed Wednesday’s workout as he continues to deal with minor knee and ankle injuries while Ngata and McPhee continue to work their way back from knee injuries. All three players worked on a limited basis during Thursday’s practice.
Ngata didn’t play in Sunday’s win over Oakland, and McPhee has missed the last two games with knee and thigh injuries.
“I feel like I’m ready,” McPhee said before Thursday’s practice. “I feel like I’m 100 percent. [Time off] helped me out a lot. The first time I went out to practice yesterday, I didn’t have on the knee brace and I felt very comfortable going out running the drills, doing one-on-one drills, doing individual drills. I feel pretty good.”
Held to only 1/2 sack in seven games this season, a healthy McPhee would be a welcome addition to the Baltimore pass rush that will try to make Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich as uncomfortable as possible in the pocket. McPhee has been hampered since organized team activities after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in the spring.
Third-year defensive end Arthur Jones and rookie DeAngelo Tyson have seen most of the action in McPhee’s place after the 2011 fifth-round pick failed to show the same explosiveness that allowed him to collect six sacks in his rookie season.
“We can’t wait to have him back,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “When that’s going to happen, that’s up to the trainers and John [Harbaugh] and higher powers than me. We don’t want any of those guys out, but we would love to get him back.”
Nose tackle Terrence Cody (arm) and safety Christian Thompson (thigh) were added to Thursday’s report as limited participants.
For the Steelers, safety Ryan Clark (concussion), defensive end Brett Keisel (shoulder), and offensive tackle Max Starks were upgraded to being full participants after sitting out on Wednesday.
Safety Troy Polamalu (calf) and wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) missed practice once again as it’s looking more unlikely that either will be available for Sunday night’s game.
BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Jimmy Smith (abs)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: G Marshal Yanda (ankle), WR Jacoby Jones (ankle), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), DT Haloti Ngata (shoulder), WR Torrey Smith (chest), G Bobbie Williams (ankle), DT Terrence Cody (arm), S Christian Thompson (thigh)
FULL PARTICIPATION: S Sean Considine (knee/chest), LB Dannell Ellerbe (finger), S Bernard Pollard (chest), RB Ray Rice (toe), S Ed Reed (shoulder/leg/neck), LB Terrell Suggs (ankle), LB Courtney Upshaw (shoulder)
PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Antonio Brown (ankle), T Marcus Gilbert (ankle), S Troy Polamalu (calf), QB Ben Roethlisberger (right shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION: CB Curtis Brown (quad), S Ryan Clark (concussion), CB Ivan Taylor (illness), DE Brett Keisel (shoulder), RB Rashad Mendenhall (achilles), LB Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring), T Max Starks (ankle)
