11 Baltimore Ravens battling injuries as preparation for Cowboys begins

Injuries have left the Baltimore Ravens bruised and deepened concerns about depth even as the team appears to have reached the end of a coronavirus outbreak.

The Ravens did not practice Thursday while recovering from a 19-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they did release an estimated injury report that projected eight players would’ve needed to sit out of practice. Three others would’ve been limited.

That does not take into account the 17 Ravens who remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including quarterback Lamar Jackson.

So as Baltimore (6-5) looks ahead to Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys (3-8), it does so with a depleted roster. Here’s the full estimation of an injury from Thursday:

Would have missed practice: S Chuck Clark (knee), S DeShon Elliott (knee/ankle), LB Jaylon Ferguson (illness), QB Robert Griffin III (thigh), CB Jimmy Smith (groin), DT Broderick Washington (concussion), NT Brandon Williams (ankle) and CB Tramon Williams (thigh)

Limited: OL D.J. FLuker (ankle), CB Davontae Harris (thigh) and LB Kristian Welch (ankle)

The Ravens’ secondary was one of the few areas of the team still intact after the coronavirus spread, but injuries to Clark, Elliott, Smith and Tramon Williams threaten to sap depth in the defensive backfield. Smith did not return after leaving Wednesday’s loss to the Steelers in the first half, but Clark, Elliott and Williams finished the game.

Brandon Williams, a one-time Pro Bowl starter at nose tackle, missed the past two games with his ankle injury. Ferguson and Washington are important backups in a decimated defensive front.

And Griffin will draw significant attention this week as long as Jackson remains on the COVID list. Griffin started Wednesday’s loss to the Steelers and began hobbling after a rushing attempt late in the first half. He remained in the game until Trace McSorley replaced him midway through the fourth quarter.

Griffin said afterward he wasn’t sure whether his sore hamstring would keep him sidelined for future games.

Jackson would be eligible to return to practice as soon as Sunday if he does not show symptoms of the coronavirus and tests negative. While he remains in isolation and Griffin nurses an injury, McSorley is in line to take first-team repetitions behind center.

The second-year signal-caller out of Penn State completed 2 of 6 passes Wednesday, including a 70-yard touchdown to Marquise Brown, in the most extensive action of his NFL career. Baltimore also activated practice squad quarterback Tyler Huntley, an undrafted rookie out of Utah, for Wednesday’s game but did not put him on the field.

The Ravens plan to return to practice Friday, but it’s unclear when many of the players on the COVID list will be back on the field. Different individuals could have different timelines depending medical evaluations, coach John Harbaugh said Thursday.

Some of the players in isolation have experienced coronavirus symptoms, but Harbaugh said none of them are dealing with severe complications.

Aaron Kasinitz covers the Baltimore Ravens for PennLive and can be reached at akasinitz@pennlive.com or on Twitter @AaronKazreports. Follow PennLive’s Ravens coverage on Facebook and YouTube.

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