ExtremeRavens Posted Friday at 09:01 PM Posted Friday at 09:01 PM With time running out on the Ravens’ chances to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, Baltimore will head into its critical AFC North showdown against the Bengals in Cincinnati about as healthy as it has been all season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was not listed on the injury report with any afflictions for the first time in over a month, with his only absence this week for a rest day on Wednesday. The only other player on the Ravens’ roster with an injury designation for Sunday’s game is wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), who is listed as questionable. “It’s just a nagging thing,” coach John Harbaugh said of Bateman’s ankle sprain. “You fight through it, you fight through it, and you can annoy it, I guess is the best way to say it. He has probably just been annoying it.” If Bateman can’t play, that could mean a much bigger role for DeAndre Hopkins, something Harbaugh said that he’d like to do anyway. “I’d like to be using DeAndre more,” he said earlier this week. I don’t think he’s at the stage of his career where he is going to play every play. When he’s out there, you really want to — and we’ve talked a lot about this — trying to be intentional about him being out there for specific purposes and to do the things that he does well, which we all kind of know what those things are. “He’s just become one of my favorite, favorite players ever. We are going to be friends for a long time, and he and I have had a lot of these conversations, but yes, this next game, and these next four games and into the playoffs, let’s get him involved more. We really need to try to do that. We have been trying to do it; we can do it.” Despite the uncertainty of Bateman’s status, the Ravens could also get a boost with the return of safety Ar’Darius Washington and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who are officially listed as questionable. Washington has been out since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the spring, while Robinson has been sidelined since breaking his foot in Week 6. Both practiced fully all week and are likely to be activated from injured reserve on Saturday. The overall mostly good health is also good news for a group that has little margin for error and needs all the help it can get. Baltimore (6-7) has dropped two straight division games and trails the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers by a game with four to play. The Steelers will play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Ravens, who lost two weeks ago to the Bengals at home, haven’t been swept by Cincinnati since 2021. They have also never lost three straight division games with Jackson at quarterback. If the Bengals (4-9) are to pull off the sweep, though, they’ll have to do so without star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who was placed on injured reserve this week because of a hip/pelvis injury that will require core muscle surgery, as well as standout wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion), who was officially ruled out Friday. Of course, neither played the last time the two teams met, either. Meanwhile, rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart and safety PJ Jules (ankle) are listed as doubtful. Stewart, a first-round draft pick, has been on injured reserve since suffering a knee injury in Week 9 and is unlikely to come off IR before Sunday. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.