The Patriots were down a couple of cornerbacks for the second straight day on Thursday.
Carlton Davis (hip) and Marcus Jones (knee) have both been out of practice both days this week. They join Christian Gonzalez as the top three corners for New England and Friday will bring word on their outlook for Sunday night’s game against the Ravens.
The defense was also without edge rusher Harold Landry (knee) and linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), so Friday’s report will be a significant one on that side of the ball.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (non injury related) was a full participant in practice and linebacker Christian Elliss (illness) was limited again on Thursday.
Ravens Clips
The Ravens practiced without quarterback Lamar Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith on Wednesday, but both were back on the field Thursday and the team’s injury report shows that they were full participants.
Jackson missed Wednesday with an illness and he’s missed practice time in previous weeks with knee, toe, and ankle issues. Smith is dealing with a knee injury.
The Ravens will issue injury designations for Sunday night’s game against the Patriots on Friday, but Jackson and Smith both appear to be on track to play.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee, ankle) and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) also returned to practice, but they were listed as limited participants. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (foot), linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), and defensive tackle John Jenkins (illness) were out of practice Thursday.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), wide receiver Zay Flowers (neck), safety Keondre Jackson (ankle), and defensive tackle C.J. Okoye (quad) were full participants.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s practice week is following a familiar pattern.
Jackson has missed Wednesday practices in recent weeks for a variety of injury-related reasons and he was off the field this Wednesday due to illness. Jackson has returned to practice and played in games in those instances, so it is no surprise that the Ravens shared video of him going through practice with the rest of the team on Thursday.
Jackson’s participation level will be revealed on the team’s injury report, but it’s likely a safe bet that he’ll be able to go against the Patriots on Sunday night.
Reporters at the open portion of practice noted that linebacker Roquan Smith (knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle, knee), and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) have also returned to practice. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (foot) remains out of action for Baltimore.
Lamar Jackson missed Wednesday’s practice, the sixth consecutive week he’s gone without a full week of practice. This time, though, it wasn’t a knee, ankle or toe injury that kept the Ravens quarterback sidelined.
The Ravens list an illness as the reason for Jackson’s absence today.
He is not listed with any injury.
Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (foot), linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), linebacker Roquan Smith (knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) also were non-participants on Wednesday.
Linebacker Jay Higgins IV (knee) and safety Keondre Jackson (ankle) were limited.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) and defensive tackle C.J. Okoye (quad) were full participants.
It’s another Wednesday without quarterback Lamar Jackson on the practice field for the Ravens.
Jackson has been taking the first practice day off in recent weeks before returning for the rest of the week and he has not missed any games. Ankle, toe and knee injuries have been given as reasons, but last Wednesday was just a rest day and the team’s injury report will bring word about this Wednesday’s absence.
Reporters at the open portion of practice said left tackle Ronnie Stanley and linebacker Roquan Smith were also out of practice. Stanley limped off in last Sunday’s win over the Bengals, but head coach John Harbaugh indicated that the team did not think it was a major injury.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie were non-participants as well. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman was practicing after missing last Sunday with an ankle injuey and linebacker Jay Higgins (knee) has been designated to return from injured reserve.
The Ravens defense did not allow any points last Sunday against the Bengals and they were able to put some points on the board in the 24-0 win.
Those points came on a Joe Burrow interception in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy came up with the pick on the Ravens’ 5-yard line, but he didn’t go the distance for the touchdown. Van Noy had a brief return and then handed the ball to safety Alohi Gilman so he could cover the final 84 yards.
Gilman, who was acquired in a midseason trade with the Chargers, had not scored a touchdown in an NFL game before. He also had eight tackles in the win.
The effort led the NFL to name Gilman the AFC defensive player of the week on Wednesday. It is the first time he’s taken those honors this season.
In recent years, a trend has emerged as to vested veterans (those with four or more years of service) who seek an opportunity to exit a non-playoff team for a shot at joining a contender. To get his release, the player waives his right to secure the balance of his salary, without offset, as termination pay.
Former Jets receiver Allen Lazard did not do that, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
It gives him the ability, if he chooses, to collect the remaining $291,667 of his $1.75 million base salary from the Jets, double dipping with whatever he gets from a new team. If, of course, the balance of his contract isn’t claimed on waivers.
The obvious speculation is that Lazard hopes to land with the Steelers and two-time former teammate Aaron Rodgers. That could prompt a competitor (like, you know, the Ravens) to claim Lazard in order to prevent Pittsburgh from getting him.
Of course, that would require the Ravens to devote a spot on the 53-man roster to Lazard, which would in turn necessitate a corresponding roster move. Unless there’s someone the Ravens can place on injured reserve or are otherwise willing to waive, there wouldn’t be a spot for Lazard. Still, if they want to keep the team they’ll quite possibly face in 18 days (or 17, if the game is moved to Saturday night) for the AFC North title, they’ll at least consider finding a way to make room for Lazard.
If Lazard clears waivers, he’ll be able to sign with any other team’s roster or practice squad. And it will open the door to a double dip, with $291,667 from the Jets and whatever he gets from the Steelers or wherever he may land.
The Titans added a pair of safeties to their 53-man roster on Tuesday.
They announced that they have signed Erick Hallett off of the Lions’ practice squad and Sanoussi Kane off of the Ravens’ practice squad. They will help replace a trio of safeties that landed on injured reserve. Xavier Woods, Mike Brown, and rookie Kevin Winston will not play again this season as a result of the move.
Hallett played in three games and started twice for Detroit this season. He had 18 tackles in those appearances.
Kane appeared in seven games for the Ravens and saw almost all of his playing time on special teams. He had one tackle this year and also had nine tackles in 15 games last year.
Woods signed a two-year deal with Tennessee this offseason and Winston was a third-round pick. Brown is in his third season in Tennessee and made nine appearances this year.
Two weeks ago, the sky was falling in Pittsburgh. Now, things are looking up.
The 26-7 loss to the Bills, punctuated by calls for Mike Tomlin’s firing and the booing of Renegade, became a low point.
But then came the turnaround. A win over the Ravens, fueled by a woefully inept replay-review decision to overturn a go-ahead touchdown by tight end Isaiah Likely with 2:47 to play, gave the Steelers a one-game lead over Baltimore with four games to play. Monday night’s drubbing of the Dolphins moved the Steelers to 8-6, keeping them ahead of the 7-7 Ravens.
Here’s what it means down the stretch. The Steelers face the Lions in Detroit and the Browns in Cleveland. If Pittsburgh loses both (and even if the Ravens beat both the Patriots and the Packers), it will all come down to Week 18.
Under that scenario, the Steelers would be 8-8 and the Ravens would be 9-7 entering the season finale: Ravens at Steelers. A Pittsburgh win would result in a 9-8 tie. With a sweep of the Ravens, the Steelers would win the division on the first tiebreaker.
And that raises a related question. Would the Steelers decide to rest key starters for Week 17 at Cleveland, with the goal of having everyone at full strength for Week 18?
By the time the Steelers play the Browns on Sunday, December 28, they’ll know where the Ravens (who play the Packers the night before) stand. Pittsburgh could be in position to clinch the division with a win over the Browns. But if the Steelers know that they’ll need to win in Week 18 in order to secure the division title, there could be sound football reasons to give some of the veteran players a game off.
Especially since there’s a chance the winner-take-all AFC North championship game will be shifted not to Sunday night, but to Saturday night. Which would give the Steelers one fewer day to get ready for a playoff play-in game.
Ravens linebacker Teddye Buchanan’s rookie season is officially over.
Buchanan left Sunday’s win over the Bengals on a cart and he was ruled out a short time later with a knee injury. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed reports that Buchanan tore his ACL during a Monday press conference.
Buchanan was a fourth-round pick in April and he started 13 of the team’s 14 games this season. He had 93 tackles, a half-sack, and a forced fumble in those appearances.
Trenton Simpson saw more playing time after Buchanan was injured on Sunday and will likely step into the lineup alongside Roquan Smith in the coming weeks.
