Ravens To Be At Full Strength In The Super Bowl
By Samuel Njoku
The Ravens have dealt with plenty of adversity throughout the 2012-2013 NFL Season. Injuries took their toll on a team with plenty of promise at the beginning of the year. But with the biggest game of them all inching closer by the hour; the Ravens may be the healthiest they've been all season.
Dannell Ellerbe, LB, (toe/back): Probable
A lot was made of Ellerbe's absence from practice prior to their trip to New Orleans. Ellerbe alleviated the concerns of fans as he has fully participated in practice all week. Baltimore thought it was a good idea to give him some much needed rest prior to the Super Bowl. Ellerbe has stated that he has played through the pain in the postseason and stressed there was "no way" he was missing the Super Bowl. Expect him to play on Sunday.
Ray Lewis, LB, (triceps): Probable
Deer antlers aside, Lewis is still dealing with the triceps injury that kept him out most of the season. Lewis will definitely play on Sunday and hasn't missed any practice since making his return to football. He'll still wear the arm brace on Sunday, but don't expect Lewis to miss his return to the big stage. He's a go for Sunday.
Dennis Pitta, TE, (thigh): Probable
Dennis Pitta has been dealing with a thigh injury he suffered a few weeks back. The Ravens thought it was serious enough to keep him away from the practice field for a few days last week. But like the rest of his teammates, Pitta fully participated in practice this week and is expected to play. Baltimore can't afford to lose one of their best weapons against a defense as formidable as San Francisco.
Bernard Pierce, RB, (knee/thigh): Probable
There was speculation that Pierce may not have played against the New England Patriots. Luckily for Baltimore, Pierce was able to play through the pain and compete in the AFC Championship. The injury won't be quite as severe this time around as he's had a few weeks to heal. Pierce has fully participated in practice this week and will be active against the San Francisco 49ers. Pierce has been one of the unsung heroes for the Ravens this season as he's been an invaluable spell for Ray Rice on any given Sunday.
Ravens to be at Full Strength
Baltimore looks to be at full strength heading to this game. Including the aforementioned players, the Ravens listed 14 players as probable for Sunday's game. Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata are just some of the other stars that appeared on the injury report this week. All have dealt with injuries in one way or another leading up to this game. But with the extra week of preparation made available to both teams, Baltimore has used this opportunity to get healthy. On Sunday, expect the Baltimore Ravens to be at full strength.
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Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. He can be reached for comments at SamuelN870@gmail.com. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
