Ravens Week 5 Injury Report: Eugene Monroe Set To Return Against Browns
By Samuel Njoku
When the Ravens play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, they'll be doing so knowing that their playoff lives could be in jeopardy. Even though the Browns are currently struggling this season, Baltimore will want to be at full strength in order to have the best chance to win. With a number of players currently on the mend, the Ravens will surely take anyone they can get.
Eugene Monroe hasn't played since suffering a concussion against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. Since then, Joe Flacco has been uncomfortable in the pocket as opponents have targeted James Hurst in order to disrupt the blocking assignments up front. But it appears Monroe has finally been cleared to play and will bolster an offensive front that could use all the help it could get. Expect Flacco to have more time in the pocket and for the running game to improve with his return.
Also planning a return is running back Lorenzo Taliaferro. He has been dealing with a nagging foot injury that has forced Justin Forsett to play without his primary assistant. Look for that to change against a Cleveland Browns run defense that is beyond porous against the run.
While Taliaferro and Monroe are likely to make their return on Sunday, players like Breshad Perriman will remain inactive for the upcoming contest. After having his knee looked at via surgery, the rookie wideout is still missing action with a PCL injury that has to be ranked among the slowest healing in sports history. Couple that with the loss of Michael Campanaro for the season, and Flacco is running out of targets.
But the one target that Flacco will miss more than anyone is veteran wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. He is dealing with four broken bones in his back that will likely keep him out of action for at least week. The fact that he hasn't been officially ruled out is a testament to how tough the Pro Bowl wide receiver is. But Baltimore will be smart to force Smith to sit this one out, even if he thinks he feels up to it. The NFL season is a marathon, not a race.
Probable:
Albert McClellan, LB (abdomen)
Eugene Monroe, LT (concussion)
Daryl Smith, LB (Not Injury Related)
Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB (foot)
Marshal Yanda, G (ankle)
Doubtful:
Steve Smith, WR (back)
Out:
Chris Canty, DE (calf)
Crockett Gillmore, TE (calf)
Breshad Perriman, WR (knee)
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. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
