Ravens Week 14 Injury: Ravens Enter Monday Night's Game The Healthiest They've Been All Season
By Daniel Benjamin
The Baltimore Ravens are getting ever so close to being a fully healthy unit.
The Ravens (7-5) will have 21 of their 22 regular starters in the lineup for the second consecutive week when they face the New England Patriots (10-2) in Foxboro, Mass. on Monday night. Veteran Vlad Ducasse is the only reserve expected to start against the Patriots as he once again replaces Alex Lewis on the offensive line. Ducasse has started the previous four games at right guard.
Overall, the Ravens have six players on their injury report this week, though two players—linebacker Terrell Suggs and center Jeremy Zuttah—are on it because they missed Friday's practice to rest. This is just the third time all season that the Ravens have had as few as six players on the report (Week 10 and Week 3).
Of the four players dealing with injuries, only guard Marshal Yanda is expected to play. Yanda, who has been dealing with a left shoulder ailment all season, has moved from his normal right side to the left side the past three games to take pressure off his shoulder. Yanda practiced two of the three days, which has been his normal routine.
Tight end Crockett Gillmore and running back Lorenzo Taliaferro will not play; neither practiced this week due to thigh injuries. Gillmore has missed the past six games while Taliaferro has been out of the last five contests.
Alex Lewis returns to practice
Rookie starting left guard Alex Lewis was expect to be out up to six weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Cleveland Browns in Week 10. However, Lewis was a surprise participant in Friday's practice, returning just four days after coach John Harbaugh said that he was a "ways away" from returning.
“He’s done a great job on his rehabilitation," Harbaugh said on Friday. "[He's been at it] practically 24/7. To see him back out there today is a real plus. Credit to him.”
Lewis, who started eight of the team's first nine games, is unlikely to play against the Patriots, but he could return to action against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 18.
Patriots injury report
The Patriots will not have tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 3, and will also be without wide receiver Danny Amendola (ankle). Amendola hurt his ankle last week against the Los Angeles Rams and is expected to miss a significant portion of the rest of the regular season. The 31-year-old has not had a lot of balls thrown in his direction this year, though he has been a reliable target for Tom Brady throughout his tenure with the Pats. He is tied for the team lead with four touchdown receptions.
Five other Patriots are on the team's injury report and all are expected to play. Martellus Bennett (ankle/shoulder) is the top injury concern as he is the team's No. 1 tight end with Gronkowski out for the season. Bennett is second on the team with 44 catches for 544 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. He is officially listed as questionable.
Rookie outside linebacker Elandon Roberts also is questionable for the game against the Ravens with a hamstring injury. Roberts has started three of the nine games he has appeared in, and has recorded 27 tackles, including two tackles for losses. Reserve cornerback Eric Rowe, backup strong safety Jordan Richards and seldom used wide receiver Matthew Slater are also listed as questionable.
- TE Crockett Gillmore (thigh). Did Not Participate In Practice. Out.
- G/T Alex Lewis (ankle). Limited Participant In Practice. Doubtful.
- RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (thigh). Did Not Participate In Practice. Out.
- G Marshal Yanda (shoulder). Did Not Participate In Practice. Questionable.
