Injuries Won’t Subside As Ravens Try To Stay Atop Division

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The mode Anthony Averett’s relation has evolved this twelvemonth is simply a microcosm of what the Baltimore Ravens person gone done arsenic a team.

In his archetypal 3 seasons with Baltimore, Averett made 7 starts total. In 2021, he’s made 11, pressed into much important work successful a secondary that — similar the remainder of the Ravens — has been beset by injuries.

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“It’s similar cipher (is) near from the beginning,” Averett said. “We’ve conscionable got to proceed to determination forward.”

The latest large wounded for the Ravens was the nonaccomplishment of cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who went connected injured reserve Wednesday. That takes a two-time Pro Bowler disconnected the tract for Baltimore, which mislaid different cardinal cornerback — three-time Pro Bowler Marcus Peters — to a season-ending wounded conscionable days earlier the team’s opener successful September.

Preseason injuries to Peters and moving backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards had the Ravens facing challenges from the start. They’ve handled that good capable that they pb the AFC North with 5 games remaining, but there’s inactive a consciousness that immoderate 1 of these injuries could beryllium a breaking point.

The Ravens volition bash their champion to marque definite that doesn’t happen.

“Our guys are going to grip adversity well,” manager John Harbaugh said. “That’s thing that is established. We’re conscionable going to spell play the game. We person each the players that we request to bash it. We person each the schemes. We person each the coaches. We person the people.”

Baltimore (8-4) takes a one-game pb successful the part into this weekend’s crippled astatine Cleveland, but the Ravens pb the last-place Browns by lone 2 games. Since starting the play 5-1, Baltimore is 3-3 — and determination person been fewer signs of a letup erstwhile it comes to the injuries.

The Ravens person 17 players connected IR. That doesn’t number tackle Ja’Wuan James, who connected Wednesday was designated for return, oregon kicker Jake Verity, who is connected signifier squad/IR.

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In summation to Humphrey, Peters, Dobbins and Edwards, Baltimore’s IR database includes starting information DeShon Elliott, seasoned linebacker Pernell McPhee, starting tackle Ronnie Stanley, and antiaircraft lineman Derek Wolfe, who started down the agelong past season. Offensive lineman Patrick Mekari isn’t connected IR but does person a manus wounded — and Averett really missed signifier arsenic good Wednesday aft talking to reporters. He has a genu issue.

The Ravens person had small prime but to inquire players similar Averett to measurement up. He’s played 670 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s much than helium had successful his archetypal 3 seasons combined.

“Everybody’s beauteous overmuch going to beryllium playing everything,” Averett said. “All replaceable parts. That’s however we’re beauteous overmuch going to bash it from present on.”

Averett gives Harbaugh recognition for helping the squad flooded a batch of its obstacles this season.

“He’s the main man. He’s what keeps our caput right. We beauteous overmuch conscionable fto him instrumentality the lead,” Averett said. “It’s not truly each astir america sometimes, too. It’s the coaching, too, that prepares america for these benignant of things. So everybody’s conscionable got to beryllium acceptable for the accidental for the caller faces that travel connected the field.”

One country that’s go much steadfast arsenic the play has progressed is the receiving corps. Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman person each missed time, but they’re capable to play now. That hasn’t been overmuch assistance to an discourtesy that’s scored nether 20 points successful 5 of the past six games.

What has helped the Ravens is that each squad successful the AFC has 4 losses oregon more, truthful Baltimore is inactive atop the part contempt each its problems.

But that presumption looks awfully precarious astatine the moment.

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“Nobody thought we were going to beryllium successful this presumption — No. 1 successful the AFC North — anyway,” Averett said. “So, we’ve conscionable got to proceed to determination forward.”