Part of the bye is meant to improve on team weaknesses. The other is to get healthy.
Consider at least the later accomplished, as the Ravens had all but one player on the active roster participate in practice Wednesday.
"This will be the healthiest we've been," Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
The only player who sat out was right tackle Michael Oher, who was listed with an ankle injury. He was not on the injury report previously, and there were no major injuries coming out of Pittsburgh.
The Ravens had a laundry list of nagging injuries heading into the bye.
Highlighting the list were running backs Ray Rice (hip) and Bernard Pierce (hamstring), linebacker Josh Bynes (finger), nose tackle Terrence Cody (knee), defensive end Chris Canty (thigh), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (elbow) and cornerback Lardarius Webb (thigh).
All of those players except for Bynes practiced without limits Wednesday.
Bynes, guard Kelechi Osemele (back/knee) and wide receiver Brandon Stokley (thigh) were limited. Cody, Pierce and center Ryan Jensen (foot) were on the report as full participants. Cody hasn't played since Week 3 against Houston and the rookie Jensen hasn't suited up all year.
"It's a war of attrition in the NFL," Canty said with a chuckle.
"We're healing up, we're getting healthy. We had a bye week, we had an opportunity to get some guys feeling a little bit better, and hopefully that translates into great preparation and peak performance on Sunday."
Running Backs Are Strong Again
The Ravens came into the year with one of the best one-two punches in the league in Rice and Pierce.
But a hip injury to Rice in Week 2, then a nagging hamstring injury suffered by Pierce has limited the duo over the first half of the season.
Now Pierce says both are healthier now than at any point. And it could help turnaround the Ravens' league-low 2.8 rushing yards per carry.
"Sky's the limit," Pierce said. "When we're both healthy, we're capable of great things."
Before heading to Pittsburgh, Rice declared himself healed from his hip flexor strain. He showed better burst and picked up 45 rushing yards on 15 carries. Still, he said the bye was "every bit much needed."
"I felt myself turning the curve after the Pittsburgh game," Rice said. "I felt pretty good. I've been coming out of games getting better and better each week. So, having a week where you're not even getting touched – that definitely pays dividends."
Bynes Back, Will Rotate In
The timing worked out well for the Ravens.
As soon as Bynes suffered an infected finger and needed surgery, Jameel McClain was cleared to play and took his starting spot in Pittsburgh.
Now that Bynes is back and ready to play, Harbaugh said the two players will rotate at the weakside linebacker spot.
It also allows both players – and especially Bynes – to contribute more on special teams.
"It's an opportunity I think, because any time you don't have to play quite as many snaps, you're going to be a better player," Harbaugh said. "So it's going to help Josh and it's going to help Jameel."
Harbaugh said McClain is 100 percent after playing his first football game in more than 10 months in Pittsburgh due to a spinal cord contusion. McClain recorded six tackles.
"He had no problems, had nothing coming out of the game – not even bumps and bruises, really," Harbaugh said. "That was really a positive."
Browns Are Healthy
The Browns are in pretty good shape considering they haven't had their bye yet. They listed only six players on their injury report and none sat out.
Linebacker Quentin Groves (ankle) and defensive lineman Billy Winn (quad) were limited. Running backs Willis McGahee (knee) and Chris Ogbonnaya (ribs), defensive back Chris Owens (finger) and linebacker Jabaal Sheard (wrist) were full participants.
The Browns will start Jason Campbell at quarterback with Brian Hoyer (knee) out for the year. Brandon Weeden, who lost to the Ravens in their Week 2 meeting, will be the backup.
