Veteran running back Justice Hill will return for the regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns, according to Head Coach John Harbaugh.
Hill missed Monday's bonus practice, but his absence was due to illness, not the concussion he suffered against the Steelers that sidelined him Christmas against the Houston Texans.
Having Hill re-join the backfield rotation with Derrick Henry will be a boost for the Ravens as they try to clinch the AFC North. Hill is enjoying his best season as a runner (4.9 yards per carry, 228 yards) and receiver (42 catches, 383 yards, three touchdowns) out of the backfield.
The Ravens returned to practice Monday after having four days off. In addition to tight end Charlie Kolar starting his 21-day practice window, wide receiver Nelson Agholor returned after missing the past two games due to a concussion suffered on Dec. 15.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and left guard Patrick Mekari didn't practice also because of illness, Harbaugh said. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) and running back Rasheen Ali (hip) were not spotted at practice.
Harbaugh's MVP Choice Isn't Surprising, But Not a Focus
The debate surrounding this year's MVP award doesn't consume Harbaugh or Lamar Jackson, although Jackson has a strong chance to win the award for the third time. However, Harbaugh's choice is obvious.
"[Lamar Jackson] is my MVP," Harbaugh said. "He'll always be my MVP – I promise you that. Yes, as far as I'm concerned, he's our MVP, and he's our guy. But you know what? That's really not what we're thinking about. I haven't heard anybody talk about that. I haven't heard Lamar talk about it. We're just trying to win the next game."
Jackson is having his best all-around season with career bests in total yards (4,807), total touchdowns (43), completion percentage (67.9) and passer rating (121.6). He's done all of this while throwing just four interceptions.
The Ravens' focus remains on winning the Super Bowl, but Harbaugh isn't surprised that Jackson keeps raising the bar for his performance,
"Nobody knows the future, but that was the idea when we drafted him, and that was the idea when we played him in the first year, and it's been the idea ever since," Harbaugh said. "I'd say we're on schedule, but we have a lot to accomplish.
"People that study football history in the National Football League I'm sure will have these conversations and write about all of these things and all that, but right now, it's just a matter of trying to make that history. [We're] trying to win the next game and carry it forward from there."
Ravens Prepare for Every Cleveland Possibility at Quarterback
The Browns had not announced Monday whether Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Bailey Zappe would start Saturday against the Ravens. However, Harbaugh said the Ravens would prepare for all three.
Winston started when the Browns defeated Baltimore in Week 8, but he has been dealing with a shoulder injury. Thompson-Robinson has started the past two games for Cleveland.
"We'll have to build some tape on the guy that we don't have tape on right now – Zappe," Harbaugh said. "We'll go back and pull some tape from New England and different places.
"But Winston we know, D.T.R. we know, and then Zappe we'll have to prepare for. I do think we'll probably know tomorrow or the next day – I would think – but we'll see. Maybe they'll try to keep it under wraps, but whichever way it goes, we're playing the Browns, the Browns are playing the Ravens, and we'll be ready to go."
Steven Sims Was Thrust Right Into Action
It has been quite a week for return man Steven Sims.
Sims was released by the Houston Texans on Dec. 20, and the Ravens claimed him off waivers on Dec. 23, just two days before their Christmas Day game in Houston. Sims said he arrived in Baltimore in the middle of Monday night, finished his physical, and turned right back around to fly back to Houston on Tuesday.
"Crazy. It happened fast. But I'm where I'm supposed to be," Sims said. "My mom, we prayed on it as a family and everything. Everything happened for a reason, and I'm where I'm supposed to be at the end of the day."
Despite being a Raven for less than 48 hours, Sims was Baltimore's punt returner against his former team, logging two returns in Baltimore's 31-2 rout. It was a unique moment for Sims, who said he was still meeting his new teammates during the game as well as saying goodbye to his old teammates postgame.
"Nate Wiggins, we were actually talking on the sideline. It was like our first time having a conversation," Sims said. "I was meeting other guys, they dapped me up, [saying] 'Welcome.' It was definitely crazy.
"Me and [Special Teams] Coach [Chris] Horton were having our conversation, talking special teams as if we were in a meeting because we hadn't met yet. I just went out there and played."
