One of the top priorities for any team heading into the bye is to get some needed rest and relaxation. For the excessively banged-up Ravens, it's paramount.
Baltimore is riding a four-game losing streak, in part, because so many key players have been missing for the past two-plus weeks. The injuries began piling up during a 16-10 loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 5.
But there's good news on the horizon.
"We have a chance to, hopefully, put the finishing touches on a number of these recoveries and hopefully be as close to or at full strength coming back," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "That would be my hope."
Defensive leader Terrell Suggs and offensive leader Marshal Yanda both returned to practice Tuesday. Suggs sat out of last week's game against the New York Jets after tearing his biceps the week before. Yanda has missed the past two games. But neither warrior was going to be held out too long.
Suggs wore a large brace on his arm to help manage the pain. He joked that the only kind of injury that would knock him out completely would be another torn Achilles.
"Who am I? What team do I play for?" Suggs asked. "I come from an era where this is just a bump in the road. This may be season-ending for somebody else, but it's not season-ending for a Raven."
Suggs said it's a pain-tolerance issue, but also a "win-tolerance thing."
"We've got nine [games] left," he said. "We're still in second place in the division and we can still do some things. And I want to be here when we do it."
Next up is the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 6. The Steelers sit just one game ahead of the Ravens and both teams are on a bye this week.
"Your greatest opponent always brings the best out of you," Suggs said. "It's a good opportunity to come back and play against those guys. Everybody knows what's riding on it, so it's going to be a big game. I want to be a part of it."
Here's a look at the list of injured Ravens:
OLB Terrell Suggs
Injury: Torn biceps
Background: Suggs hurt his arm near the end of the Ravens' loss to the New York Giants while sacking quarterback Eli Manning. While it could be season-ending for some players, the Ravens' sack leader said he plans to play through the injury, which he did before in 2012. He needed a little extra time to recover immediately after the injury, however, and sat out the Week 7 game against the Jets.
Update: Suggs returned to practice with a large arm brace Tuesday.
RG Marshal Yanda
Injury: Shoulder
Background: It's unknown when Yanda injured his shoulder, but it was at some point during the game against the Redskins when Yanda moved outside to play right tackle after Rick Wagner went down. Yanda missed the past two games, which were his first missed games since 2012.
Update: Yanda returned to practice Tuesday.
WR Steve Smith Sr.
Injury: Ankle
Background: Smith's ankle was injured at the end of a catch against the Redskins when a cornerback rolled on it. Smith returned to the game for one play, but ultimately had to go to the locker room and sit out the rest of the game. He missed both games in New York.
Update: Smith didn't do interviews with media members Monday and wasn't practicing during the portion of Tuesday's practice open to the media.
ILB C.J. Mosley
Injury: Thigh
Background: Mosley's pick-six-gone-wrong, when he fumbled the ball out of the end zone, was a brutal blow for two reasons. He turned the ball over and also injured his thigh on the play. Mosley has missed the two games since.
Update: Mosley wasn't practicing during the portion of Tuesday's practice open to the media.
OT Ronnie Stanley
Injury: Foot
Background: Stanley has missed the past four games (all losses). It's unknown when or how Stanley exactly injured his foot, and there haven't been specifics about the exact injury. Stanley has said the past couple weeks that he feels well enough to play, but that the decision is left to the trainers and coaches. He was a full practice participant all last week leading into the game against the Jets.
Update: Offensive Line Coach Juan Castillo said Stanley had a great practice Tuesday, and added, "he's ready."
QB Joe Flacco
Injury: Right shoulder
Background: Flacco injured his throwing shoulder taking a hit late in the Week 6 loss to the New York Giants. He missed two practices last week, but it improved over the course of the week and he started the game against the Jets. After Sunday's loss, Flacco said his shoulder "felt good the whole game."
Update: Flacco was back out at practice Tuesday. He said he will be at the Under Armour Performance Center rehabbing and strengthening the shoulder during the bye.
WR/RS Devin Hester
Injury: Thigh
Background: Hester has been dealing with a hamstring injury since Week 4. It has limited him in practice for the past month, which Hester said has contributed to his fumbling problems because he hasn't gotten enough reps. Hester missed just one game in Week 6 against the Giants.
Update: Hester wasn't practicing during the portion of Tuesday's practice open to the media. He said he's looking forward to resting it during the bye in hopes that he can return to practice as a full participant.
S Lardarius Webb
Injury: Thigh
Background: Webb left Sunday's game against the Giants early and was replaced by Marqueston Huff, who Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees said played well despite being thrown into action after signing with the Ravens just three weeks ago. After the game, Webb told reporters that he'll be back to face the Steelers.
Update: Webb wasn't on the field for practice during the portion open to media Tuesday.
OLB Elvis Dumervil
Injury: Foot
Background: Dumervil had an offseason procedure on his foot area, which knocked him out for nearly all of training camp, the preseason and the first three games of the regular season. He returned for two games against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4 and Redskins in Week 5, but wasn't his same explosive self, so the Ravens have opted to give him more time to regain his strength and burst. Dumervil said he does not have a timetable on when he will return.
Update: Dumervil wasn't practicing during the portion of Tuesday's practice open to the media.
