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The Ravens limped out of Kansas City defeated and ravaged by injuries to their most important players.
None of the starters injured against the Chiefs returned to the team’s first practice in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, while five new faces ended up on the injury report.
“We’ll just kind of take it day by day through the week,” coach John Harbaugh said. “You’ll see the injury reports. It’s really all those guys. I mean, we could sit here and you could ask me about every single guy, and it’s a fairly long list. Who’s got time for that? You’ll see who practices and who didn’t.”
The biggest blow in Kansas City came when a hamstring injury knocked two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson out of the game. It kept him sidelined when the team returned to practice Wednesday. Harbaugh said he doesn’t know when the injury happened and he doesn’t think it matters.
“Lamar’s working,” Harbaugh said. “He’s doing a great job. I talked to him yesterday for a long time. He’s in here all day today working and in the meetings and different things like that.”
Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley was out, too. He has a history of ankle injuries and missed two practices following the Lions game before participating in a limited capacity Friday. He was active for the Chiefs game but did not make it through the first quarter.
Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey was also missing. He had been dealing with a groin injury in Week 3 against Detroit, although he was a full participant at every practice. He seemed a step slow against Kansas City, which lined up its fastest wide receiver against him, then he went out with a calf injury.
The team also lost Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith, who was injured shortly after Humphrey when making a tackle on tight end Travis Kelce. He left with a hamstring injury and did not return.
The Ravens suffered another blow in the fourth quarter when starting cornerback Nate Wiggins was carted off the field with an elbow injury.
Smith and Wiggins did not practice Wednesday.
“Why don’t we just wait and see tomorrow, and we’ll know more then,” Harbaugh said when asked if Wiggins is also day to day or week to week.
In the two days between the game and their return to practice, the Ravens got worse news when Harbaugh announced Pro Bowl defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike was out for the year. In less bad news, defensive lineman Broderick Washington, who was also placed on injured reserve before the Chiefs game, is expected to return, Harbaugh said.
Fullback Patrick Ricard, who has been absent since training camp with a calf injury of undetermined seriousness, remained out.
In a new wrinkle, wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique) and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) were absent Wednesday. The Ravens signed veteran defensive back Amani Oruwariye to the practice squad.
Additionally, several players were listed as limited participants. Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum has a calf injury, Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton has a groin injury and defensive end Brent Urban has a finger injury.
The Ravens did get some good news on the injury front.
Starting defensive lineman Travis Jones (knee), who was injured in Week 3, practiced in a limited capacity last week but was inactive for the Chiefs game. He was back on the field Wednesday as a limited participant.
Pro Bowl outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) also started his journey back when he practiced in a limited capacity Friday, but he was also inactive in Kansas City. He, too, made it back for a limited practice.
Rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. made his practice debut. The third-round pick had offseason shoulder surgery and missed all of the Ravens’ offseason workouts and training camp
“I can’t wait to see the tape,” Harbaugh said. “He had controlled reps, I would say. He was in there the team periods but not all of them. His individual, I watched him. I can’t wait to see how he looked, but I thought he looked good. He looked healthy. He looked strong. He looked like he’s been training.”
The Texans’ injury report looked less bleak. While it included important players, at seven, it was just half as long as the Ravens’ list of 14.
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique) and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (shoulder) were the only two players who didn’t practice at all due to injury. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. had a rest day.
Defensive end Denico Autry (knee), tight end Harrison Bryant (shoulder), wide receiver Nico Collins (knee) and safety Jaylen Reed (knee) were limited participants.
Collins, Anderson and Stingley are the starters among the group.
This article has been updated.
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