Boyle, others deal with minor injuries
Injuries to key offensive players took a toll for the Ravens in Saturday night’s divisional-round game against the visiting Tennessee Titans.
Tight end Nick Boyle twisted his ankle on the offense’s first possession of the second half. Boyle was attended to in the blue medical tent before exiting and did some slight jogging and running on the sideline.
After Boyle twisted his ankle, rookie wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown left the field after appearing to be shaken up after a third-down catch. Brown left for one play before returning.
Tight end Mark Andrews and running back Mark Ingram II were questionable for Saturday’s game with ankle and calf injuries, respectively, but played. Ingram was seen earlier in the game with a wrap around his left calf.
Ravens deal with headset issues
The first quarter of Saturday night’s divisionalround game against the Tennessee Titans was less than optimal for the Ravens. Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw his first interception since Week 14 and quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith to give the visiting team a 7-0 lead.
As the Ravens offense took the field for their second possession, CBS sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that Ravens coaches were having communication issues with their headsets.
According to NFL rules, if one team’s communication devices aren’t functioning properly before kickoff, they must inform the opposing team, who will turn over their devices until communication has been restored. But the rule no longer applies if both team’s devices were functioning properly at kickoff.
Jackson brightens day for restaurant owner
Cia Carter was working Friday afternoon at the downtown location of Miss Carter’s Kitchen, her soul food and seafood place, when her nephew called with some news she didn’t quite believe at first.
Jackson was at her other takeout restaurant in West Baltimore. The Ravens quarterback was on the phone, telling her he was looking for banana pudding — but the kitchen didn’t have any. After thinking it was all a joke for a few moments, Carter realized it was true and headed out to meet him.
At first, “I was so nervous, I couldn’t start my car,” the 34-year-old said in an interview Saturday.
She pulled up to her Edmondson Avenue location to find not only Jackson but also other Ravens players, including Earl Thomas and Marcus Peters. While there was no banana pudding, the men found plenty else to eat.
The group spent about $500, Carter said. They bought a variety of Alfredo dishes — pasta with lamb chops, with chicken, with steak and shrimp — plus turkey wings, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and the surf-and turf-burger, which is topped with shrimp and crab.
In 2018, Carter opened the West Baltimore location of Miss Carter’s Kitchen the Ravens visited Friday. In the next few months, she plans to debut a sit-down restaurant in the downtown area.
As fans awaited the Ravens playoff game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, Carter’s Instagram post about the visit — complete with a photo of her with Jackson — garnered more than 10,000 likes. She was scheduled to appear on the local evening news.
She said Jackson couldn’t stay long enough Friday for her to make a batch of pudding, but he told her he would return soon.
“With all the exposure, I’m going to have to keep banana pudding” on the menu, Carter said.
Inactives
Quarterback Trace McSorley, wide receiver Jaleel Scott, guard Ben Powers, offensive tackle Andre Smith, cornerbacks Anthony Averett and Iman Marshall, and defensive back Jordan Richards were inactive.
Richards, a key special teams contributor, was inactive for the first time since the Ravens signed him Oct. 24.
Ravens defensive tackle Justin Ellis was active. He played from Weeks 11 to 13, was a healthy scratch the next three weeks, then got 18 snaps in a Week 17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers with starter Brandon Williams sitting.
With Averett, Marshall and Richards inactive, the Ravens had eight defensive backs available, and only three “full-time” cornerbacks: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith.
The Titans deactivated inside linebacker Jayon Brown (shoulder), wide receiver Adam Humphries (ankle), Rashard Davis and Cody Hollister (ankle), guard/tackle Kevin Pamphile, and defensive tackles Joey Ivie and Isaiah Mack.