Campanaro makes return as planned
Steve Smith Sr. not listed on injury report
Michael Campanaro’s faith in the Ravens and vice versa produced an outcome both sides wanted.
After the team waived him with an injury settlement Sept. 13 because of a calf strain, Campanaro worked out on his own. After healing, the River Hill graduate, who lives in Clarksville, could have joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots or Denver Broncos, but he stayed true to his word and joined the Ravens practice squad Monday.
“That was kind of our plan when we did the settlement,” Campanaro said after Monday’s practice. “But you never know. When something like that happens, you’ve got to trust the word of them. But they held true on their end, and I did the same thing. We have a good relationship, and I’m just happy it worked out.”
Campanaro, 25, rejoins the team, which is tied for the lead in the AFC North after Sunday’s 21-14 victory over the Steelers. The seventh-round pick from the 2014 NFL draft could bolster a return game that has struggled with Devin Hester Sr.
Hester surpassed Darrien Gordon for third place for the most punt return yards in NFL history Sunday, but he has been slowed by a pulled groin that has affected his ability to move laterally and contributed to his fumbling four times thus far.
Coach John Harbaugh was happy to see Campanaro back.
“His legs were fresh,” Harbaugh said. “He was bobbing around. I really appreciate the fact that he’s here and not somewhere else. He would have had a chance a couple of weeks earlier to go with another team, and he wanted to wait until the rules made him available to come here. We’ll put him to work and see where he’s at. There’s a chance he can contribute for us.”
To make room for Campanaro, the club released wide receiver Dobson Collins, who had spent time with the San Francisco 49ers Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., warming up before Sunday’s game, evidently practiced without hindrance Monday. Michael Campanaro joined the Ravens practice squad Monday. and the Philadelphia Eagles before playing in the Canadian Football League. S. Smith no longer on injury report: Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. did not appear during the portion of Monday’s practice open to the media, but he was not listed on the team’s injury report, meaning that he participated without any hindrance. Smith did not practice Wednesday, participated on a limited basis Thursday, and took part fully in Friday’s session before catching four passes for 47 yards Sunday.
Five players listed as questionable before Sunday’s game also are not on the injury report: inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (hamstring), rookie left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot), outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (biceps), safety Lardarius Webb (hamstring), and rookie cornerback Tavon Young (concussion). Suggs wore a large brace on his left arm during practice.
Rookie running back Kenneth Dixon fully participated. He left in the fourth quarter against the Steelers after suffering what the team called a chest contusion.
Outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil (foot) and rookie Kamalei Correa (thigh), tight end Crockett Gillmore (thigh), cornerback Shareece Wright (hamstring), and right guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder) did not practice. Lesson learned for Jernigan: Timmy Jernigan knew exactly what to do with the first interception of his career.
Midway through the third quarter of the Ravens’ win against the Steelers, nose tackle Brandon Williams batted a pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into the air. Jernigan, despite being engaged with an offensive lineman, managed to catch it and immediately fell to the turf to secure the ball at Pittsburgh’s 32-yard line. The offense turned the takeaway into a 42-yard field goal by Justin Tucker that gave the Ravens a 13-0 advantage.
Jernigan didn’t fare so well on a similar play against the New York Jets on Oct. 23. He recovered a fumble by running back Matt Forte at the Ravens 3-yard line late in the third quarter, but was stripped by wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who recovered the loose ball at the 5.
“I was simply thinking about catching the ball and then falling,” Jernigan said about Sunday’s interception. “I understand the situation. I am a fast learner. Growing up in my household, when my mom told you to do something, whether you liked it or you didn’t like it, if you didn’t do it, there was going to be problems. I know to respect my elders and if Coach wants me to fall on the ball, I’ll fall on it. Period.” Waller more involved: On Sunday, tight end Darren Waller caught two passes for 17 yards, matching his entire 2015 total for receptions and falling just one yard shy of his total yards from last season.
With Gillmore absent, Waller found himself more involved on offense, taking a season- and personal-best 23 snaps behind starter Dennis Pitta (58 plays).
“I felt like I was more involved in the passing plays,” said Waller, a converted wide receiver who served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substanceabuse policy. “But I always feel like I’m involved in the passing game somehow. It may be small or it may not be as big of a role, but I feel like I was involved today.” End zone: Browns coach Hue Jackson said he is sticking with rookie Cody Kessler as the starting quarterback for Thursday night’s game. Harbaugh said he was impressed by the third-round pick, who completed 19 of 27 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown and a 104.4 passer rating in Sunday’s 35-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He is “a good athlete, and it looks like he has a good command of Hue’s offense,” Harbaugh said. “We’re getting ready for him. Obviously, Josh McCown is always looming. Our focus will be on Cody Kessler, and our hands will be full because he’s looked good when he’s played.” … The Ravens added tight end Mitchell Henry to the practice squad. Henry joined the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and appeared in two games with the Broncos later that year. Henry filled the vacancy created when the Washington Redskins signed offensive tackle Blaine Clausell from the practice squad. Clausell joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and had spent the final seven games of that season and the first eight of this fall on the practice squad. … Smith is the team’s nominee for the Salute to Service Award. Presented annually by USAA and the NFL, the award honors a league employee for his or her dedication to honoring and supporting the military. Past winners include Harbaugh (2013).