Limited offense playing catch-up

Ravens unsure who will be available to play at receiver against Vikings on Sunday

When he looked ahead earlier this week to the challenges the Minnesota Vikings will present Sunday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh acknowledged it was imperative that his team finds its slumping passing game. But the Ravens will have to do it with several of their top receiving options not available or dealing with injuries.

Breshad Perriman (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium and Chris Matthews (hamstring) is doubtful to play. The team’s top two receivers, Jeremy Maclin (shoulder) and Mike Wallace (back), are questionable. It appears both veterans will attempt to play, but it’s certainly fair to wonder how effective they’ll be against the Vikings’ talented secondary.

“We’ll just have to find the 46 guys that can suit up and play for us, but we’re pretty hopeful for those guys,” Harbaugh said after Friday’s practice when asked about the number of receivers available to play Sunday. “They seem to be doing well and making good progress. It’s just something you can’t really predict.”

As the Ravens (3-3) prepare for a tough road game against the Vikings, their only three healthy receivers are Michael Campanaro (River Hill), Chris Moore and Griff Whalen, who was just re-signed Thursday and hasn’t played in a game since preseason.

Whalen had not caught a pass from quarterback Joe Flacco until Thursday’s practice. Campanaro and Moore have combined for 12 catches for 104 yards this season, and both had key drops in last Sunday’s 27-24 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.

Maclin didn’t play in that game at all and he spent the week practicing in a noncontract jersey because of a balky shoulder. Wallace, who has missed just one game in nine NFL seasons, said he plans to be on the field Sunday against one of his former teams, but the team’s deep threat has been limited all week with a sore back.

“We’ll just see how it plays out,” Harbaugh said. “Everybody has practiced, so we have enough guys to play. We’ll just have to work out the math on it – who can play, who can’t go. If someone can’t go, someone else will replace him. It might be another position; we [might] have to go light in one Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: Chs. 13, 9 Radio: 97.9 FM, 1090 AM Line: Vikings by 51⁄