Healthy, happy after the bye

Team excited to be closer to full strength as it prepares for run at playoff spot

Ravens coach John Harbaugh has spent the better part of three months mostly minimizing injury questions. As the team’s injured reserve list mounted and the number of players missing practices or games increased, Harbaugh’s focus remained staunchly on those who were on the field.

Harbaugh said repeatedly that he viewed injuries as an opportunity for others rather than an excuse for playing poorly or losing. That, however, doesn’t mean he never yearned for a day where he’d have more healthy options for both practices and games.

That day might have arrived. Harbaugh made little effort to downplay his excitement as he assessed the team’s health situation Monday after its bye week.

“I could probably stand up here and give you the politically correct coach-speak and say that nothing changes, but I’ll be honest with you, I’m excited about the fact that we have our offensive weapons back — the ones that are still with us,” Harbaugh said. “I feel like we are more full strength than we have been all year. We finally have a chance to be full strength … so I’m excited about that. We need guys on the field. We need our guys out there making plays, and our guys want to be out there making plays. So I’m more excited now probably than at any point in time all year that way.”

When the Ravens return to practice today and begin preparations for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers (5-4) at Lambeau Field, it’s not out of the question that their entire 53-man roster will be on Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: Ch. 13 Radio: 97.9 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 2