Stanley returns to practice nursing hip injury

Left tackle hurt his ankle in Sunday’s tilt vs. the Browns

Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley returned to practice Thursday after an absence Wednesday, raising hopes that he’ll be available for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Stanley suffered a minor ankle injury in the Ravens’ season-opening win against the Cleveland Browns, and coach John Harbaugh said he expected Stanley to be able to practice Wednesday. But four days from the team’s first road trip, he was sidelined with a hip injury.

Stanley was a limited participant Thursday, according to the injury report, along with running back Justice Hill (thigh) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (hip), who missed Wednesday’s practice. Smith overcame back spasms to play in Week 1.

Wide receiver Chris Moore (finger), defensive lineman Justin Madubuike (knee) and defensive tackle Brandon Williams did not practice. If Moore and Madubuike can’t practice Friday, they’re likely to again be ruled out for Sunday’s game.

In Houston, wide receiver Brandin Cooks (quad), offensive lineman Tytus Howard (ankle), running back Duke Johnson (ankle) and defensive end J.J. Watt (hip) were limited.

Why Martindale knelt during anthem

When Harbaugh was asked Friday about the team’s plans for observing the national anthem in its season opener, he said the decision was not up to him. Whatever Ravens players wanted to do Sunday, he would support them, Harbaugh said, so long as they respected one another.

“We encourage our players to be who they are,” Harbaugh said. “We want them to be who they are, the best selves of who they are.”

Defensive coordinator Don“Wink” Martindale was among those who decided not to stand during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at M&T Bank Stadium. He knelt next to defensive end Calais Campbell, as did quarterback Lamar Jackson.

On Thursday, asked about the decision, Martindale cited a saying from former Ravens defensive line coach Clarence Brooks, who died in 2016: “This game always has been, and it always will be, about the players.”

Martindale said the pained messages shared during the team’s meetings this year after the death of George Floyd and police shooting of Jacob Blake, which led the Ravens to push for comprehensive social justice reform, had resonated with him.

“I just heard the hurt in their heart and their voice about what’s going on right now,” said Martindale, who is white. “I’m going to support the players until we all really attack all kinds of issues in our country and just stop the hate. … I heard [Harbaugh] said the players just want to make this country great, and I believe him. And that’s what I hear from them. So I think that we all have to take a look at this, and until all of us take a look at it, it’s not going to get fixed. I wanted to support the players.”

Shortly after the Ravens kicked off Sunday against the Cleveland Brown, the team released a statement from owner Steve Bisciotti.

“We respect and support our players’ right to protest peacefully,” Bisciotti said. “This was a demonstration for justice and equality for all Americans. These are core values we can all support.

“This was not a protest against our country, the military or the flag. Our players remain dedicated to uplifting their communities and making America better. They have proven this through substantive action. They are committed to using their platform to drive positive change, and we support their efforts.”

‘Remarkable’ recovery

Harbaugh said Monday that he didn’t think there was “any chance” this offseason that center Matt Skura would be ready for Week 1 less than 10 months after tearing up his left knee. He figured Skura would start the season on the physically-unable-toperform list and return in October, at the earliest.

But Skura not only was active Sunday, as he long expected he would be. Skura started, too. He said Thursday that he feels “really close to being 100%,” and he joked how the only body part that didn’t feel sore after Sunday’s game was his surgically repaired knee.

“It’s a remarkable accomplishment,” Harbaugh said. “For him to be back playing in the opener is a tribute to him and to our trainers and the doctors that did the surgery, just the whole thing. His wife, for putting up with him, all of these things that go into this. And he played a good, solid game. He’s only going to get better from here.”