Stanley misses practice, listed as questionable
All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley is one of eight Ravens players listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Washington Football Team.
Stanley, who did not participate in practice Thursday or Friday because of a shoulder injury, is the Ravens’ top offensive lineman and one of their most durable. Washington has one of the NFL’s most productive defensive lines, though top draft pick Chase Young will miss Week 4 with a groin injury.
Cornerback Jimmy Smith, who was limited Thursday with a knee injury, also is questionable after missing practice Friday. A versatile defender who can match up with tight ends and wide receivers, Smith played 66 defensive snaps in Monday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wide receiver Chris Moore (finger/ thigh) was listed as questionable, but he appears unlikely to make his season debut Sunday after missing practice Friday.
Also questionable are running back Justice Hill (thigh), defensive end Derek Wolfe (elbow), defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (knee), inside linebacker L.J. Fort (thigh) and defensive back-linebacker Anthony Levine Sr. (abdomen).
Hill, who has not appeared in a game this season, was a full participant in all three practices this week. Wolfe and Levine were limited at practice Friday after missing Thursday’s. Madubuike, a rookie who has yet to make his NFL debut, was limited Thursday and Friday
Coach John Harbaugh said on a Friday video conference call that he had “no insight” on the status of Stanley or other players battling injuries. If Stanley is unavailable, veteran D.J. Fluker likely will start at left tackle. Fluker, a former firstround pick at tackle, played mostly guard in training camp and struggled in emergency duty in Week 1 after a minor second-half ankle injury sidelined Stanley.
“He’s a heck of a football player,” Harbaugh said of Fluker, who has started just three games at left tackle, all in 2013. “He’s done well for us, and we’re happy he’s here. Great attitude. He’s worked so hard, and if he’s called upon, he’ll be ready to go.”
In addition to Young, Washington ruled out starting wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. (toe) as well as running back Bryce Love (knee) and linebacker Cole Holcomb (knee), both backups. Three starters — wide receiver Terry McLaurin (thigh), right tackle Morgan Moses (hip) and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (illness) — are questionable, as is backup defensive end Ryan Anderson (ankle).
Schedule change
The Ravens’ Week 7 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers has been bumped back a week after a coronavirus outbreak in the NFL forced a scheduling change.
The Ravens will now host the AFC North rival Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. The game was previously scheduled for Oct. 25. The Ravens’ bye has been moved from Week 8 to Week 7.
The game was one of two rescheduled Friday. The Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans, originally set to kick off Sunday, has been moved to Week 7. Their matchup was postponed Thursday after a rash of positive COVID-19 tests among Tennessee players and staffers.
Harbaugh said Friday that the Week 7 postponement doesn’t significantly alter the team’s long-term plans this season.
“I definitely agree that the need to be flexible is something that — this is the year for that,” Harbaugh said in a video conference call. “That’s kind of important every year, but man, this is the year of flexibility. … You go out and play it out however it plays out, and I do believe and understand that the league has the best interests at heart.”
This isn’t the first time the Ravens have been forced to change their plans. In 2008, Harbaugh’s first season in Baltimore, the team’s Week 2 road game against the Houston Texans was postponed to Week 10 because of Hurricane Ike. Despite playing 15 straight weeks without a bye, the Ravens finished the season 11-5 and advanced to the AFC championship game.
“It worked out well for us,” Harbaugh recalled Friday.