Peters, Fluker questionable against Bills
Ravens outside linebacker Matthew Judon and cornerback Marcus Peters returned to practice Thursday and both are expected to play in Saturday night’s divisional-round game against the Buffalo Bills.
Peters, who was estimated to be a nonparticipant in Tuesday’s walk-through and did not practice Wednesday because of a back injury, was limited Thursday. Judon, who was also estimated to be out Tuesday and was sidelined Wednesday with an illness, was a full participant Thursday. Judon was not given a game status. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he expects Judon and Peters will be available Saturday.
Offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, who was limited throughout the week with a knee injury, is also questionable.
Second-year defensive end Darryl Johnson Jr. was the lone player to be given an injury designation for the Bills. He’s listed as questionable after not practicing all week because of a knee injury. If Johnson is unable to play, it could open a spot in the lineup for veteran Trent Murphy, who played in the Week 17 game against the Miami Dolphins for the first time since Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals.
“I do appreciate how Trent has stayed ready,” coach Sean McDermott said.
There is a chance both Yeldon and Murphy play important roles after spending the last couple months as healthy inactives.
“The great part about our guys is they’re all professionals,” McDermott said. “As hard as those conversations are, if you’re wired the right way ... it pushes you to improve your game to the point where you get noticed again or when called upon, you take advantage of that opportunity.”
Wide receiver Cole Beasley was limited at Thursday’s practice because of a knee injury, but was not given an injury designation. Receiver Stefon Diggs (oblique) was upgraded to a full participant after being limited Tuesday and Wednesday.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (hamstring), and defensive tackles Ed Oliver (ankle) and Justin Zimmer (groin) — all of whom had been limited Tuesday and Wednesday — were full participants Thursday and do not have an injury designation.
Bills’ Yeldon gets chance
The bulk of T.J. Yeldon’s time with the Buffalo Bills has been spent on the bench.
In two years with the team, the veteran running back has played in just nine of a possible 34 games. Over most of that stretch,
he’s been a healthy inactive, including for last week’s wild-card playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts.
Yeldon, though, will finally get his chance Saturday, and it comes in a big spot. McDermott announced Thursday that Yeldon will step in for injured rookie Zack Moss against the Ravens. Moss was placed on injured reserve this week after hurting his ankle against the Colts.
That opens the door for Yeldon, who last played in Week 5 against Tennessee, when he had seven carries for 52 yards and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass. Yeldon also dealt with a positive COVID-19 test recently. There
has been some question as to whether the Bills would use Yeldon or call up rookie undrafted free agent Antonio Williams from the practice squad to pair with Devin Singletary in the backfield. Williams rushed 12 times for 52 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Week 17 against the Dolphins. McDermott said before practice Thursday that no decision has been made on promoting Williams this week.
“We do have a lot of confidence in Antonio and really were impressed in what we saw in that game against Miami,” the coach said.