Humphrey hopes to bounce back
After a tough game against Bengals’ Chase, CB still confident
Ravens safety DeShon Elliott believes Marlon Humphrey is the NFL’s best cornerback. He also believes everyone’s entitled to a bad day.
And the last time the Ravens played, Humphrey had one of those. In a 41-17 loss in Week 7 to the Cincinnati Bengals, the star corner allowed seven completions on 10 targets for a career-worst 227 yards and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. The most he’d ever allowed in a previous game was 143 yards.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who afterward called Humphrey the NFL’s best cornerback, was unafraid to look for star rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, whom Humphrey often marked. The first-round pick finished with eight catches for 201 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown.
But with a pair of standout Minnesota Vikings wide receivers, Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, coming to Baltimore for Sunday’s game, the Ravens aren’t worried about “All-Pro Marlo,” Elliott said.
“As a whole — it’s not just Marlon — we take that into account [with] everybody in the secondary,” Elliott said Wednesday. “We’ve got to play better as a whole, together, and when we do that, we’re going to be great. I mean, everybody has a bad day. You’ve just got to go out there and make up for it by playing with each other, as brothers. So he’s going to be all right. Marlon is the best corner in the NFL. He’s going to continue to show you all that. You’re going to see.”
Humphrey has allowed a passer rating of 104.3 in coverage and four touchdowns this season, according to PFR, both of which would be career highs. He’s also struggled with missed tackles. But his quality has
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has had an up-and-down season so far. flashed throughout the season; in four of the Ravens’ seven games, he’s given up fewer than 30 yards in coverage.
“I have all the confidence in the world in Marlon,” defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said Thursday. “He’s the first one to tell you he didn’t play well, and that happens. He’ll bounce back.”
Watkins returns to practice
Ravens wide receiver Sammy Watkins returned to practice Thursday, raising hopes that the team could have its top three wide receivers available for the first time all season Sunday.
Watkins, who has 18 catches for 292 yards
in five games this season, has been sidelined with a thigh injury since he was hurt in the Ravens’ Week 5 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman made his NFL debut a week later and has helped ease the load on Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, making seven catches for 109 yards over two games.
Watkins was a limited participant Thursday. If his recovery improves Friday, he could be available for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Six players on the Ravens’ 53-man roster were not present for the open portion of practice. Quarterback Tyler Huntley (illness), running back Latavius Murray (ankle), right tackle Patrick Mekari (ankle) and defensive tackle Brandon Williams (shoulder) missed their second straight workout. Defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, who was designated to return from injured reserve last week, was also absent.
Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and cornerback Jimmy Smith, meanwhile, missed their first practice of the week. Both were resting.
In Minnesota, the Vikings ruled starting center Garrett Bradbury out of Sunday’s game after he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Bradbury has started all 39 regular-season games for Minnesota since he was drafted in the first round in 2019.
Former Ravens standout and current starting defensive tackle Michael Pierce (elbow) did not practice for the Vikings on Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Starting outside linebacker Anthony Barr (knee), reserve defensive tackle James Lynch (toe) and reserve cornerback Cameron Dantzler (ankle) were limited.
Extra points
Martindale said inside linebacker Patrick Queen’s strong form over his past two games, in which he’s played mainly on the weak side, has come during a stretch of improved practices. “I’m excited for this game for him,” he said. “He’s really come a long way just practicing football, and then you get in a game, you’re starting to see some of the success. I’m really looking forward to seeing him play Sunday.”
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris is in “sprint mode” with his work to help prepare linemen such as practice squad offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi for action. “Cedric’s a very talented guy,” Roman said of Ogbuehi, who signed last week and could play Sunday. “He just got here. He’s got a lot to catch up on. But he’s working around the clock on it. He went back and got some things and flew right back across the country and got back to work to really try to catch up and learn what we do and how we call things. There’s a lot to learn.”