RT Patrick Mekari ruled out vs. Browns
Cleveland won’t have leading receiver, top tackler on Sunday
“Everybody knows I’ve faced a lot during my career, my young career. It means a lot to be voted on by my teammates, my peers.”
Ravens right tackle Patrick Mekari was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a hand injury, while seven others were listed on the team’s injury report.
Wide receiver Miles Boykin, limited all week by a finger injury, is doubtful. Fullback Patrick Ricard (back) and tight end Nick Boyle (knee), who were limited Friday in their return to practice, are questionable.
Four defensive backs are questionable — cornerbacks Anthony Averett (knee) and Chris Westry (thigh), safety Brandon Stephens (shoulder) and defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. (knee) — but all except Levine were full participants in practice Friday. Levine was limited.
The Browns will be missing several starters and key contributors, most notably at tight end. David Njoku (reserve/COVID19 list), the team’s leading receiver, and Harrison Bryant (ankle) have been ruled out. Austin Hooper is fourth on Cleveland with 28 catches for 261 yards and two touchdowns, but the Browns have been most effective this year in heavier personnel groupings.
“They’re going to run their offense still,” coach John Harbaugh said. “What they’ll do [is,] they’ll do it with different groups on the field. They have certain plays they run more in certain packages, but they can put different players on the field and do some of the same roles. … So they’ll find ways to do it. They are very good coaches, and they have a lot of good players. So, I’m sure we’re going to see a real good team out there, whatever it is. Whatever groups, we just have to be ready for whatever it might be.”
The Browns also ruled out rookie wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (concussion); starting inside linebacker Anthony Walker (reserve/COVID-19 list), their leading tackler; and starting cornerback Greg Newsome (concussion), a first-round pick who hit his head on the ground late in practice Friday. Starting defensive tackle Malik Jackson (knee), reserve defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee) and starting safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. (ankle) are all questionable.
— Ravens cornerback Tavon Young on being selected for the Ed Block Courage Award
CB Young honored
The Ravens selected cornerback Tavon Young as their 2021 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which honors NFL players “who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Young has played every game so far after suffering season-ending injuries three of the previous four years.
“Everybody knows I’ve faced a lot during my career, my young career,” he said Friday. “It means a lot to be voted on by my teammates, my peers.”
Defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said Young is “tough as nails,” noting that he was “sick as a dog” when he played against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
“I’m always going to try to fight to be on the field, no matter what,” Young said. “If I can run and jog, I’m going to be out there. … When I’m fighting, I always think about how there’s other people out there in the world who are fighting through things that take more courage than what I do, kids battling diseases and everything. So I look up to those kids or adults. But I feel like I’m born to fight.”
‘Back in your face’
Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, John’s brother, was named the Associated Press’ Coach of the Year on Friday after leading the Wolverines to their first Big Ten Conference title in 17 years and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Harbaugh received 22 of 53 first-place votes and 103 points from a panel of voters to finish ahead of Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, who had 16 first-place votes and 88 points. Several former Ravens assistant coaches and staff members are now on Harbaugh’s staff in Ann Arbor.
“I’m just really happy for him,” John Harbaugh said. “Congratulations to Jim and the whole staff and the players. To be the Coach of the Year in college football is a pretty remarkable accomplishment. To do it the way they did it this year, after being written off by so many, is very … I don’t know, it’s a good feeling. I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him. I’m happy for all of them. He’s always been a great coach. And all those that want to pile on, especially some of the local media there … there you have it, back in your face. He’d never say it, but I’ll say it.”