Schaub misses third day of practice
QB not ruled out for game vs. Seattle; Monroe’s future with Ravens in question
Quarterback Matt Schaub missed practice for the third straight day Friday, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh declined to rule him out for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Schaub, who declined to comment as he walked out of the locker room after practice, was listed as questionable on the injury report with a chest injury. If he can’t play, and it appears unlikely that he will, Jimmy Clausen would start just 21⁄ after the team claimed him off waivers from the Chicago Bears.
“I don’t think it matters to the Seahawks. They don’t care,” Harbaugh said of the Ravens’ quarterback situation. “They’re going to play against our offense. That’s what they’re getting ready for. It’s not really going to matter to them. But we really don’t know yet.”
Harbaugh said Schaub is improving and “threw well” during an individual throwing session Thursday. Under Harbaugh, players who don’t practice all week typically don’t play in that week’s game. But Harbaugh said at the beginning of the week that Schaub could start against the Seahawks even if he doesn’t practice.
“There is no sense in putting him out here in practice where he can get banged and bumped around,” Harbaugh said. “If he can go, he will. If it’s best for our team for Jimmy to go, then that’s the way we’ll do it there.”
Clausen has been getting the first-team repetitions in practice, and offensive coordinator Marc Trestman said Thursday that the team has a pared-down game plan in place for him. If he were to start, Clausen would become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to start against the same team in the same season for different organizations, according to Stats Inc.
On Sept. 27, Clausen played in place of injured Bears starter Jay Cutler, completing nine of 17 passes for 63 yards in a 26-0 loss to the Seahawks.
Possible moves
The Ravens have until 4 p.m. today to adjust their 53-man roster before it’s set for Sunday’s game. The deadline figures to provide a good indication as to whether Schaub will play Sunday.
If he won’t, the Ravens will promote practice squad quarterback Bryn Renner to the active roster to give them two healthy quarterbacks.
The Ravens also have the option of promoting former Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews from the practice squad. Matthews, waived by the Seahawks last month, would be a logical replacement if Marlon Brown goes on injured reserve. Brown is expected to miss his third consecutive game with a back injury.
Monroe’s uncertain future
It’s almost certain that left tackle Eugene Monroe is done for the season with a shoulder injury. What isn’t as clear is whether he has played his last game as a Raven.
On Friday, Harbaugh would say only that Monroe is out for Sunday’s game.
“Any other announcements beyond that, season-wise ... a decision has been made, but I don’t think it’s really up for me to announce it at this time,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll let Eugene or [general manager Ozzie Newsome] announce what the plans are for that.”
Monroe, who has been sidelined with myriad injuries over the past two seasons, started just six of the Ravens’ first 12 games this year, and finished only three of them. Dating to last year, he has started and finished just three of the Ravens’ past 16 games. Assuming he is done for the year, Monroe will have started 17 of the Ravens’ 34 games since the team signed him to a five-year, $37.5 million contract extension after the 2013 season.
Cutting Monroe, 28, would create $6.6 million in “dead money” against the Ravens’ salary cap. But the Ravens have grown frustrated with the offensive tackle’s inability to stay on the field and could decide to move on and try to land another left tackle in either the draft or free agency.
Boyle apologizes
Four days after the Ravens announced his suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, rookie tight end Nick Boyle took to Twitter to apologize.
“I am truly sorry for the disappointment I have caused by a poor choice I made,” Boyle wrote. “I am ready to move forward and I appreciate all the support.”
Boyle was given a four-game suspension, which carries through the end of the regular season. The NFL did not specify which drug he was found to have taken. Harbaugh said “it wasn’t like steroids or anything like that.”
End zone
Crockett Gillmore (back) is doubtful to play Sunday, while fellow tight end Maxx Williams has passed all the concussion tests and is probable. Cornerback Jimmy Smith (knee) was added to the injury report, but he’s also probable. … Running back Buck Allen said he was looking forward to greeting Seahawks coach Pete Carroll either before or after Sunday’s game. As the coach at Southern California, Carroll offered Allen a scholarship when he was still in ninth grade. Allen arrived at USC a year after Carroll left for the NFL.