Pierce, Mosley near return
Healthy starters could boost defense; team works on ‘Big’ task
Both C.J. Mosley and Michael Pierce practiced on a limited basis Wednesday afternoon, raising hopes that the pair of Ravens defensive starters might play in Sunday night’s game at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mosley, the middle linebacker sat out Sunday for just the third time in 67 games since his career began, spoke before practice and said he felt “better than two weeks ago” when he first sustained a bone bruise on his left knee in the first quarter of a loss at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13.
“I’m just taking it day by day still,” the three-time Pro Bowl selection said. “I’m trying to make sure I don’t rush it and reinjure it. That’s the main goal.”
Mosley, the organization’s 2014 first-round draft pick, confirmed coach John Harbaugh’s assessment Monday that he was close to playing in the win over the Denver Broncos. Rookie Kenny Young started for Mosley, and Albert McClellan started at the other inside linebacker spot with Patrick Onwuasor backing up the duo.
“But I didn’t want any uncertainty,” Mosley said. “That was really the main reason. And I felt comfortable with Kenny, Bert and [Onwuasor] out there without me.”
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger might prefer that Mosley sit out another week. Nose tackle Michael Pierce practiced on a limited basis after missing Sunday’s game against the Broncos with a bruised foot.
“He’s one of the best linebackers in the game,” he said during a conference call Wednesday morning with Baltimore media. “In terms of playmaking, when he’s your signal caller, getting guys set up, his experience … he’s just a phenomenal football player, maybe even better guy. I just think that when he’s out there, he’s a difference-maker.”
Pierce said the bruised foot that kept him out against the Broncos has improved significantly.
“I plan on playing this week,” he said.
The return of Mosley and Pierce could be a boost for a Ravens defense that is tops in the league in total yards allowed (273.0 per game) and second in passing yards allowed (169.3). The Steelers offense ranks second in both total yards (453.3) and passing yards (363.3). Getting after Big Ben: Roethlis- berger drew two roughing the passer penalties against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh’s 30-27 win on Monday night. With the league emphasizing protection for quarterbacks, Pierce acknowledged thinking about how to hit Roethlisberger.
“You kind of want to lead with your hands as much as you can, but Big Ben’s 6-foot-6,” Pierce said. “I don’t know how much he weighs, but he’s a big guy. So I kind of want to just get my hands on him and kind of throw him down, if you will, and per se not land on his body. That’s something we talk about, but at the end of the day, it’s a bang-bang play, and you’ve got to get him down regardless.”
Harbaugh said the staff is trying to instruct the players on the proper technique, but conceded that it’s difficult.
“You have a guy like Ben Roethlisberger, he doesn’t just go down easily,” he said.