Safety Jefferson earns rare trifecta
Rookie tight end Hurst inactive; veterans Mosley, Pierce return to defense
PITTSBURGH – Tony Jefferson’s strip of Steelers tight end Vance McDonald and subsequent fumble recovery in the first quarter helped the Ravens strong safety achieve a first in his six-year career.
Jefferson has an interception from the season-opening 47-3 rout of the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 9, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same season for the first time in his career. He intercepted two passes and caused three fumbles in 2015, forced two fumbles and recovered two in 2016, and intercepted one pass and caused one fumble in 2017, but had never checked off each category in the same season until now.
Jefferson thought he had the second touchdown of his career and first since a 26-yard interception return on Sept. 20, 2015, as a member of the Cardinals when he returned the fumble 31 yards to the end zone. But officials ruled that McDonald was touching Jefferson when both players were on the ground, giving the offense the ball at Pittsburgh’s 31.
Through three quarters, Jefferson had made six tackles, which ranked second on defense behind middle linebacker C.J. Mosley’s eight. Hurst inactive: Hayden Hurst’s NFL debut will have to wait at least another week. The rookie tight end was deactivated before Sunday night’s game.
All week, there had been encouraging signs that Hurst might make his first appearance since undergoing surgery Aug. 24 to repair a stress fracture in his foot. He practiced all three days albeit on a limited basis, and was designated on the team’s final injury report as questionable. And the organization’s first of two first-round choices in April’s NFL draft had worked out vigorously about two hours before the game.
But Hurst had conceded Thursday that the foot was sore, and coach John Harbaugh said the team’s medical staff would evaluate his availability.
In addition to Hurst, the team scratched rookie cornerback Anthony Averett ( hamstring), center Hroniss Grasu, quarterback Robert Griffin III, defensive tackle Willie Henry (hernia surgery), rookie wide receiver Jordan Lasley and rookie defensive Ravens safety Tony Jefferson, right, is congratulated by outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith after recovering a fumble in the first quarter. Jefferson has an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same season for the first time in his career. end Zach Sieler. Welcome back: The good news for the Ravens was that middle linebacker C.J. Mosley (bone bruise in left knee) and nose tackle Michael Pierce (bruised foot) returned. The pair of defensive starters had sat out Sunday’s 27-14 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Mosley made his customary start at middle linebacker and was flanked by rookie Kenny Young. The fourth-round pick started for Mosley against Denver.
Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs ( knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot), cornerback Brandon Carr (knee) and defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. (hamstring) — all of whom were listed as questionable on Friday — also played. Extra points: Alex Collins has now lost two fumbles in four games after he was stripped by Pittsburgh free safety Sean Davis (Maryland) at the Steelers’ 2 and the loose ball was recovered by rookie strong safety Terrell Edmunds in the second quarter. The Ravens running back fumbled the ball four times and lost two of them last season. … The Steelers deactivated safeties Morgan Burnett (groin) and rookie Marcus Allen, offensive tackle Zach Banner, slot cornerback Mike Hilton (elbow), wide receiver Justin Hunter, rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph and defensive end L.T. Walton. … Brown, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith and kicker Justin Tucker represented the Ravens for the coin toss, which was won by Pittsburgh. The Ravens opened the game by receiving the ball.