Gordon presents test for defense
Mornhinweg hoping for return of tight end Boyle and his ‘attitude’
The Ravens have surrendered 100 rushing yards to only one opponent this season, and that happened more than a month ago when Steelers running back James Conner ran for 107 yards in Pittsburgh’s 23-16 win Nov. 4.
The defense will try to prevent the Los Angeles Chargers’ Melvin Gordon from reaching that mark in Saturday night’s game at the StubHub Center. Gordon, who rushed for 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns last season, is expected to return after sitting out the past three games because of a sprained MCLin his right knee.
“He’s a good back,” Ravens safety Tony Jefferson said after Tuesday’s walkthrough. “He’s fast, strong. But I think for us, we’ve just got to stop the run regardless of who’s back there. I know that he’s a little banged up or has been. We’ve just got to play good defense and stop the run.”
Despite his absence, Gordon still ranks 16th in the NFL in rushing yards with 802 and has nine touchdown runs. With Gordon, the Chargers ran for 137 yards per game. Without him, that average dipped to 84 yards.
Gordon, who suffered the knee injury in a 45-10 rout of the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 25, worked out before last Thursday’s game at the Kansas City Chiefs, but was sidelined. He practiced fully Tuesday, and coach Anthony Lynn sounded optimistic that Gordon will be available for Saturday’s game against a Ravens defense that ranks third against the run.
“He’s getting better and better,” Lynn said during a conference call with Baltimore media. “He looked good.”
Mornhinweg hoping for return of Boyle: Tight end Nick Boyle did not participate in Tuesday’s walkthrough, the Ravens’ first session of the week since Sunday’s 20-12 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was announced during the fourth quarter of that game that Boyle had suffered a concussion, and he did not return.
Maxx Williams and rookies Mark AndrewsandHaydenHurstreplaced Boyle, who ranks second among the team’s tight ends in catches (21) and yards (198), and that trio figures to play a larger role if Boyle is not cleared from concussion protocol in time for Sat- urday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said the 2015 fifth-round draft pick is an asset for the offense.
“He brings attitude, you know?” Mornhinweg said. “He’s a physical, physical guy, and then he’s got excellent hands, he’s smart, [a] natural-type player. But he brings some physicality and some attitude. So yeah, everybody else stepped upwhenhewentoutjusta little bit, and so that would be our expectation if he’s not available. We’ll see. I certainly hope he’s available.”
Snead connecting with Jackson: Outside of a catchless outing in the team’s 34-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 25, wide receiver Willie Snead IV appears to have developed some chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Since replacing Joe Flacco as the starter before a Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the rookie has targeted Snead 24 times, the most among the receivers. Snead has caught 16 of those passes for 178 yards, also team highs.
“Yeah, that’s the thing, is you’ve got to make the most of [your opportunities] as a receiver in this offense right now,” said Snead, wholeads the offense in receptions (61) and ranks second in yards (626).
Ray Rice, Janay Rice speak about domestic violence: Former Ravens running back Ray Rice and his wife, Janay, spoke with “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday about domestic violence in the NFL following the latest incidents involving players Reuben Foster and Kareem Hunt.
Rice was caught on camera knocking out Janay, his then-fiancee, in 2014 in an Atlantic City, N.J., elevator. He was cut by the Ravens after TMZ released the footage, and was reinstatedafter anindefinite league suspension but never played again in the NFL.
Many have noted the similarities between Hunt and Rice’s incidents, something that the former Raven acknowledged.
“I know Kareem has apologized, and has expressed remorse for the survivors of domestic violence,” Rice said of the Kansas City Chiefs star who was shown on video shoving and kicking a woman at a Cleveland hotel. “And like I said, I’ll continue to do that, because I know now from doing the work, how gruesome it is.”
CBS’ Gayle King posited that some may argue Rice is speaking out against domestic violence as part of an attempt to rejoin the NFL — but Rice said he has no interest in returning to football.
Ravens makedonations: TheRavens and nearly half of the players on the active roster and injured reserve list pledged to donate $200,000 to nine different Baltimore-area organizations through the team’s Social Justice Program, which has distributed $500,000 to the community this year. “As players, weunderstand our platform and howit can be used to direct change in a positive way,” Judon said in a statement issued by the Ravens. “Our connection with the Baltimore community runs deep, and it is very important to us to not only provide financial assistance, but also our physical time and effort. It is our privilege to support so many people through these partnerships with great civic programs and law enforcement.” Added team president Dick Cass: “What’s impressive, we believe, is that our players initiated this effort, from personal donations through selection of the recipients.”