Saunders finally gets back to work
Strength coach served a COVID- 19- related ban
Ravens head strength and conditioning coach Steve Saunders has returned from a monthlong suspension, coach JohnHarbaugh saidMonday.
Saunders, whowas on theM& T Bank Stadium sideline for Sunday’s win over the New York Giants, was disciplined last month for his conduct relating to a widespreadCOVID- 19 outbreak in Baltimore. Sources said Saunders had not routinely worn a proximity tracker or mask, as required by NFL rules, and had not reported potential COVID- 19 symptoms as heworked with players.
The Ravens announced Nov. 25 that they disciplined a staff member “for conduct surrounding the recent COVID- 19 cases that have affected players and staff at the Ravens.”
“He’s back,” Harbaugh said of Saunders, who’s worked with the team since 2016. “He’s backworking. He came back last week, so you see him working. Beyond that, really, I have no comments on it. It is what it is. We never do comment on internal discipline at all, whoever it might be. We’re just moving forward.”
The NFL fined the Ravens $ 250,000 for coronavirus protocol violations stemming from their outbreak, which sidelined 23 players on the reserve/ COVID- 19 list, a league source confirmed Sunday. As first- time offenders, the Ravens were not docked any draft picks.
In a statement earlier this month, team president Dick Cass said the organization “believe[ s] in the protocol and made every effort to adhere to it.”
“Despite our best efforts, the protocol is only as effective as our weakest link,” Cass continued.“With a dangerous virus like this, everyone must comply with the protocol to avoid infecting many. We now know that not everyone at the Ravens followed the protocol thoroughly.”
No major injuries vs. Giants
The Ravens lost three starters to injuries Sunday, but coach John Harbaugh’s hopeful theywon’t be out long.
Center Patrick Mekari left the win over the New York Giants early with a back injury, and wide receiver Willie Snead IV suffered an apparent ankle injury soon after. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue was sidelined by a second- half thigh injury.
“There’s nothing that’s a seasonender or anything like that,” Harbaugh saidMonday. “It’s all going to just kind of come down to day to day and possibly game time [ Sunday in Cincinnati] with some of those guys. Everybody’s in kind of a different spot. Same goes for the guys coming back off the injuries. They’re all right there. Soit really, truly is just going to be a wait- and- see kind of a thing with everybody.”
The Bengals will be without running back JoeMixon on Sunday after Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor ruled him out. Mixon, who leads the Bengals with 428 rushing yards, hasn’t played since suffering a foot injury inWeek 6.
In aWeek 5 loss in Baltimore, he was held to 59 yards on 24 carries, along with six catches for 35 yards.
‘ Numbers crunch’
Rookie wide receiver James Proche II didn’t exactly lose his punt return job Sunday. The Ravens just needed more help elsewhere.
With special teams ace Chris Moore healthy for Sunday’s game and wide receiver Devin Duvernay’s versatility as a returner, Proche was inactive for the first time this season. Harbaugh explained Monday that it was a “numbers crunch.”
“James has done a really good job back there with that,” Harbaugh said. “You start getting healthier [ and] you have to make some choices.”