Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers said Friday they expect to play Sunday night against the Los Angeles Chargers despite being limited this week by injuries, but cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s availability is in question.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., meanwhile, called himself a “game-time decision” and expressed optimism that he could play through a shoulder injury. All four starters were listed as questionable for “Sunday Night Football,” though Flowers and Beckham were full participants in Friday’s practice. Humphrey was limited throughout the week by a calf injury.
Stanley left the Ravens’ Nov. 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury and missed all of last week, including the Nov. 16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, when Patrick Mekari again filled in. Stanley was a limited participant in his return to practice Wednesday, participated fully Thursday and got a rest day Friday.
“I look at it as a blessing to have things like [the injury] happen to me, and then look at it and nothing major has come out of it,” said Stanley, who has missed significant stretches of the past three seasons with ankle injuries. “It’s a blessing for me. I’ve been down the other road before, so definitely looking on the positive side.”
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Flowers (hip), the team’s leading receiver, was limited in practice Wednesday and missed Thursday, but he said after practicing Friday he “had to take a little break.”
“I feel good,” he said. “I’m ready to go. I feel great.” Asked whether he expected to play, he joked: “That wasn’t even a question.”
Beckham hurt his shoulder late in the Ravens’ win over Cincinnati, when he had four catches for a season-high 116 yards. He missed practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday.
“I’m trying my best in each and every way,” Beckham said. “I won’t say that it’ll be pain-free, but I’m definitely [trying to] find a way to do what I can for the people in this locker room, this team, and find a way to help us get another win.”
Rashod Bateman (foot) and Devin Duvernay (knee) were limited Wednesday before bouncing back Thursday, and neither was listed on Friday’s injury report. Coach John Harbaugh said after practice Friday that he wasn’t concerned about the state of the team’s wide receivers. “I feel very good about the health of the guys. We should be in good shape.”
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The Ravens’ biggest question mark is Humphrey, who injured his calf against Cleveland, sat out all of last week and was limited this week. The team has its bye next week, but Harbaugh said Wednesday the Ravens would “try to get everybody to the game that we can, and we’ll see how that goes.”
“We’re approaching it with an idea that it’s a very important game,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a huge game for us. We need to go out there and win the game. It’s all hands on deck.”
The Ravens ruled out tight end Mark Andrews (ankle), who’s expected to be placed on injured reserve, and inside linebacker Trenton Simpson (concussion). Inside linebacker Malik Harrison, who was limited Friday by a groin injury, is doubtful. Tight end Charlie Kolar, who missed practice with an illness, and cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams, a full participant in his return to practice this week, are also questionable.
The Chargers ruled out reserve tight end Nick Vannett and reserve safety J.T. Woods. Starting tight end Gerald Everett and starting wide receiver Jalen Guyton are questionable.
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