The Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 effectively sealed the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That basically makes Week 18 pointless for the Ravens, which is good news for Pittsburgh Steelers supporters who want to win and hope for support from the rest of the conference to secure a postseason place.
Ravens Head Coach Josh Johnson was playing as John Harbaugh’s No. 2 quarterback until he decided earlier in the week to bench starting quarterback Lamar Jackson in favor of backup Tyler Huntley. However, it was unclear at the moment how many additional starters they might bench for this match. It turns out that there are quite a few.
Jackson and three other starters, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and right guard Kevin Zeitler, were among the six players the Ravens ruled out on their last injury report of the week. Star safety Kyle Hamilton has been formally labeled as questionable due to a knee ailment, while breakthrough rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers is uncertain due to a calf injury.
Jackson and three other starters, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and right guard Kevin Zeitler, were among the six players the Ravens ruled out on their last injury report of the week. Zay Flowers, a promising rookie wide receiver, is questionable due to a calf ailment. *Odell Beckham Jr. (coach decision), LB; *CB Marlon Humphrey (calf); *OG Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad/coach decision); QB Lamar Jackson Malik Harrison, DB, groin Daryl Worley (ankle/shoulder)
*WR Zay Flowers (calf) is DOUBTFUL.
QUESTIONABLE: WR Tylan Wallace (knee), DB Ar’Darius Washington (pectoral), CB Ronald Darby (sickness), *S Kyle Hamilton (knee), CB Arthur Maulet (hip), CB Branon Stephens (ankle),
Baltimore Ravens starter.
Before Saturday’s game, safety Kyle Hamilton will be the most important player to watch out of all the names listed as dubious. Being the only defensive back in the league this season with four or more interceptions and three or more sacks in 2023, the second-year standout from Notre Dame has established himself as one of the best defenders in the game. Hamilton has the third-best coverage passer rating (47.2) among safeties with at least 500 defensive snaps played this season. He has only allowed 36 catches for 260 yards.
The Ravens may want to proceed cautiously with their young star, since Hamilton allegedly sustained a sprained MCL against the Rams early in the season and another injury in Week 16.
The Ravens have a lot of talented players that appear certain to participate, even with the number of guys they have ruled out. These players include safety Marcus Williams, linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, and edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Odafe Oweh. On offense, they have former first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who is finally looking healthy for the first time since being drafted in 2021, and superb second-year tight end Isaiah Likely in waiting, even without their top two wideouts.
The Ravens are also without starting tight end Mark Andrews, who has been placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury sustained in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, despite his absence from the injury list. After the injury, Andrews had surgery on his ankle, but the team hopes he will be ready for the postseason. They should benefit from having a first-round bye because they are the top seed.