OWINGS MILLS, Md. — It’s no secret that the Ravens have been ravaged by injuries throughout the season, and coach John Harbaugh wasn’t tipping his hand regarding numerous players’ status for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Eight players were listed as questionable, including linebackers Terrell Suggs and Dannell Ellerbe, guard Marshal Yanda, safety Bernard Pollard, defensive linemen Arthur Jones and Pernell McPhee, cornerback Jimmy Smith, and fullback Vonta Leach. Tight end Ed Dickson was listed as doubtful after practicing on a limited basis all week while linebacker Jameel McClain had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game earlier in the week.

“The rest of the guys are going to be up in the air,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not something that we’re probably going to want to share, because there is no advantage to us to let anybody know whether guys are going to play or not. We’ve got an idea on some guys. We have a lesser idea on some other guys. It’s just not information that we are going to put out there. We’re just going to let it go until Sunday.”

Of the players listed as questionable, Yanda and Pollard are the biggest doubts to be available as neither have practiced all week. Yanda was still in a walking boot as of Friday afternoon, and Pollard aggravated the sore ribs with which he’s dealt since Week 2 of the regular season. It’s considered highly unlikely that either will play against the Broncos.

Suggs practiced fully for the second straight day and deemed himself a game-time decision when speaking to reporters on Friday. Meanwhile, Ellerbe returned to the practice field on Thursday and worked on a limited basis the last two days. The inside linebacker hasn’t played the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in Week 12.

“I’m looking forward to being out there [if I can],” Ellerbe said. “I’m going to work it before the game, and if I feel good, I’m going to go. If I can’t go, I’m not going to go out there and hurt the team.”

Linebacker Ray Lewis was on the field for practice on Friday, but he is not required to be listed on the injury report since he is not on the 53-man roster. The 37-year-old continues to work his way back from a torn triceps suffered on Oct. 14 and has been on injured reserve with the designation to return. The Ravens would be required to place Lewis on the active roster by 4 p.m. on Saturday for him to be eligible to return to game action against the Broncos.

Harbaugh was asked specifically if he could say anything about Suggs and Lewis after not disclosing specifics on injured players.

“No, I can’t, but thanks for asking,” Harbaugh replied.

With so many players banged up and practicing with varying degrees of participation, Harbaugh faces a difficult decision on Sunday to weigh the pros and cons of activating players who may be far less than 100 percent but might be able to offer help in limited situations.

“That’s going to be in consideration,” Harbaugh said. “Will we have enough healthy guys to get to 46 [active players on game day]? That’s a consideration. What you are talking about will come down to one or two guys at the end that we will have to make a decision [on].”

Harbaugh also announced McClain would be seeing a back specialist in Los Angeles to help determine his status moving forward. The team hopes to know more by Monday or Tuesday.

BALTIMORE
OUT: LB Jameel McClain (neck)
DOUBTFUL: TE Ed Dickson (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle), DT Arthur Jones (shoulder), FB Vonta Leach (ankle), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), S Bernard Pollard (chest), CB Jimmy Smith (abdomen), LB Terrell Suggs (biceps), G Marshal Yanda (ankle)
PROBABLE: CB Chykie Brown (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (ankle), RB Bernard Pierce (back), S Ed Reed (shoulder), RB Ray Rice (hip), WR Deonte Thompson (thigh), WR LaQuan Williams (thigh)

DENVER
QUESTIONABLE: G Chris Kuper (ankle), LB Wesley Woodyard (ankle)
PROBABLE: WR Trindon Holliday (knee), WR Demaryius Thomas (shoulder), WR Matthew Willis (knee)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Two more players returned to the practice field for the Ravens on Friday, but the status of Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda and safety Bernard Pollard remains in doubt as both missed their third straight workout ahead of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Fullback Vonta Leach (ankle) and defensive end Pernell McPhee (thigh) were present and dressed out to practice for the first time this week during the portion open for media viewing, but Yanda (ankle) and Pollard (chest) haven’t practiced all week. Yanda is dealing with a significant ankle sprain while Pollard aggravated the sore ribs he’s played with for most of the season.

Should neither Yanda nor Pollard play this weekend, Bobbie Williams and James Ihedigbo would presumably fill in at their positions.

Linebackers Ray Lewis (triceps), Terrell Suggs (biceps), and Dannell Ellerbe (ankle), defensive lineman Arthur Jones (shoulder), tight end Ed Dickson (knee), and running backs Ray Rice (hip) and Bernard Pierce (back) were all present after all practiced in some capacity on Thursday.

Of that group, the three linebackers are considered to be the only question marks. Lewis remains on injured reserve and would need to be placed on the 53-man roster by 4 p.m. on Saturday in order to potentially play against Denver. Suggs described himself as a game-time decision on Thursday while Ellerbe has missed each of the last two games with the ankle injury he suffered against San Diego on Nov. 25.

Suggs was listed as a full participant while Ellerbe was designated as limited on Thursday. Because he is not on the active roster, Lewis isn’t required to be included on the injury report.

Linebacker Jameel McClain (neck) was officially ruled out for the Denver game on Wednesday.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Entering the week with optimism over the chance of linebacker Ray Lewis possibly returning to play against the Denver Broncos, the Ravens will be without fellow inside linebacker Jameel McClain for Sunday’s game.

McClain suffered a neck injury in the third quarter of the 31-28 loss to the Washington Redskins and didn’t return. Coach John Harbaugh said McClain would be OK during his Monday press conference but said the fifth-year linebacker would not be ready in time to play this Sunday. He was officially ruled out for Sunday’s game on Wednesday’s injury report.

“Jameel McClain will not make it to the game,” Harbaugh said. “We’re talking a look at the neck [and] back. There’s nothing major there, but he will not make it to this game. We’re going to do some more tests and things like that just to see down the road where he’ll be.”

With McClain out and Dannell Ellerbe’s status in question against the Broncos, the possibility of Lewis returning becomes more of a necessity, but the 37-year-old linebacker was absent from the portion of practice open to media on Wednesday, joining Ellerbe (ankle) and McClain as non-participants. Lewis is eligible to come off the injured reserve list this week, and it has been reported by several outlets over the last few weeks that he was targeting a Week 15 return against Peyton Manning and Denver. He wasn’t listed on Wednesday’s injury report, because the team is not required to include him since he isn’t part of the active roster.

Lewis hasn’t played since suffering a right torn triceps against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 14 and has spent the last eight weeks on IR with the designation to return. Should the Ravens be without Lewis and Ellerbe for Sunday’s game, they would be faced with the combination of Brendon Ayanbadejo, Albert McClellan, and Josh Bynes playing the inside linebacker spots.

In addition to the trio of linebackers, the Ravens were also without right guard Marshal Yanda (ankle), fullback Vonta Leach (ankle), safety Bernard Pollard (ribs), and defensive linemen Pernell McPhee (groin) and Arthur Jones (right shoulder bruise) during Wednesday’s workout.

Of those players, Yanda’s status is the most concerning after he suffered a “somewhat serious” ankle sprain in overtime against Washington that left him in a walking boot and on crutches following the game. He was noncommittal when asked about his status against the Broncos.

“There’s nothing to announce on any other guys today,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll know more by the end of the week in terms of how much they are going to be able to practice and stuff like that. I’d say that they all have a chance to get there. Some have a higher chance than others, but I’m not going to get into those percentages today.”

On a positive note, tight end Ed Dickson (knee) returned to the practice field on a limited basis for the first time since being injured against the San Diego Chargers in Week 12. Linebacker Terrell Suggs (torn right biceps) was also practicing on Wednesday after missing Sunday’s game against the Redskins.

Dickson described himself as “day to day” after missing the last two games with a hyperextended knee.

“I’m living in the treatment center getting it ready,” Dickson said. “I don’t want to be out there at 50 percent. That’s not going to help the team. They need a 100-percent me.”

Cornerback Jimmy Smith practiced full for the first time since undergoing sports hernia surgery last month. He practiced on a limited basis all last week before sitting out against Washington.

To replace suspended rookie cornerback Asa Jackson on the 53-man roster, the Ravens promoted safety Omar Brown from the practice squad and signed outside linebacker D.J. Bryant to take Brown’s place on the developmental unit.

Bryant played his college football at James Madison and graduated from Randallstown High School.

Here is Wednesday’s full injury report, which doesn’t include Lewis since he has yet to be placed back on the 53-man roster …

BALTIMORE
OUT: LB Jameel McClain (neck)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle), DT Arthur Jones (shoulder), FB Vonta Leach (ankle), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), S Bernard Pollard (chest), G Marshal Yanda (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Ed Dickson (knee), RB Bernard Pierce (back), RB Ray Rice (hip), LB Terrell Suggs (biceps)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Jacoby Jones (ankle), S Ed Reed (shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (abdomen), WR Deonte Thompson (thigh), WR LaQuan Williams (thigh)

DENVER
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: G Chris Kuper (ankle), LB Wesley Woodyard (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Trindon Holliday (knee), WR Demaryius Thomas (shoulder), WR Matthew Willis (knee)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Turning a new page with the dismissal of Cam Cameron and the promotion of Jim Caldwell to the offensive coordinator position, the Ravens now redirect their attention to an extensive list of health concerns heading into a Week 15 meeting with the red-hot Denver Broncos.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs’ status continues to be a major question mark, but the Ravens added another marquee name to the list of walking wounded after Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda suffered a sprained ankle in the opening series of overtime in Baltimore’s 31-28 loss to the Redskins. The sixth-year lineman left the locker room on crutches but was able to put weight on the injured ankle before he was fitted with a walking boot.

Coach John Harbaugh expressed concern over Yanda’s status moving forward as the offensive lineman will undergo further testing this week. Veteran Bobbie Williams would presumably take over at the right guard position should Yanda miss any game action.

“We’ll continue to have [his ankle] evaluated, and we’ll let you know later in the week — once he gets an MRI on that — exactly how serious that is,” Harbaugh said. “But, it seems like a somewhat serious ankle sprain, but it is not an ankle break in any way.”

Suggs missed his first game since suffering a torn right biceps in the Ravens’ Week 13 loss to Pittsburgh as he was deemed unready to play against Washington. The 30-year-old linebacker has vowed to play again this season and avoid injured reserve, but he has also acknowledged his need to be effective in addition to questions over how much pain he can tolerate.

The rainy conditions at FedEx Field also contributed to the decision for Suggs to sit out, according to the head coach. Harbaugh said the Pro Bowl linebacker has a “good chance” to play against the Broncos after missing his seventh game of the season on Sunday.

“He was close. That was a decision right before the game that was made between he and I,” Harbaugh said. “We just decided the conditions and those kinds of things, it was better for him safety-wise to not play in that game.”

The Ravens could also see the return of inside linebacker Ray Lewis, who began practicing last week and is now eligible to be activated from injured reserve after making a remarkable recovery from right triceps surgery. Lewis suffered the tear in the Ravens’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 14 and was placed on IR with the designation to return later that week.

Should Lewis play against the Broncos, it would be just over eight weeks after he underwent surgery to repair the tear. The typical recovery time for that type of injury is a minimum of four months.

“He’s making good progress, and we’ll just have to see how he practices this week,” Harbaugh said. “Going into Wednesday, we’ll know a lot more, I think, because he’s going to push it a little bit over the next two days. I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out.”

Harbaugh offered good news on inside linebacker Jameel McClain, who suffered an injured neck in the second half of Sunday’s game and didn’t return. McClain’s loss forced the Ravens to use Albert McClellan, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and former practice squad member Josh Bynes at inside linebacker since Dannell Ellerbe missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.

McClain tied for the team lead with eight tackles despite missing a significant portion of the game.

“He’s got to get some testing done, but he should be OK,” Harbaugh said. “That’s standard procedure.”

Tight end Ed Dickson and cornerback Jimmy Smith may also return to game action this week, depending on how well they progress in practices. The third-year tight end has missed the last two games after suffering a hyperextended knee in the Ravens’ win at San Diego on Nov. 25.

Smith has missed the Ravens’ last five road games and underwent sports hernia surgery on Nov. 15. The 2011 first-round pick returned to practice on a limited basis last week before he was listed as doubtful for the Washington game.

“Ed Dickson looks better. He ran a little bit today, so he’ll have a chance to go on Sunday,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see. And Jimmy Smith, the same thing. We’ll take a look on Sunday and see how he looks in the week leading up to Sunday.”

Harbaugh also mentioned a number of players dealing with minor injuries including running backs Ray Rice (left hip contusion), Bernard Pierce (lower back strain), and Vonta Leach (ankle), defensive linemen Arthur Jones (right shoulder bruise) and Pernell McPhee (groin), and safety Bernard Pollard (ribs). None of those players are believed to be in danger of missing Sunday’s game.

The Ravens coach went out of his way to compliment Pollard for pushing through the rib injury he initially sustained against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. The strong safety hasn’t missed any game action despite dealing with the injury and regularly receiving treatment after practices and games.

“Bernard continues to work with the ribs,” Harbaugh said. “He’s doing a great job fighting through that. There’s no tougher guy — football player — than Bernard Pollard.”

It didn’t take long.

“The thing is-I’d prefer them to be getting blown out than losing the way they’re losing.”

I can’t remember who it was, and I apologize if it was you. It wasn’t long into “The Nasty Purple Postgame Show” Sunday night on WNST that I got the first one. And it wasn’t the only time I heard/read it Sunday. I got it in a few emails and social media messages.

It wasn’t the most infuriating thing I heard Sunday night. In fact, it wasn’t really infuriating at all.

I get it. Honestly, I get it.

I mean, I hope all of us who were greatly bothered by seeing the Baltimore Ravens suffer a second consecutive loss Sunday (this time in overtime at the Washington Redskins) are understanding that 1-the team’s season is FAR from over and 2-no organization with a 9-4 record in a NFL season can EVER be vastly concerned about the following season or any seasons to come.

The only thing the organization can be concerned about is winning their next game, a visit from the Denver Broncos in the case of the Baltimore Ravens.

While you’re questioning the future of the Offensive Coordinator, the quarterback, who stays and goes on the defensive side of the ball and who could be cut to free room under the salary cap; the organization is ONLY concerned about how to break a lengthy losing streak against Peyton Manning and how a maligned Offensive Line can contain Von Miller.

They’ve thought about some of those same things, but they’ll worry about them after the season.

Some of you are struggling with the notion that the season hasn’t ended for the Baltimore Ravens in the course of the last eight days. It was rain falling today in Charm City, but it felt like it was the sky.

If the Ravens HAD been blown out in their last two games and hadn’t managed to pull off a few miracles (a missed Dan Bailey field goal lifting them past the Dallas Cowboys, the impossible 4th & 29 conversion in San Diego) or hold on in some of the uglier games in recent franchise history (wins at Kansas City and Pittsburgh that came without a single offensive touchdown), the Baltimore Ravens would sit at 5-8 and feel much more comfortable about declaring both the season over and welcoming panic within the building at 1 Winning Drive in Owings Mills.

Instead, they have all but clinched a fifth consecutive postseason appearance and are in no ways guaranteed to not be able to make a run towards a second consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance.

When you tell me you’d prefer blowouts, I understand what you’re really saying. You’re REALLY saying you don’t think the Ravens are going to make that type of run and you’d prefer to see the organization start answering more difficult questions now than have to wait another four or five weeks.

It’s understandable. The most likely scenario for the Ravens is that they’ll enter the playoffs as the AFC North champion (they need only one more win in any game the rest of the way to lock it up) but having lost anywhere from two to four (or I guess even all five) of their final five games. It’s reasonable to assume they won’t enter the postseason playing a particularly consistent level of football.

It’s easier for us to discuss long term questions like “should Cam Cameron be fired?”, “how much is Joe Flacco worth?”, “what do you do with Michael Oher?”, “has Jimmy Smith made enough progress to feel comfortable letting Cary Williams walk?”, “is there any future for Ed Reed here?” and “would cutting Anquan Boldin provide the cap room the organization needs?”

But the only real questions at the moment are more along the lines of “what will the team do if they’re missing Marshal Yanda for a significant amount of time?”, “can Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe and Terrell Suggs return in time to face Denver?” and “should Corey Graham still start after Smith returns?”

None of those questions sound like they’ll make the type of difference necessary to see the Ravens look like Super Bowl contenders again.

That’s where the organization is after 14 weeks of the 2012 NFL season.

I know you don’t REALLY mean you’d rather see the Ravens getting blown out right now, but I understand why it feels that way.

-G

LANDOVER, Md. — The Ravens added injury to the insult of a disappointing 31-28 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins with the loss of two more starters on Sunday.

Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda exited in the fourth quarter with a right ankle injury and didn’t return while starting inside linebacker Jameel McClain left Sunday’s game in the third quarter with a neck injury and was sidelined for the remainder of the afternoon. Coach John Harbaugh confirmed X-rays were negative on McClain’s neck.

“That’s good news,” Harbaugh said of the preliminary results.

The immediate status of Yanda remains a mystery as there was much concern over his injured ankle following the game. The sixth-year lineman was helped to the sideline as he put no weight on his right leg before being carted to the locker room. Following the loss, Yanda left the Ravens locker room using crutches but was able to put some weight on the ankle as he moved to the team bus.

Veteran Bobbie Williams filled in at right guard in Yanda’s absence while McClain was replaced by former practice squad member Josh Bynes in the second half. The Ravens were already without starting inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.

The Ravens also reported minor injuries to running back Ray Rice and fullback Vonta Leach. Rice suffered a hip pointer and Leach sustained an ankle injury, but neither is considered to be serious considering both players finished the game.

Rice ran for 120 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and did not appear to be favoring the injury in the locker room.

Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs didn’t play in Sunday’s game as his status remains uncertain moving forward after he suffered a torn right biceps in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On the plus side, the Ravens hope to see the returns of inside linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Jimmy Smith this week as they turn their attention to the red-hot Denver Broncos for Week 15.

After every Baltimore Ravens victory, Ryan Chell and I take to the airwaves on “The Nasty Purple Postgame Show” on AM1570 WNST.net to offer “Pats on the Ass” to players who have done something to deserve the honor.

We give pats to two defensive players, two offensive players and one “Wild Card”-either another offensive or defensive player, a Special Teams player or a coach. We offer a “Pat on Both Cheeks” to someone who stands out, our version of a “Player of the Game.” Ryan and I select five different players/coaches each.

Here are our “Pats on the Ass” following the Ravens’ 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field…

Glenn Clark’s Pats…

5. Cary Williams

4. Ray Rice

3. James Ihedigbo

2. Anquan Boldin

1. Corey Graham (Pat on Both Cheeks)

(Ryan’s Pats on Page 2…)