BALTIMORE — With an opportunity to knock out the Steelers in the AFC North race Sunday, the Ravens are looking to win their 13th consecutive division game, which would be the longest streak since the NFL’s 2002 divisional realignment.

Baltimore only needs a victory to clinch their fifth straight trip to the postseason, and a win coupled with a Bengals loss in San Diego would give the Ravens their second consecutive division title. Meanwhile, a third consecutive loss for the Steelers would put their playoff hopes in jeopardy with injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger still sidelined with an injured throwing shoulder.

Sunday marks the 34th regular-season meeting between the Ravens and the Steelers as Pittsburgh holds an 18-15 edge and a 3-0 mark in the playoffs. A win would give the Ravens four straight regular-season victories over their biggest rival for the first time in franchise history.

Starting inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is inactive, meaning defensive coordinator Dean Pees will use a combination of Brendon Ayanbadejo, Albert McClellan, and Josh Bynes next to Jameel McClain. All three players took reps at the Will linebacker spot this week as Ellerbe was sidelined with an ankle injury suffered against the Chargers in Week 12.

The Ravens will also be without tight end Ed Dickson, who is still recovering from a sprained knee suffered last week in San Diego. That means increased duties for Dennis Pitta and third-string tight end Billy Bajema in the blocking game.

Veteran guard Bobbie Williams is active for the first time since Week 10, but second-year lineman Jah Reid is expected to start. Defensive end Pernell McPhee is also active after missing the last four games with knee and thigh injuries.

Veteran cornerback Chris Johnson is also inactive, meaning Chykie Brown will handle cornerback duties in the nickel package as Corey Graham slides inside to cover the slot receiver.

In addition to Roethlisberger, the Steelers are without outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, right tackle Mike Adams, and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich. Veteran Charlie Batch will start behind center and the recently-signed Brian Hoyer will serve in a No. 2 capacity.

Former starting running back Rashard Mendenhall is also listed as inactive despite not appearing on the injury report. He was demoted on the depth chart to the No. 3 running back spot on the depth chart this week.

As expected, safety Troy Polamalu and wide receiver Antonio Brown make their respective returns to action after being sidelined with injuries.

The Ravens are wearing their black alternate jerseys while Pittsburgh wears their white tops and gold pants for this one.

Here are today’s inactives …

BALTIMORE
LB Dannell Ellerbe
TE Ed Dickson
CB Jimmy Smith
CB Chris Johnson
OL Ramon Harewood
WR Deonte Thompson
DT Bryan Hall

PITTSBURGH
QB Ben Roethlisberger
LB LaMarr Woodley
QB Byron Leftwich
OT Mike Adams
CB DeMarcus Van Dyke
RB Rashard Mendenhall
WR Jerricho Cotchery

Follow WNST on Twitter throughout the day as Drew Forrester, Nestor Aparicio, and I bring live updates and analysis from M&T Bank Stadium throughout the day.

Poised with an opportunity to complete a regular-season sweep over the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second straight year and third time in team history, the Ravens return to M&T Bank Stadium trying to clinch their fifth straight trip to the playoffs with a win.

In contrast, the Steelers would be eliminated from AFC North contention and would see their playoff hopes take another major blow with a loss on Sunday. The Ravens will have their second straight division title and fourth in 10 years with a victory and a Bengals loss in San Diego on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s what to expect as the Ravens try to win their fourth straight game over the Steelers for the first time in franchise history and improve to 16-18 all-time against their most bitter rival …

1. With Ben Roethlisberger sidelined again and Charlie Batch under center, the Steelers will make a stronger commitment to the running game with less success than they enjoyed two weeks ago. One of Pittsburgh’s biggest downfalls in the teams’ first meeting was allowing backup Byron Leftwich to throw 39 times while the Steelers averaged 5.0 yards per ground attempt. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley won’t make the mistake again as Jonathan Dwyer will receive a bigger workload with Isaac Redman also in the mix. However, the Steelers have a patchwork offensive line with right tackle Mike Adams out — and replaced by seventh-round rookie Kelvin Beachum — and left guard Willie Colon questionable. The latter’s absence could lead to even more shuffling with starting center Maurkice Pouncey possibly shifting to guard and backup Doug Legursky handling center duties. It all adds up to a less-effective running game and a very nervous Batch in the pocket.

2. The Ravens will match their season low for points scored at M&T Bank Stadium this season. Baltimore has averaged an incredible 36.8 points per game, but the Steelers bring the top-ranked defense in yards allow to town and held the Ravens without an offensive touchdown at Heinz Field in Week 11. Quarterback Joe Flacco will throw the ball often as he typically does at home, but a strong Pittsburgh secondary will also include a returning Troy Polamalu. The Ravens will use short and intermediate passing to counter the Pittburgh pass rush working against a shaky offensive line that will be without tight end Ed Dickson’s pass-blocking abilities, and Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce will grind away tough yards to keep the Steelers’ front seven honest. The Ravens’ low for points scored at home this season was 23 against Cleveland in Week 4, and that sounds like a respectable day against one of the best defenses in the league that will be without outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

3. Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown will be a factor in a limited passing attack to have 75 receiving yards in his return to action. Batch doesn’t have the arm to repeatedly test the Ravens deep, so the speedy Brown will be used underneath as the Ravens try to keep him and fellow speed receiver Mike Wallace in check. Cornerbacks Cary Williams and Corey Graham will play with cushion to respect speed on both sides of the field while safety Ed Reed won’t be able to shade to one side. Brown had 499 receiving yards in his first eight games this year before suffering a high ankle sprain last month but surprisingly doesn’t have a catch longer than 27 yards this season. He’ll eclipse that with a big gain after a short reception at some point on Sunday to put his team in position for a score.

4. Anquan Boldin will catch a touchdown pass as he continues a trend of strong games against the Steelers defense. The 32-year-old receiver is quietly on pace to finish with the best totals in receptions and yards he’s had in his three seasons with the Ravens. However, Boldin hasn’t found the end zone since catching a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season-opening 44-13 win. Predicting that the Ravens will use shorter passing as the Steelers protect against deep shots to Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, I expect Flacco to find Boldin often as the possession receiver puts together another strong performance against Pittsburgh. Boldin was one of the few offensive standouts against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field two weeks ago, finishing with eight catches for 79 yards. He’ll have a similar day on Sunday but will add a long-awaited touchdown catch to his total.

5. Baltimore will win its 16th straight regular-season contest at M&T Bank Stadium with a 23-13 victory to clinch a playoff spot. These teams are going in opposite directions as the Ravens jockey for one of the top spots in the AFC while the Steelers face the prospects of their third straight loss as Roethlisberger continues to be sidelined with shoulder and rib injuries. Pittsburgh’s stout defense will keep this one from getting out of hand, but there’s just no way Batch will do enough against an improving Ravens defense to give the Steelers the type of offensive output they need to do what no one has done in Baltimore in 727 days. The Steelers were the last team to beat the Ravens in their home stadium on Dec. 5, 2010, but Baltimore will pass the two-year mark of that most recent home defeat with another win to eliminate their biggest rival from division contention and punch its own ticket to the postseason for an NFL-best fifth straight season.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Making final preparations for their second meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers in three weeks, the Ravens have once again gained the upper hand on their biggest adversary in terms of health as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was ruled out by Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Tight end Ed Dickson was listed as doubtful for Sunday after missing three straight practices this week as he recovers from a knee injury sustained in last Sunday’s 16-13 win over the San Diego Chargers. The third-year tight end sustained no major ligament damage, but coach John Harbaugh anticipated his practice time to be extremely limited this week.

The Ravens coach offered nothing new on the status of Dickson or inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who is listed as questionable after not practicing all week. Defensive end Pernell McPhee and cornerback Chris Johnson are also questionable against the Steelers after working on a limited basis throughout the week.

“Nothing really new to report on injuries,” Harbaugh said. “All the guys are in the same status as they were early in the week. We’ll just see how they get to Sunday.”

Ellerbe was present for Friday’s practice but did not participate, labeling himself a “game-time” decision on Sunday. He would likely be replaced by some combination of Brendon Ayanbadejo, Albert McClellan, and Josh Bynes in the lineup should he not be able to play.

The fourth-year linebacker injured his ankle in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Chargers and did not return.

“I’m getting better everyday,” Ellerbe said. “The swelling [is better]. They say it’s looking good. It’s just the strength and the pain.”

With Dickson unlikely to play, the Ravens are left with a conundrum at the tight end position in terms of blocking responsibilities as Dennis Pitta is considered a stronger receiver but does not fare well when asked to block. Third tight end Billy Bajema has been active the last two weeks and will likely see time as a blocker against Pittsburgh, but the veteran doesn’t offer much as a receiver. .

The Ravens have held out hope all week that Dickson would be available, but Friday’s designation did not paint an optimistic picture.

“[Dickson] is a quick healer. He is moving around good, so we’re really not going down that road yet,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said Thursday. “We’ve got plenty of guys that can block. Dennis can block, Billy [Bajema] can block. If you can’t block, you’re not going to be here. I’m glad we have depth at tight end.”

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh will not only be without Roethlisberger as outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, right tackle Mike Adams, and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich were also ruled out. This means former New England quarterback Brian Hoyer — only signed last week — will serve as the backup to veteran Charlie Batch with the Steelers’ other two signal-callers sidelined against the Ravens.

The news of Roethlisberger not being available was no surprise after pessimistic reports about his practice work on Thursday, but Harbaugh offered a humorous and historical take on the Pittsburgh quarterback’s status before he was officially ruled out Friday afternoon.

“I’m expecting to see Willis Reed come jogging down the tunnel,” said Harbaugh, referring to the Hall of Fame center for the New York Knicks who made a heroic return from injury in the 1970 NBA Finals. “That’s the expectation. And if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.”

As expected, safety Troy Polamalu and wide receiver Antonio Brown were both listed as probable after practicing fully all week and will make their returns to the field after extended absences due to injury.

BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Jimmy Smith (abs)
DOUBTFUL: TE Ed Dickson (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle, knee, finger), CB Chris Johnson (thigh), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh)
PROBABLE: WR Anquan Boldin (knee), DT Terrence Cody (elbow), CB Corey Graham (illness), WR Jacoby Jones (ankle), TE Dennis Pitta (neck), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder), WR Torrey Smith (thigh), LB Terrell Suggs (ankle)

PITTSBURGH
OUT: T Mike Adams (ankle), QB Byron Leftwich (ribs), QB Ben Roethlishberger (right shoulder), LB LaMarr Woodley (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: T Willie Colon (knee), WR Jerricho Cotchery (ribs)
PROBABLE: WR Antonio Brown (ankle), DT Casey Hampton (illness), S Troy Polamalu (calf), T Max Starks (back)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens will enter Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers having not lost a contest at M&T Bank Stadium in 727 days, possessing the longest active home winning streak in the NFL with 15 straight regular-season victories.

But ask anyone with ties to the organization and they’ll tell you the streak should be even longer, as it was the Steelers who last beat the Ravens in Baltimore on Dec. 5, 2010. A run of 23 wins in 24 tries at home is still an incredible feat in the parity-driven NFL, but the efforts of Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu helped prevent the Ravens from holding a flawless home record for well over three years.

As the 31-year-old defensive back prepares to make his long-awaited return from a calf injury on Sunday, the image of his sack-and-strip of quarterback Joe Flacco with just over three minutes remaining to set up the game-winning touchdown for the Steelers two years ago will undoubtedly be on the Ravens’ minds. Instead of collecting a couple first downs to run out the clock and collect a 10-6 victory, Baltimore fell victim once again to a big play by Polamalu and lost hold of the 2010 AFC North title and a first-round bye in the process.

“Everybody watching TV at home, everybody in the stadium, you all know you see 43 at the line, four-minute offense, he’s coming,” said linebacker Terrell Suggs in the moments following that 13-10 loss. “It was just like, I hope we have a plan. It just didn’t feel good when I saw that hair at the line.”

Two years later, the circumstances are dramatically different as the Ravens enjoy a three-game lead in the division and can eliminate the Steelers from AFC North contention and put their playoff hopes in serious peril with a win. Polamalu hasn’t played since Oct. 7 and has appeared in only two games this season while the Pittsburgh defense has still managed to remain first in the league in yards allowed.

But with a healthy Polamalu on the field, the Ravens know they face a unique challenge in addition to the already-stout defense that held them to no offensive touchdowns and just 200 total yards despite a 13-10 win at Heinz Field two weeks ago. Dropping into coverage or lining up to blitz at the line of scrimmage, Polamalu must be identified by Flacco and the Baltimore offense on every play.

“With Troy, you have to be aware of him at all times,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They’ve done a great job of playing defense back there without Troy. So, you add a guy like that in the mix, obviously, what a factor that can be.”

With it looking more unlikely that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play on Sunday, it’s difficult to imagine many scenarios in which the Pittsburgh offense can provide enough punch with third-string quarterback Charlie Batch in line to receive the start. The Ravens offense must be smart with the football despite their preference for playing aggressively at home, and that’s where Polamalu’s return could be a factor.

Much like Ravens safety Ed Reed, health concerns have taken a toll on Polamalu’s play-making ability, but his presence on the field alone gives Flacco a significant headache he didn’t face two weeks ago when he struggled to make plays against Pittsburgh’s top-ranked secondary. Protecting the football will be paramount, and it was a failure to identify Polamalu late in the game two years ago that netted the Ravens their only loss at M&T Bank Stadium since Nov. 22, 2009.

“He just has a good knack for the game of football,” Flacco said. “He usually can figure out where the ball is going. He just has a feel for the game. While you try to combat that and account for him, there is always a certain amount that you really can’t account for what he is going to do. You just have to go out there, play your game, and take care of him by playing sound, fundamental football.”

Pees with good problem on hands

With linebacker Ray Lewis’ anticipated return before the end of the regular season, the questions have already been raised over how the Ravens should handle his workload with fourth-year player Dannell Ellerbe playing so well in the starting lineup.

A few have taken the extreme position that the Baltimore defense is better off without the 37-year-old, but most would at least agree it’s worth discussing the possibility of Lewis not playing every snap with the thought of keeping him fresh and hiding his suspect coverage in obvious passing situations. It’s not an easy discussion to have should coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome decide on that course of action, but now might be the time to do it with Lewis making a quicker-than-expected recovery from a torn triceps.

It’s too early to speculate how the Ravens will act with Lewis not yet practicing, but it’s a good dilemma to have with Ellerbe and fellow inside linebacker Jameel McClain doing an admirable job filling in for the middle of the defense. The reality is they’d like to have all three on the field as much as possible to enhance their strengths and compensate for potential shortcomings.

“I’d rather have that problem than to try to figure out who the heck is going to be playing because we have a bunch of injuries, which we’ve had to do,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “It’s always a good thing for a coach. It may not be a good thing for the players, but it’s always a good thing for the coaches.”

The better question might be whether the Ravens elect to keep Ellerbe at the “Will” linebacker spot over McClain, who has filled in at Lewis’ “Mike” backer position in the veteran’s absence. Ellerbe is stronger in pass coverage and has had the better overall season, but McClain has raised his level of play in recent weeks as well.

In the mean time, Pees appreciates having Lewis back at the team’s Owings Mills facility this week as he continues to rehab his right arm before returning to the practice field in the not-too-distant future.

“I’ve told you guys before that going in and coaching him and watching him in the meetings sit back there and take notes like a rookie, that’s why he is who he is,” Pees sad. “Really for the younger guys, but really for us older guys — to me — he’s a perfect pro.”

Jones continues to receive accolades

CONTINUE >>>

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — On the first day in which he could return to the practice field, Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis wasn’t ready to join his teammates just yet.

Placed on injured reserve with the designation to return on Oct. 17, the 37-year-old was eligible to begin practicing on Thursday after six weeks on IR. However, Lewis would not be allowed to play in a game for another two weeks, which would make him eligible to play in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos at the earliest.

Lewis returned to the team’s Owings Mills facility earlier this week to continue rehabbing from surgery on his right triceps tear as coach John Harbaugh described his status as “day-by-day” and did not project an imminent return for the 17-year veteran.

“He’s trying everything that he can to get back,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “There are guys that would — with not even that many years [in the league] — say, ‘Oh well. I’ve had a great career. I’m going to the Hall of Fame. What the heck?’ It’s just not like that with him. That’s what pros do. There’s no quit.”

The Ravens were also without tight end Ed Dickson (knee), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (ankle), wide receiver Jacoby Jones (ankle), and safety Bernard Pollard (chest). Pollard practiced on a limited basis Wednesday before sitting out Thursday’s workout while the other three have now missed two straight practices this week.

Cornerback Corey Graham returned to the practice field a day after being stricken with a stomach bug.

Wide receiver Torrey Smith (thigh), cornerback Chris Johnson (hamstring), defensive end Pernell McPhee (knee-thigh), and safety Ed Reed (shoulder) were also present and working after being listed as limited participants on Wednesday’s injury report.

The Steelers added starting nose tackle Casey Hampton to Thursday’s injury report as he was dealing with an illness.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day, but reports continue to paint a dark picture for his status on Sunday afternoon. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says “it does not look good” for the Pittsburgh signal-caller to make his return against the Ravens on Sunday.

Safety Troy Polamalu and wide receiver Antonio Brown each practiced fully for the second straight day, making their respective returns to the field Sunday all but certain barring a setback.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — You couldn’t script the circumstances for a more festive atmosphere in Baltimore on Sunday — at least for a regular-season game.

Playing their first home game in three weeks and enjoying a three-game lead in the AFC North, the Ravens welcome the struggling Pittsburgh Steelers to town with plenty of incentives in addition to the intrinsic motivation that comes with playing their biggest rival.

A win clinches a playoff berth and eliminates Pittsburgh from contention for the division title. That coupled with a Bengals loss in San Diego gives the Ravens their second straight AFC North championship.

To rub further salt in the wounds of the Steelers, the Ravens could sweep them for the second consecutive year and set a franchise record with a fourth straight win over Pittsburgh in the regular season. A win over Pittsburgh wouldn’t end their adversary’s playoff hopes, but it would leave them with little margin for error with a 6-6 record.

However, the Ravens are leaving the bells and whistles to media and fans to worry about, especially when it comes to the possibility of clinching the division at the earliest point in a season ever in the history of the franchise. With goals above and beyond a fourth division title in 10 years, Baltimore cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

“Who’s talking about it? You are — we’re not worried about it,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We’re just going to continue to chalk up [wins], and most importantly, defend [M&T Bank Stadium]. We’ve got a special thing going in front of our stadium, in front of our home fans.”

Special indeed as the Ravens are approaching the two-year anniversary of their last loss in Baltimore, which took place on Dec. 5, 2010 against these same Steelers. They’ve won 15 consecutive regular-season games at M&T Bank Stadium, the longest active home winning streak in the NFL.

It’s the type of home-field advantage the Ravens live for when the calendar hits December and challenging games against the Denver Broncos and New York Giants remain after Sunday’s meeting with Pittsburgh.

“It’s what we are all in this for, it’s what we work so hard for,” coach John Harbaugh said. “These opportunities to be playing relevant and meaningful games in December and playing meaningful games in your division against your biggest rival. That’s what it’s all about.”

Last season, the Ravens earned a taste of what it’s like to play postseason games in their home stadium, but they want to take it even further than the No. 2 seed and first-round bye that they enjoyed. That’s why the division title and guarantee of a wild-card round home game only goes so far in terms of satisfaction.

Perhaps it’s the way they’ve earned the reputation of a team that wins ugly and isn’t viewed by many to be as good as their record would indicate. And the consistently-stellar performance of the offense at M&T Bank Stadium — averaging 36.8 points per game in five home contests — is a far cry from the meager 16.5 they’ve averaged in six road games, providing even more incentive to play home games in the postseason.

The Ravens aren’t satisfied with where they stand as running back Ray Rice shared the sentiment Wednesday that the Ravens are a “pissed off” 9-2 team.

It’s that mindset that may aid the Ravens in keeping their foot on the accelerator after potentially sewing up a playoff spot against the banged-up Steelers on Sunday. We’ve all seen teams in a variety of sports clinch division titles and playoff spots with plenty of regular-season action remaining, leading many teams to lose their edge without an ability to turn on the switch in the postseason.

“We haven’t decided anything yet,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “The stakes are high. We’re trying to become one of the top teams in the AFC. In order to do that, we have to win every week. We understand that, and there is a big emphasis on continuing to win. It may seem like a loss may not kill us, but you never know.”

No, the Ravens do not control their own path to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as they sit one game behind the Houston Texans, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker after a 43-13 thrashing of Baltimore on Oct. 21. It means their margin for error is non-existent in the season’s final month.

But that’s just fine for a team that’s historically had to scratch and crawl in terms of postseason positioning in each of the last four years, with three appearances coming as a wild card. A win on Sunday assures them of a postseason appearance, but it also brings the big picture into focus and how the Ravens can put themselves in the best position to achieve their optimum goal.

“You sort of think of, ‘Do you get settled right there, or is there more?’” Rice said. “When you clinch this early, then you have to look at the rest of the AFC. You look at where New England is. You look at where Houston is. You look at where Denver is, and then once you clinch, you think about that kind of deal.”

Harbaugh acknowledged earlier this week that the resiliency of this team stems largely from the heartbreak experienced in last January’s AFC Championship. For veterans such as Ed Reed, Matt Birk, and the injured Ray Lewis, this could be the final opportunity to advance a step further to the Super Bowl.

Younger players and rookies will hear warnings from veterans of not taking this chance for granted because they don’t know when and if it will be presented again.

So while a potential division title and a chance to send the Steelers packing with another loss has Baltimore fans feeling giddy with four games remaining after Sunday, it truly is just the next game on the docket for the Ravens.

“We know what the bigger picture is, the overall goal,” Suggs said. “And we can’t be satisfied with [taking] anything to chance so early in the season, because it’s still a long season and the end goal — everybody knows — is in February.”

It’s still too far away to lose sight of what’s directly in front of them, but the Ravens have New Orleans on their minds — even after all their growing pains and trials this season.

And it’s why they won’t be turning cartwheels with a win over the Steelers on Sunday.

They’ll leave that to everyone else.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With a chance to clinch the AFC North division title against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Ravens hit the practice field on Wednesday with four key players missing from action.

Tight end Ed Dickson, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, cornerback Corey Graham, and wide receiver Jacoby Jones did not practice in the first full workout of the week while five other players practiced on a limited basis.

Dickson and Ellerbe are considered to be the biggest concerns in terms of their availability for Sunday’s game as the starting tight end is dealing with a knee injury while the inside linebacker suffered an ankle injury in the 16-13 win over the San Diego Chargers. Coach John Harbaugh said Monday he expected each player to be very limited in practices this week with the thought that they would both have a chance to play against the Steelers.

“I feel pretty good,” Dickson said prior to missing Wednesday’s practice. “I’m as far along as I can be on a Wednesday, and I want to continue to rehab it and get ready.”

Graham was listed as missing Wednesday’s practice with an illness while Jones rested the sore ankle that was re-aggravated during Sunday’s win.

Cornerback Chris Johnson, defensive end Pernell McPhee, and safeties Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed were all limited participants.

Harbaugh confirmed that linebacker Ray Lewis was in the building rehabbing on Wednesday, which is something he’d done away from the facility prior to this point, but did not practice. The 37-year-old linebacker is eligible to return to the practice field on Thursday, but the Baltimore coach gave no indication when he would begin working with the rest of the team.

“We’ll just play it day by day as far as whether he practices or not,” Harbaugh said. “He is not imminent to return to play or anything like that, so to me it’s really a non-story. He’ll go out there when he’s ready to practice when the elbow holds up, and when that happens, we’ll let you know.”

For Pittsburgh, quarterback Ben Roethlisbeger practiced on a limited basis as most media reports are giving him no more than a 50 percent chance of playing against the Ravens on Sunday. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the plan is to prepare as if backup Charlie Batch will start this week while Roethlisberger tests out his injured right shoulder in practices.

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley was absent from Wednesday’s practice and is considered doubtful after sustaining an ankle injury in the Steelers loss in Cleveland.

The Steelers received good news, however, with the returns of wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Troy Polamalu, who are both expected to play in Baltimore if they don’t suffer any setbacks.

BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Jimmy Smith (abs)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Ed Dickson (knee), LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle, knee, finger), CB Corey Graham (illness), WR Jacoby Jones (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Chris Johnson (thigh), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder), WR Torrey Smith (thigh)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Anquan Boldin (knee), DT Terrence Cody (elbow), TE Dennis Pitta (neck), LB Terrell Suggs (ankle)

PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: T Mike Adams (ankle), T Willie Colon (knee), QB Byron Leftwich (ribs), T Max Starks (back), LB LaMarr Woodley (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Jerricho Cotchery (ribs), QB Ben Roethlishberger (right shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Antonio Brown (ankle), S Troy Polamalu (calf)