When safety Ar'Darius Washington and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson returned to Ravens practice this week, it was assumed that Robinson would likely make it back to game action sooner.
Robinson's foot injury put him on the shelf for eight weeks, while Washington's Achilles injury has sidelined him for more than eight months.
That's not the case, however, as Head Coach John Harbaugh said Washington could play this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers after just one week of practice.
"There is a chance Ar'Darius could play, actually, this week," Harbaugh said. "I wouldn't say it's a probability, but I'd say it's a possibility."
Harbaugh said he's not planning for Robinson to play this week, even though he technically could since he's been designated for return, which opens his 21-day practice window.
Teammates commended Washington for his speedy recovery. He reportedly suffered the Achilles tear in mid-May but vowed to return this season.
Fellow safety Alohi Gilman said he told Washington when he first arrived in Baltimore that he highly respected his game, and especially the way he plays with so much intensity and physicality at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds.
Gilman said Washington has been "about his business" and still smiling and upbeat during his rehab.
"Hats off to him. I have so much respect for him and what he's been able to do to overcome," Gilman said. "It says so much about who he is as a player and person."
Rashod Bateman Says He's 'Calloused' By Past Experiences
Rashod Bateman has been through some tough stretches in his career, and this season has been trying in its own regard.
Bateman said he feels like the offense has been out of sync all year. Individually, he's had a down year after posting a breakout campaign with 45 catches for 756 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
Bateman missed two games with an ankle injury. He returned last week on Thanksgiving against the Bengals, but did not have a catch and was targeted once.
In 10 games this season, Bateman has 16 catches on 32 targets, 194 yards, and two touchdowns.
"I just control what I can control at the end of the day. I let people make the decisions that they want to make, or assumptions," Bateman said.
"I've had to develop a callus, I would say, being here, dealing with injuries and whatnot. I just have to stay ready when my number's called, be ready when my number's called. I think that's my role, so I just can continue to thrive in that."
Ravens Have Some Unknowns With Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is the oldest quarterback in the NFL at 42 years old (as of yesterday).
But despite his 21 years in the league, the Ravens are working with some unknowns regarding how Rodgers will be used in the Steelers' offense.
Rodgers didn't take any snaps from under center last week, operating exclusively out of shotgun or pistol throughout the game due to the injury to his non-throwing (left) wrist.
Earlier this week, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said Rodgers could be less limited against the Ravens with more time to recover. The Ravens have to plan for all circumstances.
"We'll have to just organize our defense accordingly," Harbaugh said. "[There are] certain plays they can run, whether they're under center or not. It changes the dynamic a little bit with the play-action stuff and the boots and things like that. … We wouldn't discount the fact that he could very easily show up under center, too. So, we have to be ready for that as well."
He's new to the Ravens-Steelers rivalry, but Rodgers has a 3-0 record against the Ravens as a starter. The only time he lost was way back in 2005 when he was a rookie for the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers relieved Brett Favre in a blowout, and the Ravens defense kept pummeling him with an interception and three sacks in a 48-3 "Monday Night Football" win at M&T Bank Stadium.
Emery Jones Jr. Feels More Comfortable at Left Guard
Emery Jones Jr. played primarily right tackle in college at LSU, but he's found a home at left guard in the NFL, at least for now.
Jones entered a rotation with starter Andrew Vorhees last week against the Bengals and played 16 snaps in his debut. He played like a rookie, with some ups and downs, but Harbaugh commended him on Monday for the "fight and some gusto" that he showed.
On Wednesday, Harbaugh was asked whether it's more challenging to go from right tackle to left guard versus right guard. Harbaugh said he's asked the same question.
"[Jones] has been working at left guard, and he seems comfortable there. He says he is really comfortable there, and he's not so comfortable maybe going to right guard right now," Harbaugh said.
"So, that's kind of the deal. I think long-term, that'll be a conversation, probably, after [the season is over], but for right now, we're going to focus at left guard. The right guard thing would be more of an emergency-type situation."
