6 October 2023
Odell Beckham Jr. said Friday that he expects to be on the field Sunday in Pittsburgh when the Ravens play the Steelers in a key AFC North showdown.
The 30-year-old wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowl selection has been out since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He returned to practice this week in Owings Mills, though he is listed as questionable after being limited for a third straight day.
“I feel good,” Beckham said. “It’s tough when you work so hard and little things happen.
“Yeah, I expect to be out there.”
Since signing a one-year, $15 million deal with Baltimore in the offseason, Beckham has played just two games, recording five catches for 66 yards. Still, the Ravens are 3-1, and quarterback Lamar Jackson has been the second-most accurate quarterback in the NFL behind the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, completing 74.3% of his passes.
Beckham said he tried to give it a go last week against the Cleveland Browns — whom he played for from 2019 to 2021 until he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in the middle of the season — but that the extra rest helped.
“It was more preventative,” Beckham said. “It’s a long season. We have a great setup for the back half of the season [and] I want to be able to play in those big-time games. We just have to do the smart thing and know that the team is going to find way to get it done with or without me.”
The Ravens might, however, be without right tackle Morgan Moses.
He is listed as doubtful and did not practice Friday after being limited a day earlier with a shoulder injury he suffered against the Browns. If he doesn’t play, it will end a streak of 134 consecutive games played for the 32-year-old, which is currently the third-longest active streak in the NFL.
The Ravens will be without outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) and safety Daryl Worley (shoulder) as expected after they did participate in practice this week.
Several players could be returning for Baltimore, however, including cornerback Marlon Humphrey. He has been out since undergoing foot surgery in mid-August but was a full participant Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is listed as questionable.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) is also listed as questionable and did not practice Friday, though the team said it was a rest day for the 29-year-old. Stanley, who has been out since getting injured in the season opener against the Houston Texans, was a full participant earlier in the week and said Thursday there’s a “strong possibility” he would be on the field against the Steelers.
Others players expected to return for the Ravens who did not have a designation for Sunday include wide receiver Rashod Bateman (hamstring), safety Marcus Williams (pectoral) and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring).
Running backs Justice Hill (foot/hamstring) and rookie Keaton Mitchell (shoulder) were listed as questionable, though both practiced fully Friday.
For the Steelers, quarterback Kenny Pickett (knee) was a full participant for the second straight day after being limited Tuesday and is expected to play.
Five others are out for Pittsburgh: tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring); offensive linemen Dan Moore Jr. (knee) and James Daniels (groin); defensive end DeMarvin Leal (concussion) and punter Pressley Harvin (right hamstring).
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) was limited after not practicing Thursday and is questionable.
Running back Najee Harris (hamstring) was also limited Friday but is expected to play along with linebacker Cole Holcomb (back) and offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor (elbow), both of whom were full participants in practice.
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