New England Patriots vs Baltimore Ravens: What are the notable injuries?

The New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens both enter their high-stakes AFC showdown with a host of players nursing injuries.

The 8-0 New England Patriots and the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens are almost ready to square off in a matchup that could have major postseason implications.

The Patriots currently have at least a two-and-a-half game lead on all their closest competitors in the AFC for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Ravens are tied with the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills for the second-best record in the conference, but because the Bills share the same division as the Patriots, they’re currently only projected as the fifth seed (first Wild Card spot).

The Colts currently have the edge over the Ravens based off the conference winning percentage tiebreaker, but an Indianapolis loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend – coupled with a Ravens victory over the Patriots – would catapult Baltimore into the driver’s seat for the No. 2 seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Additionally, a Ravens victory over the Patriots would also carry major ramifications if the two teams ended up tied at the end of the regular season.

For Baltimore to spring the home upset (they’re currently three-point underdogs), skipper John Harbaugh will need to both out-coach his counterpart on the other sideline (Bill Belichick) as well as overcome a number of crucial injuries to some of his best players. The Ravens have seven different players listed as “questionable” for this game, per the Patriots’ official injury report released Friday on the team website.

Three of those seven players aren’t exactly what anyone would consider “critical” to Baltimore’s hopes for a win, but they’d still be useful to have in a pinch against a good team like New England. Left guard Patrick Mekari (back), safety Bennett Jackson (ankle), and cornerback Maurice Canady (thigh) are all backups on the depth chart.

Jackson and Canady are probably the most important of that trio in terms of helping provide some extra insurance on the back-end of a Ravens defense that is allowing the seventh-most passing yards per game right now. Every contributor counts when it comes to facing Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels after all… even in what many are calling a down year for the Pats offense.

The Ravens’ other four injuries bear close monitoring in the last 48 hours before kickoff.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith has been out since the first quarter of Week 1 with a right knee injury; although he’s questionable to play on Sunday versus the Patriots, he’s already told reporters that he’s “ready” to make his return this week, according to USA Today’s Matthew Stevens. If he does end up playing, it would be a massive boon to this Ravens team… even after they earlier acquired star corner Marcus Peters in a trade with the L.A. Rams.

Linebacker Patrick Onwuasor (ankle) was also a limited practice participant this week who finds himself listed as 50/50 to play Sunday night. Onwuasor has been out the past three weeks, but he could be on track to make his return now, given the extra time he had last week to heal during Baltimore’s bye.

Most important of all for the Ravens is the health and effectiveness of two stars, one on either side of the ball: safety Earl Thomas (knee) on defense and receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (ankle/thigh) on offense.

Thomas was Baltimore’s big free agent addition this past offseason, and he was living up to expectations and then some as the Ravens’ fierce center-fielder before springing up on the injury report this week. Thomas has already told reporters that he expects to play versus Brady on Sunday, per Clifton Brown of the Ravens’ official website. Although the decision will ultimately be left up to the Ravens’ training staff, it’s a good sign for Baltimore fans that Thomas appears this confident in his ability to play through the ailment.

Brown is a rookie first-round draft pick this season from Oklahoma who has been nothing short of electrifying. He quickly established chemistry with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to start the season, working as Baltimore’s speedy deep threat and home run weapon. Although “Hollywood” missed the last two games, it appears he’s well on his way to returning this week against the Pats.

For New England, Belichick will have to work around eight different players on his own injury report – every one of which is listed as “questionable” for this contest.

As has been the case all season long, the vast majority of the injuries noted were on offense. The Pats saw limited practice participation this week from running back Rex Burkhead (foot), running back James White (toe), receiver Julian Edelman (chest/shoulder), receiver Gunner Olszewski (hamstring/ankle), right guard Marcus Cannon (ankle), tight end Matt LaCosse (knee), and tight end Ryan Izzo (concussion).

The good news is that about half of those players were able to play through the same injuries last Sunday versus the Cleveland Browns. Edelman has had the chest injury since Week 3, and although the shoulder injury is new, neither is expected to keep him sidelined for the tilt this weekend versus the Ravens. Brady’s favorite receiver should be good to go, and a major part of this offense Sunday night.

Olszewski also will probably be out there once more. As has been the case most of this season, his primary role and responsibility comes as a returner. This week would be the perfect time for the undrafted rookie out of Bimidji State to get his first career return touchdown as a pro, because points might be at a premium in a tough road game like the one that’s expected.

Burkhead missed several games with his foot injury but was activated last weekend against the Browns. Although his return was a welcome sight for the New England stable of running backs, he wasn’t exactly effective out there running the ball.

White is a new addition to the injury report this season, having previously only missed time to attend the birth of his son. Hopefully at least one of the two running backs (White and Burkhead) is healthy enough to take the field at M&T Bank Stadium this weekend; ideally both of them will be out there serving as dual-threats who can both rush and catch the ball out of the backfield.

Cannon, LaCosse, and Izzo all missed the Browns game with their respective ailments.

Cannon’s return would be helpful to a New England offensive line that has struggled somewhat this season. LaCosse and Izzo have both so far failed to make much of an impression when they’ve been healthy, but either one of them coming back to action would provide at least a level of depth at tight end behind starter Benjamin Watson – especially now that Eric Tomlinson has been released.

The final name on the Patriots injury report – and the only player from the defense – is safety Patrick Chung (heel/chest). Chung missed Weeks 5-7 with his injuries, but he was able to return last Sunday to face the Browns and their talented pass-catchers. Chung most likely will be out there again versus the Ravens, working alongside Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon to make sure nothing gets past the New England secondary.