Tag: Baltimore Ravens COVID-19

Ravens place punter Sam Koch on the Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Ravens look like they’ll be without punter Sam Koch for the final regular-season game after placing him on the Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Baltimore Ravens had cleared their COVID-19 list following their outbreak — a potential sign that things were looking up for the team at exactly the right time. While Baltimore has indeed played better football and is now on the cusp of earning a playoff berth, the Ravens have added punter Sam Koch to the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley noted Koch was on the team’s injury list because of an inconclusive COVID-19 test. It’s unclear if that has been resolved and he has indeed tested positive for the cronavirus or if Koch is being placed on the list out of caution, but it likely means Baltimore will be without their only punter for Week 17.

While Koch’s job is clearly to punt the football, he means a great deal more to the team than just that lone role. Koch is also the holder on field goals and extra points — a member of “The Wolfpack” along with longsnapper Morgan Cox and kicker Justin Tucker — and a part of the reason for their continued success in that area.

The Ravens could look to find another punter before Sunday but that would be quite a stretch to see them pass the COVID-19 protocols and have time to practice for the game itself. Tucker could fill in as the punter, having punted at Texas and averaging 40.5 yards-per-punt on 155 punts. However, Baltimore would still need to find a holder for Tucker on field goals and extra points.

As the Ravens saw in Week 15, the Jacksonville Jaguars used a combination of kicker Aldrick Rosas and going for it on fourth downs to limp through the game without a punter. Given Baltimore is going up against the 4-10-1 Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, there might not be much of a need for Koch’s services as a punter and the Ravens could attempt something similar.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Ravens have 0 players on Reserve/COVID-19 list after activating S Geno Stone

The Baltimore Ravens have activated S Geno Stone from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, officially having 0 players out for COVID-19 now.

After months of dealing with an outbreak of the coronavirus, the Baltimore Ravens have finally cleared their Reserve/COVID-19 list of names. According to the NFL’s transaction report, the Ravens activated safety Geno Stone from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday.

Stone had initially been placed on the COVID-19 list on Dec. 1, right as Baltimore’s coronavirus outbreak had begun to slow down. But while other players came back after their five- or 10-day stay had been up, Stone was kept on the list for nearly the entire month.

It’s unclear if Stone will be able to return 100% immediately after dealing with the coronavirus for so long. But the Ravens could certainly use the help in the secondary if he is able to play. With injuries at cornerback making an already thin secondary even thinner, having another defensive back able to be plugged into the defense could end up being the difference in a win or loss in the coming weeks. And with Baltimore needing to win their final two games to have the best shot of earning a playoff berth, Stone’s return is important.

Stone had played in just two games this season, getting the bulk of his snaps on special teams. He had been selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and though he initially made the 53-man roster, Stone was put on the practice squad before getting called up.

While the season isn’t over and anything is possible in a pandemic, it’s nice for the Ravens to have everyone back again.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Ravens activate Marquise Brown, 2 other receivers from Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Ravens will have all their wide receivers available to them in Week 15 against the Jaguars after activating three from the COVID-19 list

The Baltimore Ravens looked to once again be in a dire situation earlier this week after putting three wide receivers, including Marquise Brown, on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. On Saturday — one day before they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars — the Ravens announced wide receiver Brown, Miles Boykin, and James Proche had been activated back off the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

As expected and evidenced from the short time out, the three appear to have been on the list due to being considered “close contacts” after being around a coach who had tested positive. And while they’re eligible to play, the lack of practice time for the trio puts a question mark on if they actually will play. But with Baltimore needing to win games to get into the playoffs and having so little wide receiver depth behind Brown and Boykin, the Ravens might not have much of a choice but to put them on the field.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson would probably like to have Brown back out on the field after he made a clutch catch in last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns. While Brown hasn’t been nearly as good as advertised this season, he remains Jackson’s most-targeted player by a wide margin.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Ravens coach John Harbaugh clarifies Dez Bryant’s COVID-19 situation

One day he tested positive, then he’s negative — Ravens WR Dez Bryant isn’t the only one confused. But John Harbaugh clarified things

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant isn’t the only one confused about his situation. Bryant was pulled from the field shortly before the Ravens kicked off against the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, after testing positive for COVID-19. But in the subsequent days, Bryant has said he’s tested negative, though he was still put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

While there have been plenty of storylines regarding the NFL and COVID-19 this season, Bryant’s case has earned quite a bit more attention. His removal from the field just before a game mixed with some questions about the NFL’s transparency and contact tracing have only fueled speculation and intrigue. At a time when seemingly everyone is uneasy about the coronavirus and how it all works, Bryant’s story sticks out.

Though Harbaugh admitted the science behind it and the specifics of the NFL’s testing protocols are “out of his realm,” he did clarify the situation and gave a better breakdown of where Bryant stands in the process.

“He has had some negative tests,” Harbaugh said Saturday. “There’s a protocol that goes with that — a certain number of days that you have to test negative after a certain number of positive tests. He’s on schedule with that and that’s where it stands right now, he’s still on the COVID-19/Reserve list at this time.”

Though Bryant has been well behaved in Baltimore, his frustration is clearly growing and I can’t really blame him. By his previous tweets, Bryant had been in the dark about the protocols and why he was still out despite testing negative. Ultimately, that’s a breakdown somewhere in the process, seeing a player be uninformed about their own health and standing on the team as things happen around them. Considering Week 13 against the Cowboys was the most important game of the last few years for Bryant, and it was pulled out from underneath of him, I don’t think many people would blame him for being upset.

However, the good here is that, according to Harbaugh, Bryant has had several negative tests and is on schedule to return. When exactly that could be is still a giant question mark but it’s a step in the right direction.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Dez Bryant says he’s tested negative for COVID-19 again Friday

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant seemingly can’t catch a break, saying he’s tested negative for COVID-19 once again.

The Baltimore Ravens’ COVID-19 saga continues this week and on quite a different note than previous weeks.

The Ravens have been steadily returning players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list but saw wide receiver Dez Bryant pulled from the field shortly before kickoff Tuesday against the Dallas Cowboys. While there are plenty of questions around Bryant’s positive test before the game and the NFL’s contact tracing, the whole thing took a new twist in the days that followed.

On Thursday, Bryant said he had tested negative for COVID-19 on back-to-back tests. Yet, the Ravens put Bryant on the Reserve/COVID-19 list shortly after the veteran wide receiver tweeted that out. Then Friday, Bryant once again tweeted he had tested negative.

Bryant, rightfully upset about the matter, continued to tweet his dismay at the lack of transparency and communication. This isn’t the first time a Ravens player has questioned the NFL’s COVID-19 procedures and policies this season, seeing Derek Wolfe and Mark Andrews tweet mocking the league’s stance on player health and safety ahead of Week 12’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Right now, Bryant is still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. But it’s unclear why he’s still on the list if he truly has had repeated negative tests. Since the NFL and Baltimore typically don’t discuss an individual player’s status regarding COVID-19, I wouldn’t expect an answer soon.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Ravens place WR Dez Bryant on the Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Baltimore Ravens placed wide receiver Dez Bryant on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday after he returned a positive test on Tuesday

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Thursday they’ve placed wide receiver Dez Bryant on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The move comes a few days after Bryant returned a positive test just a few minutes before the kickoff of Baltimore’s Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Though Bryant downplayed the game the week prior, he was certainly looking forward to playing his old team. Similarly, Bryant was rightfully devastated when he was pulled off the field, taking to Twitter to vent his frustrations and even say he was quitting the 2020 season because of it. While Bryant eventually walked back his quitting comment, he’s been very vocal on Twitter over the matter. Bryant again took to Twitter on Thursday to say he’s had back-to-back negative tests but wasn’t spotted at practice before being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Ravens don’t announce when players have tested positive for COVID-19 or if they’ve been labeled as a “close contact,” so it’s not perfectly clear what Bryant’s status actually is. However, if he has tested positive, he’ll miss a minimum of 10 days due to the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. There is a small possibility that Bryant could return sooner than that if it’s proven that he doesn’t fall into either of those categories, like what happened earlier in the season with Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Bryant has appeared in three games for the Ravens in 2020, accumulating four receptions for 28 yards. He’s provided a veteran presence in an extremely young wide receiver room, which has made him a welcome addition to the team. When and if he returns to the field for Baltimore, he’ll be relied upon to make an impact in the passing game.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Dez Bryant says he’s had back-to-back negative COVID-19 tests

After getting pulled from the field just minutes before kickoff, Baltimore Ravens WR Dez Bryant says he’s tested negative for COVID-19

The Baltimore Ravens COVID-19 saga continues this week. But unlike the two weeks ago where player after player was getting put on Reserve/COVID-19 list, this time, it’s about a potential false positive.

Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant tweeted that he’s had back-to-back negative COVID-19 tests. While that’s some level of relief, considering the coronavirus’s very real and potentially serious side effects, it still has to be especially frustrating for Bryant.

Just minutes before kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys — Bryant’s former team — the veteran wide receiver was pulled from the field and given a point-of-care test that came back positive. While Bryant downplayed the game’s weight and his departure from Dallas following the 2017 season, he was clearly very frustrated after getting taken out of that matchup.

It’s unclear right now exactly where Bryant stands when it comes to the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. He hasn’t been put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list yet and while two negative tests should allow him to return to the team, few would blame Baltimore or the league for having an abundance of caution. Bryant was not spotted on the Ravens’ practice field Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, making the situation just a little muddier.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Ravens activate Mark Andrews, Matthew Judon, Will Holden off Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Baltimore Ravens got back two Pro Bowl players in Mark Andrews and Matthew Judon, activating the players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Baltimore Ravens are set to get back two more Pro Bowl players after activating tight end Mark Andrews, outside linebacker Matthew Judon, and offensive lineman Will Holden from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, per the team’s Twitter account.

While it’s unclear if Judon and Andrews will be able to play in Monday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, being activated so early gives hope. The Ravens saw the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson and fullback Patrick Ricard for Tuesday’s game despite being activated just one day prior. If Andrews and Judon are able to get some practice time in, it seems likely they’ll be able to suit up for this critical AFC North showdown on Monday night.

Baltimore was hit hard by an outbreak of COVID-19 over the last two weeks, putting 23 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list from the Monday following Week 11’s game against the Tennessee Titans all the way up to Week 12’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The coronavirus outbreak caused Week 12’s game against the Steelers to be rescheduled three times and Week 13 against the Dallas Cowboys to be moved twice. The Ravens went 1-1 in those two games, putting up valiant efforts in both matchups despite missing so many impact players.

[vertical-gallery id=56435]

Dez Bryant says he’s quitting rest of 2020 season after positive COVID-19 test

After getting pulled from the field just minutes before kickoff, Baltimore Ravens WR Dez Bryant said he’s quitting this season.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant got pulled from Tuesday’s game with just minutes to spare before kickoff, with Bryant saying he tested positive for COVID-19. Frustrated over the abrupt change in status and missing out on playing his former team, Bryant took to Twitter to say he’s quitting the rest of the season.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Bryant’s daily PCR test had been inconclusive. But with Baltimore being so close to the testing lab, they got the gameday results back earlier than other teams would have, prompting Bryant to be pulled from warm-ups. Unfortunately, Bryant had already been on the field for individual workouts and had been hugging/shaking hands with several Cowboys players and coaches.

AP Photo/Nick Wass

It’s worth taking Bryant’s statement with a grain of salt, however. He was clearly and rightfully upset, venting his frustrations on social media. He continued to vent for several minutes, including questioning the NFL for allowing this game to be played, before just calling it a night with some wine.

[vertical-gallery id=57039]

Patrick Queen vs. Ezekiel Elliott is our key matchup of Week 13

Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen will need to step up and keep Ezekiel Elliott from popping off chunk yards or breaking loose all together.

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense may have had its most impressive game of the season last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and without several starters to boot. This week, the Dallas Cowboys might not present as daunting a task, but the key to keeping their offense off the field — let alone out of the end zone — may come down to controlling star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

While Baltimore has relied mostly on their big men up front to stunt opposing rushing attacks, the availability of Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams on Tuesday still looks questionable, even though Campbell has been activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Sure, the Ravens did a remarkable job last week in spite of those and other absences, but controlling Elliott may ultimately come down to the speed and overall presence of their linebackers — Namely 2020 NFL Draft first-round pick Patrick Queen.

Aside from a few rookie growing pains — mostly in coverage — Queen has been nothing short of outstanding leading the inside linebackers for Baltimore this season. His presence, and more importantly, his sideline-to-sideline speed could be the difference when facing a dangerous opposing back like Elliott.

If the Ravens are without their powerful run-stoppers again, Queen (as well as his supplement of inside linebackers) will need to step up and keep Elliott from popping off chunk yards or breaking loose altogether. If Queen can effectively use his speed to contain Elliott when he touches the ball, the Cowboys should be in for a disappointing evening.

[listicle id=57027]