OWINGS MILLS – Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith missed practice Oct. 25 with a shoulder injury, according to the team’s injury report. Asked after practice about Smith’s absence, head coach John Harbaugh deferred to the injury report. Smith was in the locker room after practice but did not meet with the media.
Smith had spoken to reporters after the Ravens’ 38-6 win against the Detroit Lions on Oct. 22, and there was no indication of any injury. He played all but eight snaps in that game, with backups replacing starters for the final series.
Smith has not missed a game since joining the Ravens last season, and he has missed just four games in his six-year career, with all four absences coming in 2019.
Smith has not been on the injury report previously this season, and he isn’t one to take a vet day off. In fact, Smith enters practice each day with a dead sprint from the indoor field house across to the field where the defense warms up.
Smith has been one of the unquestioned leaders of the defense ever since the Ravens acquired him in a midseason trade one year ago. The Ravens dealt linebacker A.J. Klein along with a second- and fifth-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears for Smith on Nov. 1, 2022, just before the trade deadline. The team then signed Smith to a five-year extension in January.
Through nine games, Smith leads the Ravens with 71 tackles and has 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and five passes defensed.
The Ravens (5-2) visit Arizona (1-6) this Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4:25 p.m.
NOTEBOOK
WILLIAMS, MITCHELL MISS PRACTICE: In addition to Smith, running back Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) and safety Marcus Williams (hamstring) missed practice Oct. 25. Williams was on a side field doing conditioning work during the portion of practice open to the media.
JACKSON HONORED: Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been honored as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his four-touchdown performance in the Ravens’ 38-6 win against the Lions Oct. 22. Jackson went 21-for-27 for 357 yards, the third-highest total of his career, and three touchdowns. He posted a passer rating of 155.8. Jackson also ran nine times for 36 yards and a score.
This is the ninth such weekly honor of Jackson’s career.
Through seven games, Jackson ranks second in the league in completion percentage (71.0), the highest of his career, and he ranks third in passer rating (101.9). Jackson has completed 142 of 200 passes for 1,610 yards, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
He has rushed 69 times for a team-high 363 yards and leads the Ravens with five rushing touchdowns.
WALLACE DESIGNATED TO RETURN: Wide receiver Tylan Wallace was back on the practice field, starting his 21-day window to return from injured reserve. Wallace has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3. Wallace has played just one offensive snap this season but has been one of the Ravens’ top special teams players throughout his three-year career.
According to league rules, Wallace must return to the 53-man roster within 21 days. If not, he must spend the remainder of the season on IR.
Wallace becomes the second Ravens player designated to return from injured reserve, joining Keaton Mitchell. According to league rules, a team can have a maximum of eight players return from IR.
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