The Baltimore Ravens placed running back Justice Hill and defensive tackle Taven Bryan on injured reserve on Thursday ahead of their matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Both players will be out for at
least four games. Their earliest return would come in Week 17 against the Packers.
Hill missed the Ravens’ last two games with a toe injury; upon returning to practice this week, he went down after hurting his neck. He did not participate in Tuesday or Wednesday’s session and his speedy transfer to IR does not bode well for his status moving forward. Neck injuries are notoriously fickle, as the Ravens are well-aware.
Hill’s absences have led to a moderate uptick in work for Keaton Mitchell, who had his highest snap counts of the season. He still only got 11 touches across the two games, but with Hill out for a more concrete period of time, he will certainly take on a bigger role in the offense.
Bryan injured his ankle in Baltimore’s Week 12 win over the Jets. Head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that the veteran defensive tackle was dealing with a “short-term IR, three-to-four-week type of injury.”
The Ravens inserted Bryan into their defensive line rotation in place of rookie Aeneas Peebles after the bye, preferring his size and run-stopping to Peebles’ athleticism and pass-rushing prowess. The move drew criticism at the time given the weak state of Baltimore’s pass rush, but, in tandem with a revamped pass rush plan, it has worked. The defense has clamped down on opposing running backs and found new ways to get pressure with a series of creative blitzes.
This story will be updated with more information.
