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Stephen A.: A Ravens loss to Steelers will fall on Lamar Jackson (1:43)
Stephen A. Smith explains why the pressure is on Lamar Jackson to deliver a win for the Ravens against the Steelers. (1:43)
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Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterDec 20, 2024, 01:05 PM ET
- Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens ruled out Nelson Agholor on Friday, which could leave them with an inexperienced wide receiver group heading into a pivotal AFC North game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There had been hope that Agholor could get cleared from the concussion protocol for Saturday’s game against the Steelers. But the Ravens downgraded their No. 3 wide receiver to out on Friday, an untimely loss for quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s No. 3 passing attack.
Starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman is questionable with a foot injury after not practicing Thursday. He was walking with a protective boot in the locker room.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh declined to comment on Bateman’s status Thursday.
“I really have nothing to report on any of that stuff,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll be working through all of those things in the next few hours and few days even, but we’ll be in good shape and be ready to roll on [Saturday].”
The lack of veteran depth at wide receiver is the reason Baltimore traded for Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29. But the Ravens will be without Johnson, who was excused from team activities this week. He was recently suspended for one game by the team for refusing to play Dec. 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Ravens’ only healthy wide receiver on the 53-man roster who has caught more than 10 passes this season is Zay Flowers, who leads Baltimore with 66 receptions for 916 yards. The other wide receivers are Tylan Wallace, who has 10 catches for 191 yards, and rookie fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, who made his first career catch — a 21-yard touchdown — Sunday.
The Steelers also won’t be at full strength at wide receiver. Pittsburgh ruled out leading receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for a third straight game.
Saturday’s game in Baltimore is the biggest matchup in the AFC North this season. If Pittsburgh (10-4) wins, the Steelers will clinch their first division title since 2020. If Baltimore (9-5) wins, the Ravens will tie the Steelers atop the AFC North and have a 45% chance of winning the division, according to ESPN Analytics.
