If the Ravens are going to keep their hopes for an AFC North title alive against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium, they might have to do so without one of their top players.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) did not practice Thursday and had a walking boot on his left foot in the locker room.
Bateman, who has 38 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns, is only listed as questionable for the game, but in addition to being in a boot did not participate in what was only a walk-through practice in Owings Mills. He came into the week healthy but was limited Wednesday, an indication that he suffered the injury during that day’s practice.
Coach John Harbaugh was non-committal about the fourth-year receiver’s availability.
“I really have nothing to report on any of that stuff,” he said Friday. “We’ll be working through all those things the next few hours, few days even.”
Bateman is coming off the first multi-touchdown performance of his career after catching three passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore’s 35-14 road win over the New York Giants on Sunday.
Already, Baltimore (9-5) is without wide receiver Diontae Johnson — who was suspended by the team for last week’s game and this week is unavailable after what the organization called a mutual agreement that he would be away from the team for this week — and could be without Nelson Agholor. The veteran receiver is in concussion protocol and didn’t practice all week, though Harbaugh indicated it’s possible he could be cleared in time to play.
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) and guard Daniel Faalele (knee) are both questionable as well.
The only other Ravens player who was ruled out was cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring). Baltimore also activated rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa from injured reserve.
The Steelers (10-4), meanwhile, will be without their top receiver as George Pickens (hamstring) was officially ruled out Friday. It marks the third straight game that he will miss and is a blow to what has already been a struggling offense in recent weeks.
Pickens, who leads the Steelers in receiving yards (850) and receptions (55), had eight catches on 12 targets for 89 yards in Pittsburgh’s most recent game against Baltimore, an 18-16 Steelers win at Acrisure Stadium last month. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is second behind Pickens in receiving yards on the team with 492.
The Steelers will, however, have their top edge rusher, T.J. Watt, who has been dealing with an ankle injury but did not have an injury designation for the game. Backup quarterback Justin Fields (abdomen) and safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) were ruled out, however.
Fields had two rushes for 17 yards against the Ravens in their last meeting, including an 8-yard gain on a second-and-11 in the third quarter that helped set up a 57-yard field goal and a 9-yard gain around the left end with 1:02 remaining in the game to help seal the victory. Elliott, a former Ravens draft pick, is one of the better safeties in the NFL and is an elite run defender.
Two others are questionable for Pittsburgh: cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin).
If the Steelers win Saturday, they would clinch the AFC North title with two games remaining in the regular season. If the Ravens win, or if the Miami Dolphins lose or tie and the Indianapolis Colts do the same, they would clinch a playoff berth and keep their chances for a division title alive.
Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.