The Baltimore Ravens shuttered their Under Armour Performance Facility Monday morning after multiple players tested positive. The team announced running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram were headed to the Reserve/COVID-19 list but it turns out there’s a third player as well.
Per the NFL’s transaction report, Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams was the third player placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. However, coach John Harbaugh noted Williams didn’t test positive but was considered a “close contact.”
While not ideal, especially since this is Williams’ second time being on the Reserve/COVID-19 list due to being in close contact with someone who tested positive, it’s also a bit of a relief too. Barring Williams showing any symptoms or testing positive, he’ll only be on the list for five days before being eligible to return to the team. Those that test positive are held out for 10 days from the date of the positive test. In this case, that would mean missing not only the Thanksgiving game against the Pittsburgh Steelers but potentially missing next week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys too.
Williams missed Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans due to an ankle injury suffered the previous week against the New England Patriots. Though the Ravens’ defense did an admirable job containing Titans running back Derrick Henry for the first three quarters, it was the fourth quarter and overtime where Baltimore truly needed their run-stuffing interior defensive linemen.
Sitting at 6-4, the final six games of the season are incredibly important to Baltimore’s playoff chances. Where an 11-5 team should have little trouble finding a wild-card berth, 10-6 or lower would be a real concern and likely need a little help from other teams to squeak in.
