The Baltimore Ravens picked up an important win in Week 16, beating the Cleveland Browns 31-15. The win clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed, giving Baltimore a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs. But they didn’t escape Cleveland without issue.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ravens running back Mark Ingram suffered a calf strain in the game and will miss some time. However, the hope is Ingram will be available for the playoffs.
Ingram went down in the fourth quarter, eventually limping off the field and into the locker room with the training staff with what the team called a calf injury. Though Ingram didn’t return to the game, coach John Harbaugh said the injury wasn’t structural and didn’t consider it serious.
With the Ravens clinching the top seed early, there’s little reason for many key starters to play in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And with an extra week of rest with a first-round bye in the playoffs, that would effectively give Ingram three weeks of rest to recuperate from the injury.
Through 15 games, Ingram has accounted for 1,018 rushing yards (breaking the 1,000-yard mark against the Browns), 10 rushing touchdowns and 26 catches for 247 yards and five touchdown receptions.
If Ingram is unable to go in the divisional round of the playoffs, Baltimore would likely turn to a combination of Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to replace him.
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