The Ravens had hoped the bye week would allow them to get healthy, but they'll enter Sunday's game against the Houston Texans still without several key contributors.
Wide receiver Lee Evans (foot), cornerbacks Chris Carr (hamstring) and Jimmy Smith (ankle), and safety Tom Zbikowski (head) were pronounced out for the game. Guard Ben Grubbs (toe), who was limited in practice Friday, is listed as questionable.
Carr and Smith's absence isn't surprising as they hadn't practiced all week. Zbikowski, who sustained a concussion in the Oct. 2 win over the New York Jets, hasn't been cleared for contact.
However, the Ravens hoped that Evans would be back by now. Instead, he will be inactive for the third straight game. Rookie Torrey Smith has started in his place.
"We thought it would be fine by now, and it's just going a lot slower than we thought," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We say we're day to day on it. He hasn't practiced, so I don't see him playing in the game right now. He's going to need some practice. But it's been very disappointing. Nobody's been more surprised than all of us. So, just waiting to see if the doctors can figure it out, and he's got to keep working at it."
Harbaugh said Grubbs would be a game-time decision. The guard has missed three straight games with the toe injury, but he was a limited participant in practice earlier this week.
"He got stepped on [Thursday] in practice, so we decided it was a little bruised today," Harbaugh said. "We decided not to take a chance today. We'll just have to see Sunday before the game how he's moving."
Safety Haruki Nakamura (knee), kick returner-wide receiver David Reed (shoulder) and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring) missed the Ravens' last game, but they all practiced Friday and are expected to play Sunday.
Rice fined for stiff-arm
Running back Ray Rice said in a radio appearance with 105.7 FM on Thursday night that he was fined $7,500 for a stiff-arm that he threw in the Ravens' 37-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sept. 25.
It's an interesting decision by the NFL considering that Rams cornerback Bradley Fletcher was the one flagged for a face-mask penalty on the play. Rice will appeal the fine.
"The stiff-arm is legal," Harbaugh said. "You can't grab and twist the face mask, which I didn't really see on that play. I didn't realize he got fined for that until you just mentioned it. I haven't seen that yet. I'm sure he'll be appealing that."
Friends to foes
Ravens safety Bernard Pollard has tangled with too many tight ends and pass-catching running backs to recall. But his toughest assignment might take place Sunday with Houston's Owen Daniels in town. Pollard, a former Texan, said he likes Daniels, a Pro Bowl tight end, but those feelings won't matter when the game begins.
"He's a guy who's going to get hit," Pollard said Thursday. "Once he catches that ball — if he catches a ball — he's going to get hit. But I respect him."
Pollard, who is expected to start at strong safety with Zbikowski unavailable, is very familiar with the 6-foot-3, 242-pound Daniels as they were teammates in 2009 and 2010.
"Owen's a great athlete," Pollard said. "He's a guy who has come off of two ACL surgeries, and he's responding well. He fits in with that system, with the way [Texans coach Gary] Kubiak runs that offense. He can run like a receiver, block like a lineman, and he can do certain things in the passing game and get open. So you've got to keep your eyes focused on him."
Daniels' role becomes even more significant with the absence of five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson (right hamstring). Daniels ranks second on the Texans behind Johnson in receptions (21) and yards (271).
"Can he hang with me? He'll probably get the assignment to cover me. We'll see," Daniels said. "It'll be fun. I really didn't get to go against him that much last year during camp or anything like that because I was injured. All those guys are tough to get open on, so we'll see."
The Texans ruled Johnson out Friday. Quarterback Matt Schaub (shoulder) and running back Arian Foster (quadriceps) are probable, and fullback James Casey (pectoral) is doubtful.
Honoring Patricia Modell
The Ravens will pay tribute to Patricia Breslin Modell, the wife of former Ravens and Browns owner Art Modell, on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
The players will have a decal with the initials "PBM" on the back of their helmets to honor Modell, who died Wednesday at the age of 80. There will also be a moment of silence before the singing of the National Anthem.
"Spending time with Pat was always special. [Wife] Renee and I loved everything about her," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. "There was a spark about Pat that was visible. She lit up a room when she entered. Conversations and dinners with her were electric and exciting. She made you feel good by being with her. And the love she and Art had for each other … we've talked about it, and it was inspiring. Art and Pat bragged about each other, delighted in each other's company. Their love was so visible. We already miss her terribly, and our thoughts and prayers are with Art and his family."
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