Ravens Injury Report: Vorhees Doubtful, Pierce Downgraded, Linderbaum Questionable for Bills Game

The Baltimore Ravens are facing a tough test on Sunday Night Football, with a matchup against the Buffalo Bills on the horizon. However, the Ravens might be without two starting offensive linemen for the game. The Ravens could be without two starting offensive linemen for Sunday Night football against the Buffalo Bills. Most notably, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is officially questionable with a knee injury. The good news is that Linderbaum fully participated in practice on Friday after being limited on Thursday and not practicing at all on Wednesday. That could be a good indication that he'll play on Sunday, but of course, he wouldn't be listed as questionable if he was completely healthy. The other lineman who could miss Sunday's game is left guard Andrew Vorhees who's officially doubtful after not practicing all week with an ankle injury. He was on the field Friday, but just to work out with a trainer while wearing street clothes. Head coach John Harbaugh described Vorhees as a game-time decision.

Ravens Injury Report: A Closer Look

The Ravens' injury report has been a major talking point leading up to this game, and for good reason. Vorhees' absence would be a significant blow to the Ravens' offensive line, as he has been a key player in their run game. Pierce's potential absence would also be a blow to the Ravens' defense, as he is a key player in their run-stopping ability. The Ravens are also dealing with the absence of cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, who is officially out with a hamstring injury.

The Situation on the Offensive Line

If Linderbaum and/or Vorhees can't go, then the Ravens have some tough choices to make up front. Ben Cleveland, Josh Jones or Sala Aumavae-Laulu could be options at left guard, but all of them are inexperienced at the position. Cleveland also handled center duties while Linderbaum missed time in the preseason, so he is presumably the top option if Linderbaum misses the game again. Another option is moving right tackle Patrick Mekari to fill in where needed and giving rookie Roger Rosengarten his first start at the position. The Ravens had been rotating Mekari and Rosengarten over the first two weeks, but only Mekari played in Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Concerns on the Defensive Side

With Armour-Davis out, the Ravens have to look to their depth at cornerback, which is a concern. The biggest concern comes from a mid-day Saturday announcement that the Ravens downgraded nose tackle Michael Pierce to doubtful for Sunday night’s game. Pierce, a veteran who has played all eight years of his career in Baltimore, isn’t known for padding his stats with sacks — although he does have credit for half of one this season already. Instead, like Jones for Buffalo, Pierce uses his 335-pound frame to occupy opposing offensive linemen and create opportunities for his teammates to disrupt quarterbacks. Pierce was a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury, but skipped a step and was listed as a full participant in the team’s final two practices of the week. When the Ravens broke practice on Friday, there was no designation attached to the veteran, but something changed on Saturday. If Pierce is unable to go on Sunday night, Baltimore will have to rely on defensive tackle Broderick Washington. Washington is two inches taller but 20 pounds lighter than Pierce. He also brings five years of experience along with 37 tackles and four sacks to the line. The bigger issue for Baltimore is that he’s listed as the only back-up defensive tackle on the team — second behind both Pierce and tackle Nnamdi Madubuike.

The Impact of Injuries on Game Plan

The Ravens' injuries could have a major impact on their game plan against the Bills. With Vorhees out, the Ravens' offensive line will be even more vulnerable to the Bills' pass rush. The Bills' defense has been dominant this season, and they will be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Ravens' offensive line. The Ravens' defense will also be tested, with Pierce's potential absence leaving them with a depleted defensive line. The Bills will have to play very physical football in hopes of forcing Jackson to spend more time throwing the football and disrupting his timing. The key to that will be Buffalo’s pass rush — which has been very good in the first three weeks of this young season and is not, currently, dealing with any injuries. For the first time this season, McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich will have a full arsenal of big bodies at their disposal to try and stop Jackson, Henry, and crew. For Buffalo, edge rusher Von Miller has rebounded well this season — now two campaigns removed from a season-ending ACL injury— with three sacks in three weeks. Defensive end Greg Rousseau has matured and learned to use all of his 6’6”, 266-pound frame to disrupt plays and add sacks to his resume. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa got the starting nod over Von Miller and has been disruptive. Elswhere on the D-line, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones has occupied more than his share of offensive linemen each play, and Ed Oliver has quietly amassed five solo tackles and a sack already. Add to this wrecking crew the fact that Dawuane Smoot, Casey Toohill, and Javon Solomon (who recorded his first sack Week 3) have all had a healthy week of practice, and the Bills might just be ready to cause some problems for the Ravens.

The Bills' Perspective

The Bills are looking to make a statement against the Ravens, and their injury report could give them an advantage. The Bills are missing two starting linebackers in Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard. The Bills are missing both of their starting linebackers, which will be problematic in stopping a two-pronged rushing attack from running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson. While Buffalo has been very successful in stopping the deep-passing threats of their first three opponents, this will be a whole different type of test Sunday evening. Between Henry and Jackson, they have run the ball for 535 yards and five touchdowns in three games. Tasked with stopping them will be linebackers Baylon Spector and Dorian Williams along with defensive back Cam Lewis who has been playing in the nickel corner spot due to the absence of Taron Johnson (out since Week 1 with a forearm injury). The Bills will have to play very physical football in hopes of forcing Jackson to spend more time throwing the football and disrupting his timing. The key to that will be Buffalo’s pass rush — which has been very good in the first three weeks of this young season and is not, currently, dealing with any injuries. For the first time this season, McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich will have a full arsenal of big bodies at their disposal to try and stop Jackson, Henry, and crew. For Buffalo, edge rusher Von Miller has rebounded well this season — now two campaigns removed from a season-ending ACL injury— with three sacks in three weeks. Defensive end Greg Rousseau has matured and learned to use all of his 6’6”, 266-pound frame to disrupt plays and add sacks to his resume. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa got the starting nod over Von Miller and has been disruptive. Elswhere on the D-line, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones has occupied more than his share of offensive linemen each play, and Ed Oliver has quietly amassed five solo tackles and a sack already. Add to this wrecking crew the fact that Dawuane Smoot, Casey Toohill, and Javon Solomon (who recorded his first sack Week 3) have all had a healthy week of practice, and the Bills might just be ready to cause some problems for the Ravens.

The Bottom Line

The Ravens and Bills are both dealing with injuries, but the Bills have the edge in terms of depth and overall health. The Bills are looking to make a statement against the Ravens, and their injury report could give them an advantage. The Ravens will have their hands full keeping the Bills’ defense out of their backfield, especially when considering the potential situation with their starting line offensive line. Offensive guard Andrew Vorhees is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury that’s kept him from practicing all week, and while he only has three games of NFL experience under his belt, his understudy — Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, has zero. That’s not exactly promising when trying to stop a Buffalo defense that has throttled Jackson in their past two meetings forcing him to throw interceptions, limiting his running to minimal yardage, and sacking him five times — and keeping his passer rating under 65 in both games. Compounding issues for Baltimore’s offensive line is the fact that center Tyler Linderbaum is questionable with a knee injury. Unlike Vorhees, Linderbaum has practiced this week, but how strong or mobile he will be should he get the okay to suit up on Sunday night will definitely be tested by DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver. Linderbaum’s replacement is Nick Samac, a rookie with no NFL snaps. That’s not a good recipe for clean exchanges or stopping a defense intent on proving they can stop run-heavy teams like the Ravens along with pass-heavy teams like the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The game will be won, and maybe even dominated, by one team. But it will be done because of how well one coaching staff or the other can game plan and adjust, not because there is an advantage due to injuries they had to adjust to before entering the game.