Steelers Now
Injury and availability concerns continue to mount for the Baltimore Ravens ahead of Sunday’s winner-take-all AFC North showdown. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman and cornerback Marlon Humphrey have both been battling an illness late in the week. Humphrey missed Friday’s practice entirely, while Bateman returned in a limited capacity after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. Both troubling signs that sickness could be spreading throughout the team.
Head coach John Harbaugh expressed optimism that both players will be available for Sunday’s crucial AFC North clash, but the timing is far from ideal. With less than 72 hours before Baltimore travels for the most important game of its season, illness spreading through the roster is an added complication.
Harbaugh said both Rashod Bateman and Marlin Humphrey are sick. He said Bateman was on the field before practice, running around a bit.
He’s hopeful both will be ready to play Sunday.— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 2, 2026
While Humphrey may no longer be at his peak from earlier in his career, he remains one of the Ravens’ most vital defensive pieces on the back end. Bateman, meanwhile, continues to play a significant role in the receiving corps. Even if both suit up as most are expecting, it’s entirely possible one, or both, could be limited in snap count, potentially forcing Baltimore to lean on less experienced depth against Pittsburgh’s offense.
There is, however, more encouraging news for Baltimore under center. Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed his first full week of practice after dealing with a back injury suffered against the New England Patriots and is expected to start Sunday. His return stabilizes an offense that has been forced to adapt in recent weeks.
Baltimore isn’t alone in dealing with adversity. The Pittsburgh Steelers will also enter the matchup shorthanded, with wide receiver DK Metcalf still serving a suspension and tight end Darnell Washington sidelined with a broken arm, among other absences.
With both teams missing key contributors, Sunday’s AFC North title game may come down less to star power and more to depth, adaptability, and which team can best manage its limitations on the biggest stage of the season.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Ravens Dealing With Illness Issues as AFC North Title Game Nears
