Ravens: Multiple players to return from injury after the bye week

The Baltimore Ravens have dealt with a string of awful injury luck this season. Perhaps no team has been hit harder by the injury bug than they have.

However, they should be set to return a number of players from injury following their bye week. That bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for Baltimore.

Defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, tight end Nick Boyle, running back Latavius Murray, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and offensive lineman Patrick Mekari are all players who should return in the coming days and weeks.

It’s unclear how many of them will be able to play in the team’s first game back against the Minnesota Vikings, but expect at least a couple of them to play in that game.

Sammy Watkins, Nick Boyle, and others should be returning for the Ravens soon

The Ravens announced that they had designated Wolfe to return from the injured reserve on Tuesday opening up a 21-day window for him to be officially activated to the active roster.

Head coach John Harbaugh was noncommital on Wolfe’s status for Week 9, but he did make it sound as though there was a chance he would play.

That’s great news for a Ravens front seven that has had its struggles this season. Wolfe’s return should provide a major boost to the team’s run defense and help make up for the lackluster play of Brandon Williams.

As for Boyle, he was designated to return from practice a week earlier and will likely make a push to play in Week 9. His 21-window to be activated will end on November 10th meaning that if he isn’t back for Week 9, he’s almost guaranteed to return for Week 10.

Watkins and Murray have both been sidelined in recent games and could return next week. Watkins has been dealing with a hamstring injury that’s forced him to miss each of the team’s last two games.

Murray has been battling an ankle injury and was held out of the Ravens’ Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watkins’ return will allow the Ravens to have their starting three wide receivers on the field together for the first time this season.

Finally, Mekari is likely the player who is the furthest away in his recovery. The 24-year-old suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Bengals and is probably still at least a few weeks away from returning.

The Ravens are getting healthier, though. And the bye week has allowed them an opportunity to rest up and prepare for the remainder of the season.