Ravens place 5 more players on COVID-19 list including multiple starters

The Baltimore Ravens roster has been decimated by injuries this year. And now, that same roster is being further depleted by a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Ravens placed five more players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday adding to a growing list that now features a whopping 15 players including 11 that are on the active roster.

The five new additions on Wednesday were safety Geno Stone, defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, linebackers Chris Board and Kristian Welch, and practice squad offensive tackle David Sharpe.

At least three of those players played key roles on Sunday, partially due to injuries/illness creating those opportunities. Now, all five might be in line to miss this Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Ravens just can’t catch a break this season

Stone started in place of Chuck Clark who is another member of the COVID-19 list at the moment. Despite it being the former seventh-round pick’s first career start, Stone was tasked with being the team’s defensive play-caller with Clark, the usual play-caller, sidelined.

Meanwhile, Madubuike has been starting for the majority of the season with Derek Wolfe injured and Calais Campbell banged up. The Ravens’ defensive line depth is already razor-thin (as is seemingly every position on the roster), and now it just got even thinner.

Sharpe was elevated from the practice squad this past week and ended up receiving considerable playing time once right tackle Tyre Phillips went down with a knee injury.

Phillips didn’t practice on Wednesday leaving his status for Sunday’s game in question. And with Sharpe also potentially out, the Ravens might be forced to elevate another practice squad tackle to start in Week 16, perhaps someone like Jaryd Jones-Smith.

As for Board and Welch, their absence leaves the Ravens with just two inside linebackers on their active roster, Patrick Queen and Josh Bynes.

Malik Harrison has been practicing at outside linebacker since his return and could be asked to pull double duty with the Ravens thin at both positions. They also have Joe Thomas on their practice squad who seems likely to be elevated now.

The hits just keep coming for the Ravens. Now with 15 players on the COVID-19 list, it might be time to start thinking about the potential status of this Sunday’s game.