Ravens' latest injury update highlights clear advantage over Vikings in Week 10

The Baltimore Ravens have a key advantage heading into Sunday's Week 10 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings: health. The Ravens have battled injuries all season long, so this advantage is fairly unfamiliar for Baltimore. Nevertheless, it's certainly a welcome development for the Ravens as they try to make a playoff push.

With the exception of Ronnie Stanley, who rested for Friday's practice and doesn't have a game time designation, the Ravens had full participation throughout this week of practice. Conversely, the Vikings had 12 players who popped up on the injury report this week.

Now it's worth noting that only four of these players (Aaron Jones, Jeff Okudah, Josh Oliver, and Theo Jackson) have injury designations ahead of Sunday's game. Okudah and Oliver have been ruled out, while Jones and Jackson are questionable. These injuries aren't all that impactful overall. Regardless, the Ravens have a clear advantage, as some Vikings players are banged up, even if most of them are playing on Sunday.

The Ravens have the clear upper hand over the Vikings

The Ravens' Week 9 game was on Thursday, meaning they had some extra rest time, which gives them another advantage. Javon Hargave, Jonathan Allen, and Harrison Smith were perhaps the two biggest names (other than Jones) who appeared on the injury report. However, in the case of all three players, this was simply for rest.

Jalen Redmond is one name who was cleared, but he is dealing with a shin injury and might not be at 100 percent. This injury could help open up the Ravens' explosive running game led by Derrick Henry. Starting linemen Will Fries and Christian Darrisaw were also cleared, but they dealt with calf and knee injuries, respectively. Protecting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is starting just his fourth career game, will be vital. While the Ravens have struggled to generate pressure, their defense has been much better in recent weeks.

Aaron Jones' status will be the main storyline to watch ahead of the game. The Vikings will likely lean into the run game with McCarthy under center, but that will be hard to do if Jones is sidelined. While Jones said that he feels good, he still hasn't been cleared.

The Ravens were snake-bitten with injuries early on, most notably Lamar Jackson missed three games, and Baltimore was without seven starters during Week 5's game against the Houston Texans. However, they are now fully healthy and primed to make a playoff push despite their 3-5 record.