Baltimore Ravens healthy, looking avoid repeat of last season

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens should have most of their top playmakers on the field for the regular season opener Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.

The key is keeping these players healthy.

Baltimore was decimated with injuries last season, placing 20 players on injured reserve. Several starters, including quarterback Joe Flacco, linebacker Terrell Suggs, running back Justin Forsett and wide receiver Steve Smith, were among the players lost for the year.

However, the Ravens enter the game against the Bills with most of their top playmakers ready to take the field. Baltimore will be without newly signed tight end Benjamin Watson, who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles, and running back Kenneth Dixon, a fourth-round pick that is out four weeks with a torn MCL.

Still, Baltimore finished the 2016 preseason 4-0 and coach John Harbaugh hopes that momentum carries over against the Bills. A victory would go a long way toward setting the early tone for the Ravens, who are confident they could be back in the playoff hunt.

"You always want to win," Harbaugh said. "I think that there's great value in winning. We didn't do anything extra special to win any games in the preseason. We did not play our starters longer than other people. As a matter of fact, they played less than other people. I'm just proud of our guys. You want to establish the fact that you know how to win football games."

In addition to several returning starters, the Ravens will get another boost with wide receiver Breshad Perriman finally back in the lineup. Perriman has suffered knee injuries over the past two years. He has yet to play in a regular season game since being taken in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Perriman saw his first live action in the final preseason matchup against the Saints and caught two passes for 25 yards.

"It felt real good to get out there, play and contribute," Perriman said. "It felt like a blessing -- and that's why when I caught the ball I gestured up to the sky and thanked God. It meant a lot to me; especially to be out there and helping my teammates as that's what it is all about."

In Week 1, Baltimore will see some familiar faces with the Bills. Head coach Rex Ryan helped the Ravens win their first Super Bowl in 2000 and quarterback Tyrod Taylor was a capable backup to Flacco.

Expect the Bills to aggressively attack the Ravens' offensive line, especially with rookie Ronnie Stanley at left tackle. Buffalo, however, will be without a pair of young playmakers. Rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Fellow linebacker Shaq Lawson, another first round pick, was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list after undergoing shoulder surgery in May.

The Ravens, meanwhile, will showcase their new-look offense.

In addition to Perriman, Baltimore signed Mike Wallace and drafted Chris Moore from Cincinnati as additional deep threats for Flacco. The Ravens also have three solid running backs that will split carries with Forsett, Javorius "Buck" Allen and Terrance West.

On defense, the return of Suggs and Dumervil with boost the pass rush. When they were both fully healthy in 2014, Suggs and Dumervil combined for 29 sacks -- the most by any duo in the league. Newly signed safety Eric Weddle has provided leadership in a revamped secondary.

The Ravens need to get off to a fast start against the Bills and begin to cleanse all of the bad memories of 2015.

--Defensive lineman Carl Davis injured his ankle in the first quarter against the Saints and had to get treatment in the locker room. His status for the regular season opener is uncertain. The injury, however, is not expected to be long-term. "It's not going to knock him out of the equation," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

--Defensive tackle Michael Pierce might have played himself onto the final roster. The undrafted rookie from Samford has shown the ability to get to the quarterback throughout preseason. In the final game against the Saints, he strip-sacked quarterback Luke McCown and recovered the ball in the end zone. "Everyone in the locker room has worked real hard to make the team," Pierce said. "As for me, there's nothing else I can do and I hope I've proved to the coaching staff that I deserve a spot on the team." If defensive tackle Carl Davis (ankle) is out, Pierce showed he could help fill the void. "He's played well throughout," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "He's had a good camp. He has played well when he has been in there in games."

--Running back Terrance West entered this year's training camp fighting for a roster spot. However, after a strong preseason, he is poised to help carry the load in the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. West had 25 carries for 101 yards with two touchdowns in three preseason games. He was held out of the final game against the Saints.

--Wide receiver Chris Moore missed two weeks of training camp with a foot injury. However, the fourth round pick from Cincinnati has been a solid playmaker when he has been able to stay on the field. Moore returned this week and had two catches for 23 yards in the final preseason game against the Saints. "He missed a couple of games, so that was tough," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "He could have used that time for sure, and he could have used that two-and-a-half weeks of practice time as well. He has come back [and] has shown no signs of that. He has gotten better." Moore also returned a kickoff 29 yards against New Orleans.

--Safety Lardarius Webb returned to practice earlier in the week, but missed the final preseason game against the Saints. Webb had been dealing with a back issue. He is making the full-time transition from cornerback this season. He is expected to start opposite of newly signed Eric Weddle.

--Tight end Dennis Pitta (fractured finger) should be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills, coach John Harbaugh said. Pitta has been out since Aug. 1 after he was injured during a team scuffle at practice. With Benjamin Watson (torn Achilles) lost for the season, Pitta could play a big role for the Ravens this season if he can stay healthy. He is trying to return after two devastating hip injuries.

--Quarterback Josh Johnson likely will not make the final roster because the Ravens have traditionally carried just two quarterbacks under coach John Harbaugh. However, Johnson is a legitimate dual-threat and could be an attractive target for a team in need of a quarterback. In the final preseason game against the Saints, Johnson was 18-for-24 for 181 yards. He also ran for 19 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. Ryan Mallett likely will be the primary backup to starter Joe Flacco.