Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace knew the first thing he would do at halftime of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, and it had everything to do with cornerback Jimmy Smith.

“I cared about the game plan that we had going into the second half, but the first thing I did was go find Jimmy because this is bigger than football,” he said after the team’s 44-20 win at M&T Bank Stadium. “You’ve got love for a guy when he comes in and works hard every day and week in and week out. It hurts.”

Smith, who has been battling a left Achilles tendon injury since a 26-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1, tore the tendon while covering a receiver along the Detroit sideline with 4:09 left in the second quarter. He will miss the remainder of the season.

Smith was backpedaling when he appeared to take a little hop and step before dropping to the turf. In obvious pain, Smith buried his face in his hands. After a few minutes with the team’s medical staff, he was carried off the field with a smile on his face and taken immediately to the locker room.

Despite the ailment, Smith, 29, had not missed a start this year. In fact, he had intercepted three passes, returned one for a touchdown, and returned a fumble for a score.

“He has played so well,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He has played, I think, at an All-Pro level this year. … We have really good players. They kind of pulled it together after those drives but when he was out, it probably did make a difference. It’s different than it has been before.”

Smith’s impending absence should usher rookie Marlon Humphrey into a starting role opposite Brandon Carr. Humphrey, the organization’s first-round pick in April’s NFL draft, has been eased into his first year in the league, but has been biding his time.

On his sixth defensive snap of the second half, Humphrey gave up a 42-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. that set up a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Theo Riddick with 12:11 left in the third quarter. But after that, Humphrey fared well, including picking up the second interception of his NFL career in the fourth quarter.

“It’s funny because I told [Humphrey] earlier in the week, ‘We’re counting on you. We need you,’” strong safety Tony Jefferson said. “So he was really locked in this whole week, took care of his body, and he’s starting to look like a pro. So I’m happy and excited for his growth.”

Ricard’s first NFL touchdown:The last time Patrick Ricard scored a touchdown, he was a senior fullback in the David Prouty High School’s double-wing offense in Spencer, Mass. It took him only six years to return to the end zone.

The Ravens rookie scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the second quarter Sunday. Lined up as a fullback in front of running back Alex Collins, Ricard ran a short out pattern to the right side of the end zone where he collected a 3-yard pass from quarterback Joe Flacco with 6:34 left for only his second reception of the season.

“The last touchdown I had was in high school because I didn’t play offense in college [at the University of Maine],” the 23-year-old undrafted free agent said. “It’s just an unbelievable feeling. I turned the corner and was wide open. Joe threw a perfect pass to me, and I caught it. It was awesome to help this offense and to score. It was definitely an experience I’m going to remember for a while.”

Perriman inactive again:Six days after returning to the game-day roster, wide receiver Breshad Perriman was a healthy scratch again. It marked the second time in three games that the 2015 first-round draft pick has been deactivated after he had sat out the team’s 23-0 shutout of the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 19.

In Monday night’s 23-16 victory over the Houston Texans, Perriman was targeted twice but did not catch a pass. He has caught only three passes for 28 yards in his past four games and ranks 11th on offense in receptions (seven) and 10th in receiving yards (54).

Perriman’s absence opened the door for wide receiver-punt returner Michael Campanaro to return. The Clarksville native and River Hill graduate — who leads the AFC in punt-return average at 14.7 yards and returned one for a touchdown — was a healthy scratch against Houston.

In addition to Perriman, the Ravens deactivated defensive ends Bronson Kaufusi and rookie Chris Wormley, rookie guards Jermaine Eluemunor (shoulder) and Maurquice Shakir, running back Terrance West (Towson University, Northwestern High) and rookie cornerback Jaylen Hill.

End zone:Running back Alex Collins, who became the first running back to rush for a touchdown in three consecutive games since Willis McGahee in 2010, was unavailable to talk to the media after the game because of “a significant migraine headache,” according to the team. Collins finished with 15 carries for 75 yards and two scores – the first two-touchdown outing of his career. … Four former players — quarterback Kyle Boller, tight end Todd Heap, wide receiver Jacoby Jones and guard Edwin Mulitalo — attended Sunday’s game. … Detroit deactivated running backs Ameer Abdullah (neck) and Dwayne Washington (hip), rookie cornerback Jamal Agnew (knee), offensive tackle Emmett Cleary, wide receiver Bradley Marquez, safety Rolan Milligan and center Travis Swanson (knee). Swanson is the starting center, and Agnew leads the NFL in punt-return average at 16.8 yards with two returns for scores. Starting right guard T.J. Lang (foot) played after being listed as questionable. … Long snapper Morgan Cox, right tackle Austin Howard, defensive tackle Brandon Williams and Jefferson represented the Ravens for the pre-game coin toss. Former Ravens right tackle Rick Wagner was part of a four-member group representing the Lions. Wagner was carted off the field in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.

edward.lee@baltsun.com

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