Ravens fans who headed early to Saturday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium got a rare look at wide receiver Breshad Perriman, who made his first on-field appearance in almost four weeks.

Perriman strained his right hamstring while running a slant route during a practice on Aug. 1 and had not been seen since. Coach John Harbaugh had described Perriman as a “long-term hamstring guy” on Aug. 15.

During pregame warmups though, Perriman ran, planted, and cut without hesitation while catching passes from wide receivers coach Bobby Engram. Perriman worked out for about 45 minutes before walking into the locker room.

Health problems have plagued Perriman, the organization’s first-round draft pick in 2015 who missed his entire rookie year because of a partially torn PCL in his right knee. He also sat out much of the 2016 training camp because of a partially torn ACL in his left knee. But the offense is relying on Perriman to complement Mike Wallace and Jeremy Maclin. Last season, he finished third on the team last season in touchdowns with three, fourth in targets with 66 and yards with 499 on 33 receptions.

In addition to Perriman, rookie cornerback Marlon Humphrey, wide receiver Michael Campanaro and rookie inside linebacker Donald Payne took part in pregame warmups. Humphrey, the franchise’s first-round selection in April, had not been on the field since injuring his hamstring in a 31-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 17. But he sprinted and looked unhampered while working out before Saturday’s game.

Campanaro, a River Hill graduate, returned after missing Thursday’s practice because of a personal matter. Payne, an undrafted free agent, had not been on the field since the Dolphins game.

Flacco timetable: When the Ravens return to practice after Saturday’s 13-9 victory over the Buffalo Bills, starting quarterback Joe Flacco won’t be on the field.

Harbaugh reiterated Saturday night that Flacco will be ready when the regular season begins on Sept. 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

More of the same for Ravens: Defense dominates, offense struggles in 13-9 win over Bills

“I’m not going to stand up here and answer that question every single day,” Harbaugh said after confirming that Flacco won’t practice Sunday. “He will be back for the Bengals game, I promise you that.

“Do you really care when he’s going to practice? Do you really?” Harbaugh continued. “He’ll be back for the Bengals game, I can promise you.”

Flacco has not practiced at all this preseason because of a back injury. On Aug. 11, the Ravens put out a press release that said that the veteran starter won’t play in the preseason, but “he will return to practice in the preseason.”

The Ravens play their final preseason game Thursday against the New Orleans Saints.

It isn’t clear whether Harbaugh will start Ryan Mallett against the Saints or whether he’ll play Josh Woodrum or Thaddeus Lewis.

Tucker cleared from concussion protocol:Justin Tucker’s ability to add to the seven field goals he had converted in three preseason games appeared in jeopardy after the Ravens kicker was placed in concussion protocol in the first quarter Saturday night. But he was cleared in the second quarter.

Tucker was injured while tackling Buffalo Bills returner Brandon Tate on a 32-yard kick return midway through the first quarter. Tucker had connected on a 40-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the first.

Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history with at least 100 attempts, producing an 89.8 success rate. Last season, he converted 38 of 39 field goals, set an NFL record with 24 kicks from at least 40 yards out and tied the Minnesota Vikings’ Blair Walsh for the league mark of 10 field goals from at least 50 yards out.

“I just would prefer that the ball not get to him,” Harbaugh said. “Our kickoff coverage was great that whole game except for that play. They ran a scheme that we didn’t quite get where we needed to get against it. That’s the rest of our guys’ responsibility.”

If Tucker had been ruled out for the remainder of the game, he would have been replaced by rookie Kenny Allen. The undrafted free agent has punted four times, but has yet to attempt a field goal in the preseason.

Defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. was also in concussion protocol in the second quarter, but was quickly cleared.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith left the game in the second quarter, walking into the locker room with a trainer. He returned to the game before halftime with his left hand wrapped in ice.

No action for Williams: Despite practicing all week, tight end Maxx Williams did not play against the Bills. The first indication that Williams, who leads the offense in receiving yards with 51 on three catches, would not play occurred during pregame warmups when he was wearing a black t-shirt and a white hat.

End zone:Undrafted rookie Ricky Ortiz was the first fullback to enter the game for the Ravens. Kamalei Correa started at his usual weak-side linebacker position and alternated defensive series with Patrick Onwuasor. … General manager Ozzie Newsome hugged former Ravens and current Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor during pregame warmups. Taylor, who was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round in 2011, spent four seasons with the Ravens before joining the Bills in 2015.

edward.lee@baltsun.com

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