Canady returns to practice at corner in fighting form
Recovered cornerback gets in skirmish; Perriman might be out with concussion
On his first day back at Ravens practice Wednesday afternoon since being activated from short-term injured reserve, cornerback Maurice Canady got involved in a skirmish.
Canady did not provide many details of what he called “just a little altercation” or his role in it, which was initially discussed by wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. But was it wise for the second-year player who suffered torn cartilage in his knee July 29 to get mixed up in a fracas?
“I kind of blocked somebody out,” he assured. “So it’s all good.”
Perhaps Canady’s involvement is a sign that the 2016 sixth-round draft pick is confident about the health of his knee, which prevented him from replacing Tavon Young — who tore the ACL in his left knee during an organized team activity June 1 — as the primary slot cornerback. Before Canaday’s makes a return to regular-season games, coach John Harbaugh said the club will closely monitor his progress.
“He’ll start his three-week process toward becoming active,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see where he’s at. We’ll watch him out there and see how he moves, and we’ll see how he does.”
The 6-foot-1, 193-pound former Virginia standout was happy to return to the field.
“Being out for three months, it was great to just put a helmet on,” he said. “I’ve been through so much these past three months.”
Canady said the shooting death of his cousin Lakisha Lewis and her boyfriend Aug. 27 near Richmond, Va., put his situation in perspective. Lewis was reportedly 5½ months pregnant at that time.
“My cousin had gotten killed while she was pregnant about two weeks after my surgery,” Canady said. “So I was going through that mentally more than my knee. … It was a tragic situation.”
While family members are caring for his cousin’s teenage daughter, Canady said his focus has been diving into the defensive playbook. He said he does not think he lost too much ground while rehabilitating his knee.
“That’s all mental,” he said. “It’s all about how you go about things, it’s how your daily routine, it’s that hunger in you that somebody can’t teach you or put in you.”
Seeking resolution:The Ravens might not have Breshad Perriman for Sunday’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings because of a concussion, and they are unhappy about how the starting receiver suffered the injury.
Harbaughsaid before Wednesday’s practice that the team has turned film in to the NFL of Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson striking Perriman in the head after he bobbled a pass from quarterback Joe Flacco and fell in the second quarter of the Ravens’ 27-24 overtime loss.
The organization seems to be arguing that Perriman was a defenseless receiver after falling to the ground and that an unnecessary roughness penalty for hitting the receiver’s head should have been assessed to Jackson, which would have negated a 52-yard interception return by cornerback Bryce Callahan. Callahan’s interception set up a 21-yard halfback option pass from rookie running back Tarik Cohen to tight end Zach Miller to give Chicago a 10-0 advantage.
“We did turn it in,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not really allowed to comment on it, but I’d just say that I think we were correct in that idea. You want your players protected. He’s in concussion protocol. You saw it.”
Maclin ‘feeling all right’:After sitting out Sunday’s loss because of a nagging shoulder ailment, Maclin practiced Wednesday on a limited basis and wore a red noncontact jersey.
But the former Kansas City Chief — who leads the offense in touchdown catches (two) and ranks third in receptions (16) and receiving yards (159) — said his shoulder has improved to the point that he hopes to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
“I’m feeling all right,” he said. “I’m just taking it day by day and going through the process. Hopefully, this Sunday is a different situation.”
Wallace hurt:As if the ailments to Maclin and Perriman were not worrisome enough, the Ravens revealed Wednesday that fellow starter Mike Wallace was limited in practice by a back ailment.
Wallace leads the offense in receiving yards with 239 and is the most dangerous downfield threat on the roster. With Maclin working his way back and Perriman in the concussion protocol, facing the Vikings on Sunday without Wallace will be difficult.
Maclin and strong safety Anthony Levine (thigh) were also limited in Wednesday’s session.
Defensive tackle Brandon Williams and defensive end Carl Davis participated fully. Williams has missed the last four games because of a left foot injury, while Davis sat out against Chicago because a left hamstring problem. Rookie cornerback Jaylen Hill (hamstring) was also a full participant.
The Ravens worked without tight ends Benjamin Watson (knee) and Maxx Williams (left ankle), right guard Matt Skura (sprained right knee), cornerback Jimmy Smith (Achilles tendon), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (mouth), running back Terrance West (left calf) and rookie outside linebacker Tim Williams (thigh).
End zone:Although Vikings coach Mike Zimmer declined to say whether Sam Bradford or Case Keenum will start Sunday, Harbaugh said the defense is not waiting for that decision to be made. “It’s not going to change our game plan,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to have a game plan for their offense. They’re both a little bit different in the way they play, and we’ll just play the quarterback that’s out there. We know both of the quarterbacks. So we’ll talk to our guys about both guys.” … The Ravens plan to sign wide receiver Griff Whalen to the active roster, according to a source. Whalen caught four passes 32 yards and returned three punts for 17 yards and one kickoff for 36 yards in four preseason games for the team before getting cut Sept. 1.
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