Ravens star safety Kyle Hamilton missed the second half of Thursday night’s prime-time game against the visiting Bengals after he suffered a right ankle injury late in the first half.

Hamilton appeared to step awkwardly on tight end Mike Gesicki’s foot as he dropped back in coverage.

He wasn’t down long but limped off the field under his own power. The defensive leader and 2023 All-Pro went directly into the medical tent and then the locker room.

Prime Video sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung reported that Hamilton went to the X-ray room, and he later returned to the sideline in the second half wearing street clothes and a walking boot on his right foot.

Coach John Harbaugh said it’s an ankle sprain that’s not a serious injury, but he didn’t know how long Hamilton might be sidelined.

With 71 total tackles and seven pass deflections, Hamilton has been one of the most productive Ravens defenders. He dropped a would-be game-winning interception against Cleveland, but in the two games since has batted down two passes in the backfield and rebounded fairly well, including a 10-tackle outing against the Denver Broncos. He had four tackles and two passes defended before exiting Thursday night’s 35-34 comeback win.

Baltimore’s defense, which ranks last in the NFL in pass coverage, has had a rotating cast of safeties start next to Hamilton this season. Marcus Williams was benched for Ar’Darius Washington against Cleveland but returned a week later, making Eddie Jackson a healthy scratch.

Hamilton’s loss was evident early in the second half, as Ja’Marr Chase caught a pass over the middle and raced 67 yards past Williams and the rest of the secondary for a touchdown to give the Bengals a 21-7 lead. Chase finished with 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter.

But such pitfalls playing without their bellwether backstop didn’t seem to last long.

Late in the third quarter, cornerback Marlon Humphrey ripped the ball from Brown’s grasp at the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Roquan Smith recovered it, the entire defense posed for a photo in the end zone and the aura of the now-down-a-man defense regained a sweeping surge of momentum.

Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins had a key pass breakup forcing fourth down. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike logged his first career three-sack game. And some sticky secondary play in the second half contributed to the Ravens playing some of their best collective defense in weeks. That is, until Cincinnati followed three consecutive scoreless drives with another 70-yard touchdown to Chase and the Ravens’ defense completely unraveled on the Bengals’ final drive before stopping their 2-point conversion with 42 seconds left.

Hamilton said on Tuesday about playing on a short week: “I think it’s a physical thing, obviously, but it’s a big mental thing as well — trying to get the game plan as tight as possible before Thursday. The team [that] brings the most energy usually wins these games.”

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13.