RB Hill ruled out with illness; Browns to start QB Zappe

The Ravens are unusually healthy ahead of playoffs

Ravens running back Justice Hill is examined after being injured against the Steelers on Dec. 21 at M&T Bank Stadium. Karl Merton Ferron/Staff

Ravens running back Justice Hill will miss Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns as he recovers from an illness, but he and reserve cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis are the only players ruled out as the team seeks to clinch a repeat AFC North crown.

Hill, the team’s primary third-down back, missed the Ravens’ Christmas Day win over the Houston Texans with a concussion. Coach John Harbaugh said Monday he expected Hill to play against the Browns. Instead, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali will back up Derrick Henry.

Hill remains in concussion protocol because he has not returned to the practice field, but Harbaugh said Thursday it’s the illness that’s holding him back.

Otherwise, the team is unusually healthy with the playoffs around the corner. Left guard Patrick Mekari, listed as questionable to play against Cleveland, returned to practice as a limited participant Thursday after missing the previous two days with an illness.

The Ravens (11-5) listed tight end Charlie Kolar, who returned to practice this week after missing four games with a broken arm, as questionable to face the Browns, though he has been a full participant in workouts. Armour-Davis returned to practice Wednesday but won’t play Saturday because of a lingering hamstring injury.

The Browns (3-13), losers of five straight, will be without several top players Saturday as they close out a disappointing season. Cleveland ruled out Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder), tight end David Njoku (knee), linebacker Jordan Hicks (concussion) and running backs Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong (concussion). Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson is questionable to play because of a knee injury. Nickel back Cameron Mitchell (knee) is also questionable after he was added to the injury report Thursday.

The Browns’ best player, defensive end Myles Garrett, will face the Ravens after he sat out Tuesday and Wednesday with a thigh injury.

Quarterback Jameis Winston, who beat the Ravens in October, is questionable with a right shoulder injury, but Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had already announced Winston would be behind expected starter Bailey Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the depth chart. Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots after a record-setting career at Western Kentucky, is 4-4 as a starter while passing for 2,053 yards and 11 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

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