Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and rookie safety Kyle Hamilton returned to practice Wednesday.
Dobbins, who was placed on injured reserve Oct. 22 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, has been designated to return from IR. The 2020 second-round draft pick practiced fully Wednesday and can be activated to the Ravens’ 53-man roster at any point over the next 21 days. Dobbins, who suffered a significant knee injury last preseason, has 35 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown this year.
Stanley missed the Ravens’ loss Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars after sitting out practice last week with an ankle injury. He left the Ravens’ Week 11 win over the Carolina Panthers with what coach John Harbaugh said was only a minor injury. On Wednesday, he left practice after participating in individual drills and was listed as limited.
Hamilton was also missing Sunday, sidelined by a minor knee injury he suffered against Carolina. He thought he might play against Jacksonville until shortly before game time, despite not practicing last week. After being limited Wednesday, he expects to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Hamilton was setting the edge when teammate Roquan Smith accidentally kicked him in the knee. “My knee buckled in,” he said. “It was hurting at first, for sure. ... In the moment, yeah, my knee felt like it was on fire. But the next day, I got more news that it wasn’t going to be anything terrible.”
He was coming on strong as the team’s primary option at nickel back, and the Ravens missed him against the Jaguars. “I don’t think there’s ever really a good time for an injury,” he said. “It always seems to come at the craziest times. Luckily, in my case, it was just a week.”
Tight end Isaiah Likely, who missed Sunday’s game with a minor ankle injury suffered in practice Friday, was also limited along with quarterback Lamar Jackson (quad).
Seven Ravens missed Wednesday’s practice: offensive linemen Patrick Mekari (illness) and Daniel Faalele (illness), tight end Nick Boyle (illness), defensive lineman Calais Campbell, outside linebacker Justin Houston, and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (ankle) and Marcus Peters. Campbell, Houston and Peters received days off to rest.
The Broncos were missing eight players, including starting wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (ankle) and K.J. Hamler (hamstring), defensive end Dre’Mont Jones (illness), safety Kareem Jackson (rest) and cornerback K’Waun Williams (wrist/elbow/knee). Reserve linebacker Dakota Allen (hamstring), fullback-tight end Andrew Beck (hamstring/illness) and defensive lineman Jonathan Harris (knee) were also sidelined, while starting guard Dalton Risner (shoulder) was limited. Wide receivers Kendall Hinton (foot) and Jalen Virgil (hip) practiced fully.
Note: The Ravens have also signed wide receiver Shemar Bridges, an undrafted standout early in training camp, to their practice squad. Bridges was waived with an injury designation during the team’s final roster cut-down.