With four games remaining, the Ravens still are in relatively decent shape for a postseason berth, but they can pretty much forget the playoffs if they lose to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
As the Ravens (7-4) square off with the San Diego Chargers (7-4) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, here¿s Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson¿s checklist of things to keep an eye on:
Ravens cornerback Asa Jackson has replaced his walking boot with football cleats, returning to practice Friday for the first time since severely spraining his toe in the second game of the season.
Coming out of their bye, the Ravens (6-4) are now tied with the Cleveland Browns (6-4) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) for second place in the AFC North.
One day after starting tight end Dennis Pitta underwent season-ending surgery to repair his fractured and dislocated right hip, the Ravens added reinforcements for the position.
When the Ravens signed veteran linebacker Austin Spitler following a successful minicamp tryout in June, he knew he had joined a relatively deep group of inside linebackers.
Juan Castillo endured awkward circumstances and heavy resistance to his blocking techniques and coaching methods during a rough season last year as the Ravens' run-game coordinator.
The Ravens clearly need another cornerback and possibly a defensive end, but getting either will be tough because of a thin free agent market and few trade options.
Kelechi Osemele is healthy and happy and when he jogs out of the M&T Bank Stadium tunnel Thursday night for the Ravens' preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, his comeback from a potentially career-threatening back injury will be nearly complete.
During legendary retired middle linebacker Ray Lewis' time with the Ravens, one of the staples of his rigorous training regimen was running the steep hill at Oregon Ridge Park.
Rolando McClain, who didn't play a game for the Ravens yet retired twice, has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a sixth-round pick. The Ravens also sent a seventh-round pick to Dallas.
The Ravens are $4.159 million under the NFL salary-cap limit of $133 million with 90 players on the roster after signing five players to contracts last week following minicamp tryouts.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will spend the next month working out and keeping his right arm in shape through regular throwing sessions with friends, teammates and anybody else capable of catching a tight spiral
As veteran cornerback Aaron Ross covered receivers Tuesday during his minicamp tryout with the Ravens, the former New York Giants starter quickly realized how long it's been since he's played football.
Still looking for cornerback depth, the Ravens will give former first-round pick and Super Bowl champion Aaron Ross a look this week, according to the player.
Kelechi Osemele had just practiced for two hours under the hot afternoon sun and then retreated to the weight room for an extended workout after the Ravens' organized team activities were over on Wednesday.
When the Ravens were contemplating what to do during the NFL draft, general manager Ozzie Newsome said the only time they seriously considered picking a cornerback was during the first round.
The Ravens take their recruiting and signing of undrafted rookie free agents extremely seriously, enlisting coach John Harbaugh to personally convince players to sign with them.
Longtime NFL quarterback Earl Morrall, who filled in for an injured Johnny Unitas during the 1968 season and was named the league's Most Valuable Player for leading the Colts to the Super Bowl, died on Friday in Florida.. He was 79.
