steve smith sr

Five things we learned from the Ravens' 29-26 win over the San Diego Chargers

Mixed emotions permeated the tailgate lots as fans heated up their grills and cracked open post-game beers after the Ravens beat the San Diego Chargers, 29-26.

After seeing Steve Smith Sr. go down, Joe Flacco looked around and saw a team without its veteran leadership. That's when he stepped up.

Players from both teams surrounded Steve Smith Sr. and knelt in prayer when he went down with a season-ending Achilles injury.

When star wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. went down, Kamar Aiken had a single catch on his only target for three yards. In the ensuing 17 minutes of game time, Aiken played like the No. 1 receiver the Ravens will need him to be.

Ravens reserve interior lineman John Urschel strugged with shotgun snaps after replacing starter Jeremy Zuttah, who is out with a shoulder injury.

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. was carried off the field putting no weight on his right leg after an injury suffered late in the third quarter.

Baltimore Sun experts react to the Ravens' 29-26 win against the San Diego Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Ravens ruled two rookies out and declared Eugene Monroe doubtful for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers

Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., playing in perhaps his final NFL season, is padding some potential-Hall-of-Fame statistics this year with the Ravens.

Catonsville's Ryan Blake ate six crayons after the Ravens lost Monday. But why?

The Ravens are probably as healthy as they've been all season, but left tackle Eugene Monroe remains out with a shoulder issue.

They won't meet on the field tonight, but Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are competing nonetheless. Fitzgerald, 32, has 952 career receptions. Smith, 36 and perhaps in his last NFL season, has 951.

The Ravens say that there is "no chance" that they trade Steve Smith Sr. Here is why that stance makes sense.

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston picks three key matchups in the Ravens' game against the Arizona Cardinals.

John Harbaugh and Steve Smith Sr. doused any speculation that the veteran wide receiver could get traded.

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. was asked for the second time in less than a week if his plans to retire after this season were intact, and maintained that his plans haven¿t changed despite the Ravens¿ downturn in circumstances this season.

Kamar Aiken stole a touchdown from Marlon Brown, but the two were part of another solid effort from the Ravens' secondary receivers.

Steve Smith Sr., Justin Forsett, Crockett Gillmore and Elvis Dumervil returned from injury and helped the Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers. Just not enough to win.

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (back), running back Justin Forsett (ankle), and outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil (groin) are all active for the Baltimore RavensSunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

A pair of injured Ravens offensive stars, running back Justin Forsett and wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., struck different tones Friday when discussing their chances of playing Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., in his first comments since placing Steelers safety Mike Mitchell on his ¿lifetime hit list¿ for taunting him after what Steve Smith Sr. thought was a hit Mitchell delivered in the Ravens¿ Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith added some clarity to the situation with the benefit of a bit of hindsight.

Wide receiver Chris Givens (ankle) returned to practice after missing Wednesday¿s workout and wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (back) and tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf) practiced for a second straight day, but the Ravens still had eight players sidelined.

Even with the return of top wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (micro fractures in back) and tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf strain) to practice Wednesday, the Ravens list of injury concerns still managed to grow as 10 players sat out practice.

It's time for a little perspective here. There isn't one person or area that has put the Ravens into their current position; it's a culmination of things over the years, some beyond their control. There is no need for a massive rebuilding job, not in the modern era of the NFL.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave what seemed to be positive updates on running back Justin Forsett and wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. in his Monday press conference.

The team saw the effect of the mounting injuries to stars and substitutes in a deflating, 33-30 defeat at the hands of the AFC North rival Browns.

Late in the fourth period, some fans in the upper deck at M&T Bank Stadium were starting to make their way to the parking lot. The Ravens were behind by three points, but there was not much hope for this team. If you lose to the Browns, you're done.

The Ravens announced Sunday that the following Cleveland Browns.

Needing a return man and more depth at wide receiver, the Ravens promoted Jeremy Ross and waived defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi.

In the week's final injury report, wide receiver Steve Smith sr. is listed as doubtful while Crockett Gillmore, Breshad Perriman and Chris Canty have been declared out.

There was some outside hope that tight end Crockett Gillmore and defensive end Chris Canty would play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, but that appears to be all but gone.

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston picks three key matchups in the Ravens' game against the Cleveland Browns.

Third-year player Marlon Brown is the Ravens' forgotten receiver. Of quarterback Joe Flacco's 159 attempts in four games this season, Brown has been targeted only 15 times with eight receptions. But that could change Sunday when the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns. With star receiver Steve Smith Sr. expected to miss the game because of a back injury, Brown will likely start as one of the two outside receivers along with Kamar Aiken.

Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb hasn't been the team's primary return man since 2011, but that could change.

Are the Ravens contenders again now that they earned a win? Not quite, according to national power rankings. Most seem to agree that, while the win kept the Ravens alive one more week, the likely loss of Steve Smith Sr. for a few games will be a killer.

Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro returned to practice, but other key Ravens, including Steve Smith Sr. and Crockett Gillmore, remained out.

Wide receivers Steve Smith Sr. (back) and Breshad Perriman (knee) weren¿t present during the early portion of practice for the Baltimore Ravens, nor were tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf) and running back Lorenzo Taliaferro.

The Lawrence Timmons' hit on Steve Smith Sr. might not have been intentional. But was it within the rules?

Ravens coach John Harbaugh clarified that he didn¿t officially rule wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. out with his the microfractures in his back suffered on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rookie tight ends Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle both started Thursday with Crockett Gillmore sidelined with a calf injury, and wide receiver Darren Waller played his most significant role yet after injuries at wide receiver. Defensive tackle Carl Davis started a second straight game at defensive tackle, and outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith picked up two consecutive sacks to end a Steelers drive.

Ravens wide receivers Steve Smith Sr. and Michael Campanaro left Thursday's 23-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with back injuries.

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and Steelers safety Mike Mitchell were teammates in Carolina. Now it appears that Mitchell is on Smith's lifetime hit list.

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston picks three key matchups in the Ravens' game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

It's still too early to write off the 2015 season, but the odds of the Ravens making the playoffs are overwhelmingly stacked against them. At this point, the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a better chance.

As the Ravens secondary gathered itself after a second crushing defeat in which most of the blame was placed on their shoulders, cornerback Jimmy Smith sat with his forehead resting on his hands, his lack of success marking the Bengals' top receiver weighing heavily on him.

Ravens' defense again gives up late touchdown after offense rallies to take lead twice from Bengals in fourth quarter.

Since 1990, only 24 of 205 teams to start the season 0-2 have made the playoffs. The Bengals come into the game winners of three straight against the Ravens and four of the past five.

Through two games this season, running backs Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro are averaging seven yards per carry out of the shotgun formation — all of those carries coming in Sunday's 37-33 loss to the Oakland Raiders. But that duo, and rookie Buck Allen, averaged 2.82 yards per carry (34 rushes for 96 yards) when quarterback Joe Flacco was under center.

For a second straight game, Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. found himself lamenting a late-game touchdown opportunity that could have helped prevent the team's disheartening 0-2 start to the season.