NFL Week 5 Scouting Report: Ravens at Steelers
Steel City Underground will provide fans in Steelers Nation a pre-game scouting report of each of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents during each week of the 2023 NFL regular season, comprised of items from top storylines and insights.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a disastrous outing in Week 4 that dropped their record to 2-2 and will play host to the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) in an AFC North battle on Sunday, October 10, with so many questions unanswered. The Ravens are looking to stack wins as they currently hold the lead in the division.
Here we’ll look at the news and storylines coming out of Baltimore ahead of NFL Week 5’s game.
Baltimore’s ground game
One area the Steelers have struggled to contain is their opponents’ rushing capabilities. The Ravens are currently working to field healthy running backs. Gus Edwards looks ready to go for Sunday, but J.K. Dobbins went on injured/reserved and Justice Hill is dealing with turf toe.
The Ravens activated rookie running back Keaton Mitchell’s 21-day practice window ahead of the game with Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium. They also activated Melvin Gordon from the practice squad.
Add quarterback Lamar Jackson, a valuable runner of his own, and the Steelers will need to tighten up their run-stopping defense and middle defenders regardless of the injury status of Baltimore’s group of ball-carriers.
Respect elite receiving back gus edwards pic.twitter.com/z8McNHBJxg
— dat boi (@justaguy2918) October 4, 2023
Injury reports
The Ravens were bitten by the injury bug early. They’re starting to get some of their key players healthier, though.
Top-tier cornerback Marlon Humphrey (foot/ surgery) returned to practice Wednesday after missing all of the first four weeks of the season. Humphrey would be paired with Brandon Stephens if he’s able to get up to speed in time for the game.
Receivers Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. also returned on Wednesday. If they are available on Sunday, it would alleviate some of the pressure that has been placed on Zay Flowers.
.@obj back on the practice field ‼️ pic.twitter.com/M9u2ihqb9D
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 4, 2023
It will be worth watching the Ravens injury report throughout the remainder of the week in order to understand who the Steelers may end up facing.
Related:
Lamar Jackson in 3 full games without J.K. Dobbins:
* 35 carries
* 182 rushing yards
* 4 rushing TDs— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) October 2, 2023
Bulletin board material
Highlights of Lamar Jackson vs No. 1 defense pic.twitter.com/8GUfeeO25h
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 2, 2023
"We're just trying to be 1-0 this week." @Patrickqueen_ pic.twitter.com/nOPXV7GyW1
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/1709265363458789376?t=xp_Yt8DIcTRJCeWK2o5zMQ&s=19
