OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins have tested positive for COVID-19 and will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list later Monday, coach John Harbaugh announced.
It’s a major blow to the Ravens’ backfield just days before Thursday night’s game against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.
Gus Edwards is the only available running back on the Ravens’ roster who has had any carries this season. Justice Hill, a little-used 2019 fourth-round pick, will be Baltimore’s top backup, and practice squad player Ty’Son Williams could get elevated.
Contact tracing is complete and the only other player going on the reserve/COVID-19 list as a close contact is nose tackle Brandon Williams, who will have to quarantine for five days.
An NFL source tells ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that there is no change in the status for Thursday’s game.
Losing Dobbins comes at a time when the Ravens were just starting to lean on the rookie second-round pick as their feature back. In Sunday’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Titans, Dobbins tied a career high with 15 carries, producing 70 yards and a touchdown.
Ingram, a Pro Bowl player a year ago, has been gradually getting phased out of the offense. He was limited to six snaps Sunday, the fewest of four Baltimore running backs.
There is a chance Dobbins and Ingram could get cleared before next Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. They have to quarantine for 10 days.
The Ravens had earlier announced that they closed their facility Monday after learning that multiple members of the organization had tested positive for COVID-19. The facility reopened later Monday and the team planned to conduct a masked walk-through practice.
There have been at least four positive tests, including players and staff members, a source said. Those individuals have begun to self-quarantine, according to the team. The Ravens began the process of contact tracing, and all activities are being handled virtually.
Third-string quarterback Trace McSorley was the last player placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He didn’t practice Thursday or Friday last week because he was close to someone who had tested positive.
Before this week, the Ravens had only two players test positive during the regular season: All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Nov. 2) and cornerback Iman Marshall (Nov. 12). Marshall has been on injured reserve all season.
This had already been a trying season for the Ravens (6-4), a team that was among the preseason Super Bowl favorites but that has lost three of its last four games. If the two-time defending AFC North champions lose in Pittsburgh, they would be eliminated from the division race.
