BALTIMORE — The tarp remained on the field as a cold, steady rain fell at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens will wrap up the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday afternoon.
The Ravens have clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, so they picked a good day to rest a number of their key starters.
Baltimore’s inactive players are: quarterback Lamar Jackson (not injury-related), wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (not injury-related), linebacker Malik Harrison (groin), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), defensive back Daryl Worley (shoulder/ankle), and guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad).
Wide receiver Zay Flowers will also not play because of a calf injury. Flowers ends his rookie season with 77 catches for 858 yards, both Ravens records for a rookie.
In addition, safety Kyle Hamilton (knee), cornerbacks Ronald Darby (illness), Arthur Maulet (hip), and Brandon Stephens (ankle), wide receiver Tylan Wallace (knee ), and safety Ar’Darius Washington (pectoral) are questionable.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley will start against the Steelers for the fourth time in 10 career starts. Huntly has gone 1-2 with 359 yards passing with one touchdown and three interceptions against the Steelers.
The Steelers are fighting for a playoff spot and need a win with some help to extend their season.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) was inactive, which will be a challenge for the secondary. The other Pittsburgh inactive players are QB Mitch Trubisky, S Trenton Thompson, CB Darius Rush, LB Blake Martinez, T Dylan Cook, and DE DeMarvin Leal.
Pierce signs new deal
Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million extension with the team, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Pierce, 31, has started all 16 games for a Ravens defense that has allowed the fewest points (16.4) and the fourth-fewest yards (302.1) in the NFL this season. He was eligible for free agency after the season,
Potential milestones
Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney needs 1 1/2 sacks to reach double-digit sacks for the first time in his 10-year career. Clowney (98) is two tackles for a loss shy of reaching 100 in his career. … Running back Gus Edwards is one rushing touchdown shy of tying the Ravens’ single-season franchise record (14), accomplished by Jamal Lewis in 2003. Edwards’ three games with multiple rushing touchdowns this season trail only Willis McGahee’s single-season Ravens record of four in 2009.
