The Ravens placed defensive back B.J. Ward and wide receiver Matt Cherry on the injured reserve list Tuesday.
Ward, who signed with the Ravens last year as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State University, has missed much of training camp and the preseason with migraines. Cherry, a former Akron standout who signed with the team the year, has been hampered by a shoulder injury.
“We?re getting to the point where the numbers catch up,” Ravens head coach Brian Billick said. “It?s unfortunate.”
NGATA FEELING BETTER: First-round pick and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said his knee is getting progressively better as he prepares to complete his first training camp as a professional.
The 6-foot-4, 340-pound rookie out of the University of Oregon originally injured his knee during a scrimmage with the Redskins. Ngata then missed the team?s first preseason game before playing sparingly in the second game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He looked much more aggressive against the Minnesota Vikings.
“My knee is getting stronger,” Ngata said. “Now, I?m just waiting for it to get to be 100 percent so I can let it all loose on the field.”
A NATURAL RIVALRY: The Ravens may only get to play the Washington Redskins every four years in the regular season, but that doesn?t mean the two teams can?t offer the fans a “Battle of the Beltway” every year, Billick said.
The Ravens and Redskins have played a combined five times ? three times in the regular season and twice in the preseason. Baltimore has won the last two contests, including a 17-10 regular-season win at FedEx Field in 2004 and a 26-20 overtime win in the final preseason game last year at M&T Bank Stadium.
“Our fans love that,” Billick said of any contests between the neighboring football franchises. “We can work that out. I don?t see why we don?t make that permanent and finish the preseason with them every year. It just makes too much sense.”
Ravens vs. Redskins
» The two teams have met four times in the preseason since the Ravens began playing in Baltimore. The Ravens own a 3-1 series lead, including a 26-20 overtime win last year.
» The last time the two squads met in the regular season Baltimore won, 17-10, thanks to a 22-yard Ed Reed fumble recovery for a TD and a 78-yard punt return by B.J. Sams.
» The game marks a homecoming of sorts for Jonathan Ogden who played his high school football at St. Alban?s in D.C.
