Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco will be the team’s starter for the remainder of the season.
Coach John Harbaugh said Troy Smith, who had previously contended for the starting job, will enter Sunday’s game at Indianapolis (2-2) as the Ravens third-string quarterback, but will have the opportunity to move past backup Todd Bouman as the season progresses.
Smith, a 2006 fifth-round pick, continues to work back into shape after missing nearly a month after battling a severe bout of tonsillitis, which caused him to lose more than 20 pounds.
“[Smith is] working hard to expand his role, regain his proficiency where he was before and build from there, and work his way potentially into the backup role,” Harbaugh said. “And, that will be his role this year — possibly in a role where he can contribute playing quarterback for us down the road. But that all remains to be seen by game play and what not, and that’s where we’re at.”
As for Flacco, he is the NFL’s 29th-ranked passer out of the league’s 32 starting quarterbacks with a 61.9 quarterback rating. He has completed 62-of-106 passes for 603 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions.
“You go out there on Sunday, and you play,” Flacco said. “You do what you know how to do. You come back on Monday and see what you can learn from it. You’re always trying to learn during the game too, but you kind of have to just move on and get on to the next play and do what you can do.”
Team effort
For the Ravens, blocking extends beyond just the team’s five offensive linemen.
That is the point offensive coordinator Cam Cameron tried to stress on Thursday. With a rookie quarterback and the youngest starting offensive line in the league, the Ravens have been forced to use tight ends, running back and fullbacks in their protection schemes.
The Ravens did not allow a sack and rushed for 132 yards in a 13-10 loss to the Titans on Sunday.
“Everyone is involved in our pass protection,” Cameron said. “Our tight ends, our backs — it’s really a protections unit.”
Injury report
Offensive tackles Adam Terry (knee) and Jared Gaither (knee), linebacker Ray Lewis (knee) and cornerback Fabian Washington (shoulder) did not participate in practice Thursday. Also, linebackers Antwan Barnes (knee) and Tavares Gooden (hip) and safety Tom Zbikowski (shoulder) were limited in practice. Running back Willis McGahee (knee) fully participated in practice while safety Dawan Landry (neck) and cornerback Samari Rolle (neck/shoulder) are the only players ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Colts.
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