Ravens Star Players Cleared to Face Bengals on Thanksgiving Night

The Baltimore Ravens have received a significant boost ahead of their Thanksgiving night matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, with key players cleared to play. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, along with quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Rashod Bateman, has been cleared despite recent injury concerns.

Hamilton, who has been nursing a shoulder and ankle injury, participated fully in practice on Wednesday after missing the team’s walk-through on Monday and being limited on Tuesday. His presence is vital for a Ravens defense that has shown improvement in recent games, especially as they prepare to face the Bengals’ formidable offense, which includes quarterback Joe Burrow and All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Burrow is set to return after a lengthy absence due to a turf toe injury that required surgery, sidelining him since Week 2. Meanwhile, Chase is back from a one-game suspension. Ravens outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones expressed the challenge Burrow presents, stating, “When he’s back there, he’s lethal, so we have to do our part.”

Historically, Burrow and Chase have had standout performances against Baltimore. In their last encounter in November 2022, Burrow threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were caught by Chase, who amassed 264 receiving yards. Notably, Chase set an NFL record for the most receiving yards against a single team in one season, totaling 457 yards in just two games against the Ravens in 2024.

The Ravens will be without running back Justice Hill and defensive tackle Taven Bryan, who are both sidelined due to injuries. This marks Hill’s second missed game this season, following a toe injury that kept him out in a prior match against the Cleveland Browns.

On the Bengals’ side, they will also be missing several players, most notably All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson due to a hip/pelvis injury, and wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is out with a concussion. The Bengals will also be without rookie running back Tahj Brooks, wide receiver Jermaine Burton, and cornerback Marco Wilson, who has been placed on injured reserve.

Cincinnati’s defense is struggling, currently ranked worst in the league for both yards allowed (415.8) and points allowed (32.7) per game. The absence of Hendrickson, who led the NFL last season with 17.5 sacks, is a significant blow to their defensive capabilities.

Higgins has notably struggled to stay on the field during games against the Ravens, missing this matchup for the fourth consecutive year. Despite this, he has performed well when active, contributing significantly in the past two seasons with 17 catches for 172 yards and four touchdowns against Baltimore.

The Bengals enter this game with a disappointing record of 3-8 and have lost their last three games in Baltimore. In contrast, the Ravens are riding a five-game winning streak, currently sitting at 6-5. They share the top spot in the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are set to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

As both teams prepare for this critical AFC North battle, the stakes are high, and each side looks to gain momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.