-
Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens ruled out Nelson Agholor on Friday, which could leave them with a very inexperienced wide receiver group heading into a pivotal AFC North game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There had been hope Agholor could get cleared from the concussion protocol for Saturday’s game against the Steelers. But the Ravens downgraded their No. 3 wide receiver to out, which is an untimely loss for quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s No. 3 passing attack.
Starting receiver Rashod Bateman is questionable with a foot injury after not practicing Thursday. He was walking with a protective boot in the locker room.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh declined to comment on Bateman’s status Thursday.
“I really have nothing to report on any of that stuff,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll be working through all of those things in the next few hours and few days even, but we’ll be in good shape and be ready to roll on [Saturday].”
The lack of veteran depth of wide receiver is the reason Baltimore traded for Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29. But the Ravens will be without Johnson, who was excused from team activities this week. He was recently suspended for one game by the team for refusing to play Dec. 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Ravens’ only healthy wide receiver on the 53-man roster who has caught more than 10 passes this season is Zay Flowers, who leads Baltimore with 66 receptions for 916 yards. The other wide receivers are Tylan Wallace, who has 10 catches for 191 yards, and rookie fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, who made his first career catch — a 21-yard touchdown — Sunday.
The Steelers also won’t be at full strength at wide receiver. Pittsburgh ruled out leading receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for a third straight game.
Saturday’s game in Baltimore is the biggest matchup in the AFC North this season. If Pittsburgh (10-4) wins, the Steelers will clinch their first division title since 2020. If Baltimore (9-5) wins, the Ravens will tie the Steelers atop the AFC North and have a 45% chance of winning the division, according to ESPN Analytics.