Despite being a rookie, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has already gained enough experience and insight to know there’s a difference between marking Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Cleveland Browns wideout Josh Gordon.
Elite might seem a bit of stretch for a player who has played in only two games since being reinstated after an NFL-imposed suspension that began after Week 16 of the 2014 season. After all, Gordon is 92 receptions, 1,355 yards and eight touchdowns behind Brown, a five-time Pro Bowl selection this season.
Despite missing two straight practices because of an injured right ankle, Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace said Thursday he would practice Friday and play in Sunday’s game at the Cleveland Browns.
But Gordon, 6 feet 3, 225 pounds, is a unique blend of speed and power. After catching four passes for 85 yards in his 2017 debut against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 3, he had three receptions for 69 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown with 4:45 left in the first quarter, in a 27-21 overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. It was Gordon’s first trip to the end zone since Dec. 15, 2013, a span of 1,456 days.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh called Gordon “a big-play threat, a big, rangy receiver that can go up and make plays on the ball.” But Harbaugh stopped short of declaring that the defense would bracket Gordon as some fans wished the unit would have done against Brown, who gained a season-high 213 yards on 11 receptions Sunday.
How long Gordon, 26, can avoid being suspended again by the league for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy remains to be seen. But free safety Eric Weddle said he and several teammates are rooting for Gordon.
Mornhinweg not worried about Flacco-Maclin connection: One day after wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and quarterback Joe Flacco denied the notion of a lack of chemistry between them, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said he is not worried about Maclin’s lack of production, which includes 12 catches on 29 targets for 108 yards and zero touchdowns in his past four starts.
Ronnie Stanley has never faced Cleveland Browns rookie defensive end Myles Garrett. But after studying Garrett ahead of Sunday’s AFC North showdown, the Ravens’ starting left tackle has been impressed by the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.