Ravens get Rasheen Ali back at practice after two-week absence

The Baltimore Ravens got a meaningful body back on the field Monday, with running back Rasheen Ali returning to practice after missing the last two weeks with an undisclosed injury.

Ali's return lands at a useful point on the calendar. Baltimore is in its final week of preseason work — practice Monday and Tuesday, a joint session with Washington on Wednesday, then Friday night's finale against the Commanders ahead of Sunday's cut to 53. The second-year back out of Marshall has spent camp competing for carries behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, and every rep he missed was a rep handed to the backs fighting him for that No. 3 job.

The Ravens did not specify what had sidelined Ali, and with the team under no obligation to disclose injury details until game-week reports begin, the fact that he is back practicing without visible limitation is the takeaway. His return also restores some depth insurance at a position where rookie fifth-round pick Adam Randall has been dealing with his own minor issue.

While Ali worked, nine Ravens sat out Monday: receiver Zay Flowers, defensive end Calais Campbell, outside linebacker Zion Young, cornerbacks Keyon Martin, safeties K'Von Wallace, center Danny Pinter (knee), inside linebacker Jamon Johnson (thumb), and linebackers Carl Jones and Reid Williford. There was better news up front, too — Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, working back from offseason neck surgery, hit a sled in an open practice for the first time this summer.