The Ravens will place Jimmy Smith on injured reserve with a torn Achilles suffered against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 3, but head coach John Harbaugh said the team is much better prepared to withstand an injury to its top cornerback.
"We're much better able to handle the injury to Jimmy ... than we have been in the past," Harbaugh said at his news conference Dec. 4, the day after the Ravens (7-5) rolled over the t Lions, 44-20, for their third straight win.
Smith was going to be sidelined regardless; the team announced Dec. 4 that Smith has been suspended for four games by the NFL for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He can serve the suspension while on injured reserve, though he will not be paid during the suspension.
