Ravens WR Rashod Bateman expects to play vs. Chargers after appearing to injure foot during practice Wednesday

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Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was running a drill in practice Wednesday afternoon in Owings Mills when he suddenly tumbled to the ground.

Bateman stayed down as trainers examined his left foot for a few moments. He then sat out the remainder of the drill and walked off under his own power before heading inside at the end of the 30-minute portion of practice that was open to the media. Bateman was flexing his foot before running the route on which he fell.

Coach John Harbaugh said after practice that the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, “but we’ll see how he does tomorrow.” Bateman said his fall was “nothing,” that his foot is fine and that he’ll be out there Sunday night against the host Los Angeles Chargers.

“It’s just something guys coming off injury deal with,” Bateman said. “I’ve been holding up strong all year. My foot’s a little tired so it’s gonna be rested a little bit.

“My foot’s actually really healthy. It’s been hanging in there pretty well. The training staff has been doing a good job with it. All is well. My foot is fine. I’ll be out there Sunday.”

Bateman wasn’t the only Ravens player to leave the field.

Devin Duvernay, who is Baltimore’s top kick and punt returner, also left the field as the part of practice open to the media came to an end.

Losing either for any length of time would be a significant blow. The Ravens are already without tight end Mark Andrews after he suffered a likely season-ending ankle injury in the first quarter of Baltimore’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night.

Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also suffered a shoulder injury in that game and was not seen at practice, though he has been getting Wednesdays off recently.

Though Bateman said the momentary scare felt nothing like the season-ending foot injury he suffered last season, any injury to his left foot could be at least mildly concerning given that it’s the same one he had Lisfranc surgery on. His recovery from that was slow and unpredictable and Bateman told The Baltimore Sun in September that he thought at one point he needed another surgery before being able to eventually work his way back to the field.

In 10 games this season, Bateman has 20 catches for 215 yards and one touchdown, which came against the Bengals on Thursday.

On a positive note for the Ravens, cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) were both back at practice after missing Thursday’s game, though both were limited. Beckham and cornerback Arthur Maulet (illness), meanwhile, were the only players who did not practice.

Several other Ravens were also limited, including Bateman (foot), Duvernay (knee) and fellow wide receiver Zay Flowers (hip) along with linebacker Trenton Simpson (concussion). Cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams (ankle), who earlier in the week came off injured reserve, was a full participant.

For the Chargers, outside linebacker Khalil Mack (rest) and tight end Nick Vannett (concussion) did not practice, while wide receiver Keenan Allen (shoulder), tight end Gerald Everett (chest), receiver Jaylon Guyton (groin) and safety JT Woods (illness) were all limited.

Six others were full participants for L.A.: quarterback Justin Herbert (left finger), center/guard Will Clapp (knee), safety Alohi Gilman (elbow), defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day (wrist), tight end Donald Parham Jr. (hip) and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (knee).

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Afton skier Jessie Diggins prioritizing her mental health after eating disorder relapse

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Afton native Jessie Diggins loves glitter. It’s been her thing since she was a rising star in cross country skiing at Stillwater High School — long before she was an Olympic gold medalist for Team USA.

She used to get so nervous before races as a kid that she would be completely zapped of energy before she even got to the starting line. She began applying glitter as a way to combat the weight of expectations. The signature has long served as a reminder that the sport she loves is supposed to be fun.

“It’s important to remember that,” Diggins said. “The glitter becomes this promise that I’m going to go out there, I’m going to do the best that I can, and I’m going to be proud of it.”

That’s something the 32-year-old Diggins is continuing to remind herself as she prioritizes her mental health ahead of the World Cup season. She spoke candidly from Ruka, Finland, this week, opening up about an Instagram post in which she revealed that she had experienced a relapse with her eating disorder after being in recovery for 12 years.

“It makes me feel really vulnerable putting myself out there because everyone knows something really big about me,” Diggins said. “I’m trying to change the culture of sport for the better so that we can change the way that we talk about and address mental health.”

It has been a balancing act for Diggins since she famously won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She instantly became the face of the sport and put more and more pressure on herself heading into the 2022 Winter Olympics. She wanted to do everything, while also leaving the door open for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and stretched herself too thin in the process.

“I started getting back into this idea that I have to be perfect,” Diggins said. “It was some pretty binary thinking like, ‘It has to be perfect if I’m going to do it.’ ”

It reached a breaking point this summer.

“Once I realized, ‘OK, I’m not in a good place,’ I needed to reach out to my support team,” Diggins said. “We spent the last 12 years continuously weaving this safety net so it was there in case I needed it.”

Now that the World Cup season is right around the corner, Diggins feels like she’s in a good place. She’s not setting any goals other than striving to be “happy and healthy” as she continues to put her mental health at the forefront. If that means skipping some stuff along the way, she’s willing to do that to keep herself in a good head space.

“I’m not promising that I’m going to be there every single weekend,” she said. “I’m just focusing on taking it one day at a time.”

There’s no doubt Diggins is hoping to compete in the World Cup race that will be held at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis in February. She has been lobbying for an event in her home state since she won the gold medal alongside teammate Kikkan Randall at the 2018 Winter Olympics. It will be the first time a World Cup race has been hosted on U.S. soil in more than 20 years.

“It’s going to be incredible,” Diggins said. “It’s going to be very cool to share this with everyone.”

Though she will unquestionably be an ambassador for the event, Diggins still hasn’t committed to actually competing in her home state. That decision will be made based on how she’s feeling at the time. She’s struggled with the reality that she might not be able to partake in the World Cup race because she doesn’t want to disappoint people.

“It’s going to be hard because I want to give everyone everything that they’re hoping for,” Diggins said. “I want to high five every single person because we’ve worked so hard to make this happen. And I know that I can’t. I think I have to find a way to say I’m doing the best I can, and that’s going to have to be enough.”

As she contemplated her future this summer, Diggins admitted that she considered retirement. The sport had given her so much, and perhaps she was ready to move on to the next chapter of her life. Those thoughts proved to be fleeting as Diggins kept comping back to the fact that she still has room to grow.

“It’s little things that I’m always working on,” she said. “I’m not done trying to reach my potential in the sport.”

Nonetheless, she’s feeling some apprehension heading into the World Cup season, knowing her mental health has taken precedence over her training over the past few months. She doesn’t know how she’s going to feel when she’s pushing herself toward the finish line, for example, which has been a calling card throughout her career.

“That’s kind of scary,” Diggins said. “It’s something I have to embrace.”

In that same breath, Diggins made an important distinction, nothing that not every result is reflective of her mental health.

“It could be that I just had a bad race,” she said. “That’s OK too.”

Maybe the most important thing to remember is that each time she applies the glitter and steps to the starting line will be a victory in itself.

“I’m going to have fun,” Diggins said. “It’s OK for me to smile at the start. That’s part of how I get myself psyched up. I’ve learned when I’m happy and in a good place, that’s also when I’m the most dangerous on the course. Because that’s when I can really push myself hard.”

Ravens vs. Chargers scouting report for Week 12: Who has the edge?

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The Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-20, but lost tight end Mark Andrews, likely for the season. The Chargers left Green Bay as a team in crisis after losing 23-20 to the Packers. Who will have the edge Sunday night?

Ravens passing game vs. Chargers pass defense

Lamar Jackson added to his Most Valuable Player case, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals despite hurting his ankle in the first half. Jackson just missed on a pair of deep shots before connecting with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a 51-yard gain in the fourth quarter. Jackson did a good job managing pressure, either using his scrambling gift to extend plays or stepping up in the pocket to find his receivers in stride. Beckham, Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor helped him out with impressive runs after catches.

Jackson will need his wide receivers to continue their upward trajectory because he won’t be able to fall back on Andrews, the one pass catcher with whom he’s always had a neural link. The Ravens will turn to second-year tight end Isaiah Likely (nine catches on 12 targets, 89 yards), whose breakout games last season came in Andrews’ absence, but there’s no replacing Andrews’ dependability on third down and in the red zone.

Jackson took three sacks against the Bengals as Patrick Mekari, filling in for injured left tackle Ronnie Stanley, struggled early with Trey Hendrickson’s quickness off the edge. The Chargers’ Joey Bosa would have prevented a similar challenge this week for either Mekari or Stanley, but he injured his foot against the Packers. The Ravens benefited from the return of right tackle Morgan Moses, who’d missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury.

The Chargers rank last in pass defense, allowing opponents 6.9 yards per attempt. Even Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, who has struggled all season, threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns against them. The Chargers have plenty of star power in Bosa, linebacker Khalil Mack, safety Derwin James Jr. and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., but coach Brandon Staley, who calls the defense, has faced mounting criticism for the way he uses those pieces. The Chargers blitz on just 23% of dropbacks and have struggled to cover the middle of the field, Jackson’s favorite strike zone. The 32-year-old Mack (11 sacks, 12 quarterback hits) is their most productive pass rusher. Samuel has two interceptions and seven passes defended.

EDGE: Ravens

Chargers passing game vs. Ravens pass defense

Justin Herbert (2,609 yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions) is one of the most gifted passers in the league but has started to face questions about his 29-30 career record as a starter. For all his arm strength, Herbert ranks middle of the pack in air yards per attempt and completion. He trails Jackson in completion percentage and yards per attempt. That said, the Chargers’ passing offense is their strength. They rank ninth in the league in converting third downs and second in converting red zone trips to touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Allen (83 catches on 113 targets, 1011 yards, seven touchdowns) remains impossible to cover at age 31. The Chargers miss injured wide receiver Mike Williams as a big-play target. Rookie first-round pick Quentin Johnston (20 catches on 34 targets, 183 yards) has not been the answer. Beyond relying on Allen as his clear No. 1 target, Herbert spreads the ball around. His offensive line, led by third-year left tackle Rashawn Slater, has done a solid job protecting him.

The Chargers will have their hands full with a Ravens pass rush that leads the league in sacks after adding five more against the Bengals. Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh led the charge with a career-high seven pressures, continuing his run of excellent play over the past five games. Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike extended his sack streak to eight games and needs just a half-sack more to become the first Raven since Terrell Suggs in 2017 to hit double figures for a season. Even without injured star cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens shut down Bengals superstar Ja’Marr Chase, who caught two passes on seven targets for 12 yards. Cornerback Brandon Stephens continued his breakout season. Safety Marcus Williams played far better after struggling the previous week in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Safety Kyle Hamilton, tied for the team lead with eight passes defended, appears pointed toward the Pro Bowl in his second season. The Bengals did effectively pick on linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen with quick throws to their tight ends and running back Joe Mixon. That will be an area to watch against Herbert, whom the Ravens held to 22-of-39 passing for 195 yards in their only previous meeting.

EDGE: Ravens

Ravens running game vs. Chargers run defense

The Ravens struggled to run in the first half against Cincinnati but controlled the second half with their ground game as coordinator Todd Monken unleashed a nifty mix of designs for powerful veteran Gus Edwards (team-high 564 yards and 10 touchdowns) and fleet rookie Keaton Mitchell (10.3 yards per carry). Edwards and Mitchell both cut back to break double-digit gains out of spread looks. Edwards’ vision and power near the goal line have been essential for an offense that has scored touchdowns on 65.2% of its red zone trips. Jackson also carried nine times for 54 yards against the Bengals despite his tender ankle. The Ravens lead the league in rushing and rank second in yards per attempt.

The Chargers had gone five straight games without allowing 100 yards rushing before they gave up 200 in a Nov. 12 loss to the Detroit Lions. But they rank just 26th in DVOA against the run, suggesting they have not been as efficient in context as the raw numbers suggest. They lack a dominant defensive lineman to plug the middle, and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., second on the team in defensive snaps, has graded poorly against the run, according to Pro Football Focus. Their edge defenders, led by Mack, have been much better.

EDGE: Ravens

Chargers running game vs. Ravens run defense

The Chargers are not as potent on the ground as through the air, averaging 4.1 yards per carry with veteran Austin Ekeler (396 yards, four touchdowns in seven games) as their lead ball carrier and Joshua Kelley as his backup. They did rush for 150 yards against the Packers, their most productive outing since the fourth week of the season. Herbert was the major reason, carrying eight times for 73 yards. That was uncharacteristic for the 6-foot-6 quarterback, who’s averaging 4.2 yards per carry and had not rushed for more than 27 yards in any previous game this season.

The Bengals found success running Mixon right at the Ravens, taking advantage of subpar games from interior linemen Michael Pierce and Travis Jones. That after the Ravens gave up a season-worst 178 yards on 36 attempts the previous week against the Cleveland Browns. Though the Ravens have geared their defense to attack quarterbacks and prevent downfield passes, they’re not happy with the 4.3 yards per carry they have allowed, up from 3.9 last season. Smith and Queen remain their top playmakers against the run, with 213 combined tackles.

EDGE: Ravens

Ravens special teams vs. Chargers special teams

Justin Tucker made both his field goal attempts against the Bengals to move to 19-for-23 on the season, with all his misses coming from beyond 50 yards. Devin Duvernay hasn’t done much with kickoffs but is still averaging an impressive 13 yards on punt returns. The Ravens still rank just 18th in special teams DVOA thanks to Tucker’s uncharacteristic misses and their lapses in punt coverage early in the season.

The Chargers rank fourth in special teams DVOA thanks to kicker Cameron Dicker, who has made 16 of 17 field goal attempts, and punt returner Derius Davis, who has averaged 15.9 yards with a touchdown.

EDGE: Chargers

Ravens intangibles vs. Chargers intangibles

The Ravens added to their strong start with the win over Cincinnati and will benefit from three extra rest days as they make their second western trip of the season. But they lost Andrews, a core figure in their offense and in the locker room. With a difficult December schedule looming and the Cleveland Browns on their heels in the AFC North, they know they can’t let up. They’re 4-1 on the road.

The Chargers, meanwhile, might have played their way out of postseason contention with their loss in Green Bay. Staley and his players expressed mutual frustration in the aftermath, with outside speculation building that the third-year coach might soon be out of a job. Los Angeles is just 2-3 at home.

EDGE: Ravens

Prediction

The Chargers will always be dangerous with Herbert at quarterback and Allen catching his passes. They scored 34 in a loss to the Dolphins and 38 in a loss to the Lions. Their leaky defense, on the other hand, is not equipped to deal with Jackson. The Ravens aren’t the team you want to see when your season is coming apart. Ravens 34, Chargers 24

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Harding High School fatal stabbing: 17-year-old pleads guilty to manslaughter as judge keeps case in juvenile court

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A 17-year-old pleaded guilty Tuesday to fatally stabbing a fellow student in the hallway of their St. Paul high school earlier this year.

The Ramsey County attorney’s office originally charged Nosakhere Kazeem Holmes, who was 16 at the time of the stabbing, with unintentional second-degree murder in the death of Devin Denelle Edward Scott, 15. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Prosecutors filed a presumptive motion to have Holmes certified to stand trial as an adult.

In a presumptive certification hearing, the defense has to prove to the court by “clear and convincing evidence” why the case should not go to adult court. The court orders a study to gather background and information on the juvenile and help guide a judge in making a decision.

Ramsey County Judge JaPaul Harris denied the prosecution’s motion for adult certification on Oct. 17. Harris decided the case would be handled as extended jurisdiction juvenile, which means Holmes receives a juvenile sentence and an adult sentence could be imposed if he doesn’t meet conditions of the juvenile case from now until he’s 21.

The Ramsey County attorney’s office amended the juvenile petition against Holmes on Tuesday, adding a charge of manslaughter, which is what he pleaded guilty to.

The charge of first-degree manslaughter says Holmes intentionally caused Scott’s death “while in the heat of passion, provoked by such words or acts of another as would provoke a person of ordinary self-control under like circumstances.”

Harris imposed a prison sentence of eight years and seven months, which will be stayed until Holmes is 21. Holmes will be sent to the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Red Wing to complete programming at the juvenile residential facility. The correctional facility will determine how long he’ll stay; youth tend to complete the program in nine to 12 months, according to the county attorney’s office.

Holmes remains in custody at the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center.

Court proceedings are scheduled to continue next week, when Harris will hear victim impact statements.

Fight ends in stabbing

Scott was a sophomore and it was his first day at that school.

The juvenile petition gave the following information:

On Feb. 10, police were called to Harding High School on East Sixth Street on a report of an assault of a student. School staff performed life-saving measures on Scott, followed by St. Paul fire paramedics. He was taken to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Surveillance video showed Scott and other students walking in the hallway, and then Scott and Holmes exchanged words. Holmes squared up to Scott and they began fighting. A student who’d been walking with Scott joined in, appearing to tackle Holmes to the ground. Scott moved in, throwing punches as Holmes tried to get off the ground. Both Scott and the other student were punching Holmes as he got to his feet.

Holmes was then seen advancing on Scott with a knife, as Scott backed away. An autopsy showed Scott was stabbed in the chest and abdomen.

Holmes told school security, “They jumped me – they jumped me,” the petition says.

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