Baltimore Ravens

Ravens place WR Steve Smith on injured reserve

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:03 p.m. ET

foxsports

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith's season is done after the Baltimore Ravens placed him on injured reserve Wednesday with a torn right Achilles tendon.

Smith, who leads the Ravens (2-6) with 46 catches, 670 yards receiving and three touchdown receptions, is scheduled to have surgery next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Smith was tackled by Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett on a 17-yard catch and needed to be helped off the field Sunday.

The 36-year-old Smith said in August that he will retire after this season, his 15th in the NFL. If he changes his mind, he's got an open invitation to return to Baltimore from coach John Harbaugh.

''Oh, yeah. Absolutely,'' Harbaugh said. ''He's a great player. It's really up to him.''

Smith has been one of the NFL's most productive and combative receivers throughout his career. He was extremely popular among the Ravens.

''Great guy, great teammate,'' linebacker Elvis Dumervil said. ''It's tough, but in the NFL it happens. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to keep going.''

Receivers Kamar Aiken, Chris Givens and Marlon Brown are certain to get more playing time, and tight ends Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle will likely be targeted more.

''Even without losing Steve, we felt like the tight ends were going to take on a bigger and bigger role,'' Harbaugh said. ''I think that's going to happen either way.''

Smith is the 12th player on Baltimore's injured reserve, a list that includes star linebacker Terrell Suggs, also with a torn Achilles tendon, safety Matt Elam, cornerback Will Davis, receiver Michael Campanaro and running back Lorenzo Taliaferro. In addition, tight end Dennis Pitta is on the physically unable to perform list.

''You move on, That's what you have to do,'' Harbaugh said. ''It never changes. We're never going to use excuses, we're never going to say that we don't have enough firepower or enough ammunition. We're never going to say that because we don't believe it. We always believe that we've got players in the pipeline that can get the job done.''

The Ravens signed receiver Joe Morgan, a five-year NFL veteran who played in 21 games with eight starts for New Orleans.

Baltimore also signed WR Chuck Jacobs to the practice squad and waived TE Konrad Reuland.

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