Baltimore Ravens' linebacker Mosley and Collins return to practice

The Baltimore Ravens got a pair of key pieces back at practice Thursday with the return of linebacker C.J. Mosley and running back Alex Collins.

The Baltimore Ravens got a pair of key pieces back at practice Thursday with the return of linebacker C.J. Mosley and running back Alex Collins.

Mosley was limited in his first session since he was carted off the field last Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals with a left knee injury. He avoided ligament damage and was diagnosed with a bone bruise.

Collins sat out Wednesday's session with an illness but was a full participant on Thursday, leaving little doubt about his availability to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Head coach John Harbaugh has been vocal about plans to crank up the ground game, which has produced just 183 yards on 56 carries (3.3 per carrying) this season. Collins has 16 carries for 48 yards (3.0) and a score so far.

"We're not in any way pleased with the numbers, and we are very determined to run the ball well because we think it helps our offense," Harbaugh said Monday. "We've got to get that going."

Whether Mosely can play against the Broncos remains unclear, but defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale noted the middle linebacker's absence changes the way his unit runs.

"Losing C.J. after the first three-and-out [against the Bengals], that set us off balance a little bit, just like it would be if, I guess, your computers crashed or something right in the middle of a story that you're writing," Martindale told reporters Thursday. "It took us time to get our thoughts together on how we were going to attack it, and I thought we did a much better job in the second half of the Cincinnati game."

The Ravens have a few other injuries on defense, with defensive tackles Michael Pierce (foot) and Willie Henry (abdomen) again missing practice on Thursday and outside linebacker Matt Judon (hamstring) limited for the second straight day. Pierce and Judon have played in both games this year, while Henry has yet to make his season debut.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley remained limited with an elbow injury on Thursday, after leaving the game against the Bengals early. James Hurst moved to left tackle and rookie Orlando Brown Jr. played on the right side in Cincinnati after Stanley left.

The Broncos are tied for fifth in the NFL with seven sacks this season, and Von Miller leads the NFL with four.