AP

The Ravens are dealing with the fallout from their failure to fully investigate the domestic violence charges against their former running back Ray Rice and the questions they face on that front are serious ones for them and the league.

While they are doing that, they also have to continue the 2014 season. One of the things they need to figure out on that front is how they’ll handle the running back position now that they know that Rice won’t be returning to the team this season.

Bernard Pierce started against the Bengals, but Justin Forsett shouldered the load after an early Pierce fumble led coach John Harbaugh to make a change. Harbaugh said Tuesday that Pierce was still in the mix and that he didn’t get more time because Forsett was doing well. The coach suggested that will be the main criteria moving forward.

“You go with guys that are making plays at those positions, probably more so at running back than any position, when you have a number of guys kind of in the same spot,” Harbaugh said, via ESPN.com.

Lorenzo Taliaferro is also part of the group that the Ravens will turn to on the ground when their season continues against the Steelers on Thursday night.