AP

Earlier on Saturday, the Ravens described receiver Steve Smith as “week to week.” Later in the day, coach John Harbaugh ruled Smith out for Week Five.

“I think he’s gonna be OK in the long run,” Harbaugh told CSN Mid-Atlantic from the Michigan-Maryland game. “He’s got some small microfractures in his back from what I’ve been told. They’ve ruled him out for the Cleveland game, but after that I think we’ve got some hope that he’s gonna be back.”

That’s a lot more information than the team released, and it provides some short-term clarity as to Smith’s situation. Specifically, he won’t be playing against the Browns in Week Five.

Harbaugh also called the breaks in the back “microfractures,” which sounds less ominous than the reports that previously surfaced. Still, a fracture is a fracture and Smith has plural — fractures — so it’s no surprise he’ll miss at least one game.