Ravens Leave “Door Open” For Lewis’ Return

Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

The Baltimore Ravens hope to ensure a position down the line for linebacker Ray Lewis if he becomes healthy during the postseason, according to a source.

The 13-time Pro Bowler left Sunday’s game against the Cowboys with a torn right triceps muscle and underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair the injury.  He is tagged with the NFL’s new “designated to return” policy that enables players who have been inactive for a minimum of six games to return to the field.  Though, there still hasn’t been any timetable set in place for Lewis’ return.

“Obviously, it’s a very serious injury but there’s an opportunity and we’re going to keep the door open and we’ll just see where that goes,” head coach John Harbaugh said during a press conference on Wednesday.  “We really don’t know any more than that.”

The move the place the 37-year-old linebacker on the new injured reserve list is more of anything a symbolic gesture, considering there has been no set time frame on when they could expect Lewis back in the lineup.

The Ravens are losing Lewis as linebacker Terrell Suggs was cleared to play.  Suggs was the 2011 NFL defensive player of the year and can contribute immensely to a Baltimore defense that ranks 26th in the league against the run and is coming off a tumultuous two-game performance in which they gave up 200 yard games, consecutively.

Though, Suggs is coming off a torn right Achillies surgery during the offseason and is still favoring his right leg.  The Ravens have suggested they don’t expect much out of him in the first few weeks, so keep your expectations low.

“To what extent, to what he’s able to do, I think we should temper our expectations a little bit,” Harbaugh said.  “He’s coming off a very serious injury.  I think he’s worked really hard.  He’s done a great job with the rehab, he’s followed protocol.  He had no setbacks throughout the course of the whole deal.”

Meanwhile, cornerback Lardarius Webb doesn’t expect to be back for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.  His absence creates a big hole in the Ravens’ secondary, one that isn’t easy to rebound from.

As a result, the Ravens’ Super Bowl odds have drastically decreases, as does their chances of continuing their winning ways.  Look for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) to leapfrog the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) and Ravens (5-1) in the standings as we creep into the double digits of games played.