Post-practice notes
With players hustling out of the locker room to get to meetings this afternoon, few had time to talk. Thankfully, coach John Harbaugh turned lemons into lemonade by confirming that running back Willis McGahee and cornerback Chris McAlister practiced today.
McGahee, who has missed all four preseason games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, sat out only one regular-season contest for the Ravens last season.
"I wouldn’t say he’s 100 percent just [from] watching him run around out there," Harbaugh said of McGahee. "But he was out there. We’ll just have to see how he progresses this week. He wants to be out there, I know that.”
Harbaugh was similarly optimistic about McAlister, who has been sidelined from the exhibition games due to a swollen right knee. "All you can go by is what you see," Harbaugh said. "In practice today, he did a nice job. So that’s where we’re at."
Harbaugh also reiterated what free safety Ed Reed said on Friday -- that there is no timetable for Reed's return until the nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder is taken care of and treated.
"I think it’s day-by-day with Ed -- realistically," Harbaugh said. "It’s just one of those deals where -- and he said it -- it’s day-by-day. He’s going to need practice at some point in time to be ready to play, and when he can practice, we’ll prepare him properly, and he’ll be ready to play. I know he’s working hard to get to that point."
Comments
Once again, why is Ed Reed taking up a spot on the 53-man roster? He never should have been activated from the PUP list. That way, the team could have given him another 6-9 weeks before deciding if he can play at all this year. Now, he's just deadwood on an already injury-hampered roster.
Posted by: Ray | September 1, 2008 7:08 PM
Besides QB, what is now injury-hampered about our roster? All of the injuries, compared to last year, are relatively minor and I would in no way say that our team is injury-riddled at this point.
Just think about last year and compare it to this year. This team is coming out relatively healthy. As far as Ed Reed is concerned, isn't it fortunate that we drafted 2 safeties? Both of which have been playing pretty well so far. We'll be alright as far as defense as concerned.
Offensively, the line showed a ton of improvement in the last preseason game. I look at this year as another season where everybody thinks we won't do anything and I'm slightly a part of that. Usually when that happens though, the Ravens do better than expected. They're underdogs to the core. They play better that way.
When we have an offense, hopefully with Flacco driving it, we'll be able to play better even when we're expected to be playoff contenders. But as we are now, our team builds off lower expectations.
That's just being human.
Posted by: Doug | September 1, 2008 8:30 PM
Lynch got cut from the Pats. If Ed Reed can't play why not give him a shot? He may have one more good year left in him.
What say you?
Posted by: Skins Suck | September 1, 2008 8:42 PM
Willis McGahee's first season with the Ravens was last year. How is that "2 seasons"?
Posted by: coop | September 1, 2008 9:30 PM
It was rumored today that the ravens had 3 QB's in (Harrington,Simms, & Bouman) & 3 receivers (?,??,???)
Any idea who they were???
Were any of the three named Foxworth?
Posted by: John | September 1, 2008 11:52 PM
Ray -
Obviously, the FO/Coaches (the Ravens-That-Be) think he has a chance of playing within the next 6 weeks and would rather not be held to the PUP restrictions. It's easy to say give his spot to a more productive player, but who is that...who is better to have on the field if Reed can play near to 100% within the next 6 weeks? Who?
We don't have the luxury of gambling on your hindsight when living in realtime.
Posted by: Ravens West | September 2, 2008 1:50 AM
Fake injuries is the story of the year thus far. Harbaugh needs to address it for the sake of team cohesion.
Posted by: pete | September 2, 2008 8:01 PM
WHY HAVENT THEY SIGNED A KICKER TO KICK OFF!!! STOVER KICKS THE BALL TO THE 20 YARD LINE.
FOR A SPECIAL TEAMS GURU, YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE HIS FIRST CHANGE.
TIRED OF SEEING TEAMS START AT THE 40
Posted by: Miya Opinion | September 3, 2008 1:50 PM