Views diverge on Anne Arundel council's COVID state of emergency vote, health officer's mask mandate | READER COMMENTARY
Home of the Week: Ken and Doran Upton's West Annapolis abode
Jeff Holland: Magothy Greenway is a wonderful wilderness
Our Say: Martin Luther King's 'three evils' are still very much with us
No bail for teens charged with Little Village murder
Terminally ill pets now have local hospice care
Chesapeake Bay Bridge cashless tolls become permanent on Tuesday
New owners of Annapolis' WNAV have big shoes to fill | READER COMMENTARY
Ray Lewis
Ravens Notebook: No timetable for Lewis's return to practice
By By MATT ZENITZ and Landmark News Service
No timetable for Lewis's return to practice:
Injured Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis is eligible to return to practice Thursday, but head coach John Harbaugh was non-committal on when Lewis will actually make his return to the practice field.
"We'll just play it day-by-day as far as whether he practices or not," Harbaugh said. "He is not imminent to play or anything like that, so to me it's really a non-story. He'll go out there when he's ready to practice when the elbow holds. And when that happens, we'll let you know."
Lewis was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return following surgery to repair a complete tear of his right triceps in mid-October.
He was injured during Baltimore's win against the Cowboys in Week 6.
Under the NFL's new designated to return exemption for players on injured reserve, a player can return to practice six weeks after being placed on injured reserve and to game action after eight weeks.
Lewis's injury typically involves a four to six month recovery, but Harbaugh and several players have voiced optimism this week that Lewis will return at some point this season, possibly as early as the team's Week 15 game against the Broncos, although Harbaugh emphasized Monday that there's no set timetable for Lewis's return to the field.
The first game Lewis is eligible to play in is the Week 15 game against Denver.
"We don't really know where (Lewis's arm) is at right now," Harbaugh said Monday. "Ray has been in rehab mode, so he hasn't been here from a football standpoint in terms of us seeing any of that yet. But, just talking to Ray, it sounds like things have gone well and there've been no setbacks ... so there's a possibility he could practice as soon as the rules allow him to practice."
ROETHLISBERGER STATUS:
[Most read] FBI, Annapolis police execute warrant on Monroe Street house »
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin indicated it's a possibility Roethlisberger could be available for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Tomlin said Roethlisberger threw the ball "a little bit" on Monday as well.
Roethlisberger has missed each of the Steelers' last two games after suffering a sprained shoulder and rare rib injury during Pittsburgh's overtime win against the Chiefs in Week 10.
ESPN reported Tuesday that Roethlisberger has a 50-50 chance of playing against Baltimore Sunday, although a source close to Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he would be "shocked" if the quarterback played this weekend.
"We'll see where the week takes us," Tomlin said during a conference call with Baltimore media Wednesday.
[Most read] Xavier Arline joins Navy lacrosse team; quarterback will continue to play football for Midshipmen »
RICE HONORED:
Ravens running back Ray Rice was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week following his performance during Baltimore's dramatic comeback victory against the Chargers Sunday.
Rice had 164 total yards against San Diego (97 rushing, 67 receiving), including 29 on an improbable catch-and-run that converted a 4th-and-29 late in the fourth quarter and helped set up Justin Tucker's game-tying field goal to force overtime.
PRO BOWL:
Cornerback Cary Williams is one of six Ravens leading fan voting for the Pro Bowl at their respective positions.
[Most read] Arundel volleyball star Zaria Ragler named 2021-22 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year »
Fullback Vonta Leach, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, strong safety Bernard Pollard, free safety Ed Reed and kick returner Jacoby Jones also lead their positions in fan voting.
Fan voting represents one-third of the selection process for the Pro Bowl.
INJURY REPORT:
Middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (ankle) and tight end Ed Dickson (sprained knee) were among four players that missed Wednesday's practice for Baltimore.
Ellerbe was hurt while covering Chargers tight end Antonio Gates during the second quarter of Sunday's win against San Diego.
Ellerbe is second on the Ravens in tackles (81).
"We'll just [play] it by ear to see if he can go," Harbaugh said. "I think we are day-to-day with Dannell."
Dickson was injured Sunday as well, hurt while blocking on a Jacoby Jones kick return during the second quarter.
He said the knee swelled up "pretty good," but is optimistic he'll be available against the Steelers this weekend.
"I feel pretty good, as [good] as I can at this point," Dickson said. "[We'll] take it day-by-day. Might practice or not, [but] it's Steelers week, man. Whatever I can do to be out there, I'm going to be out there. Right now, in my mind, I'm going to be out there Sunday."
Jones (ankle) and cornerback Corey Graham (illness) also missed practice Wednesday, but both are expected to be available against Pittsburgh.
Cornerback Chris Johnson (thigh) and defensive end Pernell McPhee (knee/thigh) both practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.
McPhee has been sidelined for each of the last four games. Johnson missed Sunday's game against San Diego after sustaining his injury early in the Ravens' win against the Steelers the week before.
Follow Matt Zenitz on Twitter @mzenitz.
Ben Roethlisberger
John Harbaugh
Mike Tomlin
Dannell Ellerbe
Jacoby Jones
NFL Pro Bowl
Haloti Ngata
Antonio Gates
Vonta Leach
Pernell McPhee