Ravens strong safety Dawan Landry said he is no longer suffering headaches stemming from the concussion he sustained this past Sunday and said he plans to be available for Sunday night’s meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Landry passed a test to return to practice for cardio activity and took another test that will be evaluated by an independent neurologist later this week.
“I feel fine,” said Landry, who was limited in practice for the second consecutive day. “I feel good. No problems.”
If Landry is unavailable, Tom Zbikowski’s return could be quite timely. Zbikowski has not played since suffering a bruised heel against the New England Patriots on Oct. 17, but the safety said he’s ready to play.
“It’s feeling pretty good,” said Zbikowski, who is no longer on the team’s injury report. “Last week, it was just a little sore from my first time being back out there. But it’s been feeling pretty good all week.”
Right guard Chris Chester appears to be closer to regaining his role as the starter after fully practicing for the second straight day.
“There’s still a little bit of soreness in there, and there’s still the [process of] getting back into it and stuff after a couple days off,” said Chester, who has sat out the last two games due to a bacterial leg infection. “But I think I’d be very optimistic about playing this week.”
Concerns about the Ravens’ offensive line against the Pittsburgh Steelers were somewhat assuaged on Wednesday, as both starting left tackle Michael Oher and right guard Chris Chester fully participated in practice.
Oher left in the third quarter of last weekend’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a sprained knee. Chester didn’t suit up with a skin infection on his leg.
While one practice is a long way from playing on Sunday, Oher was cautiously optimistic about his chances.
“I’m feeling a little bit better, but I’ve just got to keep getting rehab on it and hopefully, I’ll be able to play Sunday,” said Oher.
Now, Oher is just trying to balance the desire to play against getting healthy.
“It’s 50-50,” he said. “Both of them are important. You’ve got to be out there to get the game speed and reps in and get your plays down, but you also want to be 100 percent.”
Meanwhile, safety Tom Zbikowski should be available against the Steelers. He returned to practice last week after dealing with a foot injury, and was not listed on the Wednesday injury report.
Zbikowski hasn’t played since bruising his heel in Week 6.
“We’re confident ‘Zibby’ can go,” said Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh. “Obviously, until you see him at full speed practice, you’re not sure. But he was out there last week and did a good job. [We] didn’t feel like he was quite ready, but we’re expecting him to go.”
Zbikowski shared Harbaugh’s sentiments, and should add solid depth in the Ravens’ secondary and special teams.
“It felt good last week at practice. I just didn’t think I was ready to play yet,” Zbikowski said. “I’m definitely more comfortable now. I’m ready to go.”
Rookie tight end Ed Dickson joined Oher and Chester as full participants. Dickson has a hamstring injury that he is rehabilitating diligently.
“It’s Steelers week,” the rookie tight end. “I’ve got to come back. I’m day-to-day though. I’m doing everything the trainers want me to do. I’ll go out and give it a go.”
“Those injuries, you can’t mess around with,” Dickson continued. “They linger for a while. But I’m taking care of it and doing the necessary things I can do.”
Starting fullback Le’Ron McClain (ankle) was the only Raven held out of practice, while first-team safety Dawan Landry (head) was limited.
For the Steelers, two defensive starters – safety Troy Polamalu (ankle) and defensive end Aaron Smith (triceps) – did not participate.
Tackle Flozell Adams (back), defensive end Nick Eason (knee), cornerback Bryant McFadden (hamstring) and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (foot) were all limited.
Posted by Mike Duffy on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
While safety Tom Zbikowski’s injured foot is the most-significant entry on the Ravens’ injury report, the Carolina Panthers have several players whose status is concerning.
Starting running back DeAngelo Williams was placed on Injured Reserve Wednesday because of a foot injury. Fellow 1,000-yard rusher Jonathan Stewart didn’t practice Wednesday because of a concussion, and quarterback Jimmy Clausen (concussion) was all but ruled out of this weekend’s Ravens/Panthers matchup at Bank of America Stadium.
“I think just like any team in the league, injuries are part of the game [and] they’re part of life in football and the NFL,” said Panthers Head Coach John Fox. “So, we’ve got a next-man-up approach, and we’ll have to have guys that step up and make plays.”
Without Williams and Stewart, Carolina is expected to start backup Mike Goodson, who was the Panthers’ first 100-yard rusher Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Regarding Clausen, Fox indicated to Charlotte-area media that the quarterback start would likely go to either rookie Tony Pike or recent practice-squadder Brian St. Pierre.
The Panthers also held starting linebacker Jon Beason (knee), starting left guard Travelle Wharton, promising rookie wideout Brandon LaFell (concussion), safety Marcus Hudson (ankle) and running back Tyrell Sutton (ankle) out of practice.
Carolina defensive ends Greg Hardy (concussion) and Charles Johnson (hip), and linebacker Nic Harris (knee) were all limited participants on Wednesday.
In Baltimore, Zbikowski’s foot continued to keep him from practicing. The Notre Dame product has missed the last three games since bruising his heel in the Ravens’ Week 6 meeting with the New England Patriots.
Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington also didn’t practice due to illness.
In addition, tight end Todd Heap (chest) and linebacker Tavares Gooden (head) were limited.
