Ray Lewis injury: Ravens LB returns to practice

Lewis and the Ravens were hoping he could return at some point before the end of the regular season and be available for the playoffs. The linebacker had practiced the last few weeks in an attempt to return.

Prior to his injury, the 38-year-old Lewis recorded 57 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in his 17th season.

Since Lewis was given the designated to return tag, he is eligible to return this season, but must spend eight weeks sidelined. Week 15 is Lewis’ first eligible week to return, but the Ravens will hold their star linebacker out another week.

Lewis has only appeared in six games this season, but has recorded 57 tackles and a sack. Lewis has also forced and recovered a fumble.

Shortly after sustaining the injury, he underwent surgery and was placed on injured reserve in order to free a roster spot. However, the team designated him for return, which meant that he potentially could be reactivated if he was physically able to play.

Lewis was allowed to begin practicing Thursday, although Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the linebacker is “day-to-day” and not anywhere near playing shape. He’ll be eligible to play in the Week 15 game Dec. 16 against the Denver Broncos, and is expected to be ready to go.

Considering the 37-year-old Lewis is in his 17th NFL season and has cemented his status as one of the best linebackers of all time, some wondered whether the injury could mean the end of Lewis’ career, but he’s remained firm in his desire to come back, not just eventually, but this season.

Although Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis can return to the practice field on Thursday, head coach John Harbaugh says the team is going to play it day-by-day, the Carroll County (Md.) Times reports.

Some expect Lewis to begin practicing once again with the team on Thursday, the first day he would be allowed to do so.

According to Aaron Wilson, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the return was unlikely, but that the team felt like they should “keep the door open.” The short-term IR is a roster designation created under the new CBA, allowing a player to return to practice after six weeks on the shelf and play in games after eight weeks. It’s highly unlikely that Lewis makes it back, but by not putting him on season-ending IR, the Ravens are not foreclosing the possibility.

Lewis was slated to have surgery on the torn triceps on Wednesday.

The Ravens linebacker isn’t sure yet whether he’ll play in the NFL again but Ravens fans have an opinion on that. We asked SB Nation’s Ravens blog, Baltimore Beatdown, a few questions about what the loss of Lewis means to the Ravens.

Is this the end for Ray Lewis?

The inevitable question is whether we’ve seen the last of Ray Lewis in the NFL period.

It’s hard to imagine a Ravens defense without Lewis patrolling the middle of the field. He’s been in the league for 17 years and at 37 he’s one of the oldest players in the league, a 1996 draft pick.

Lewis will now be facing a long rehabilitation and could possibly decide to retire, rather than attempt to work his way back. After playing every game from 2008-2010, this is the second straight season Lewis will miss time due to an injury. He missed four games last season.

Here are the key injuries from Sunday’s action, and their potential impact:

LINEBACKERS

Over the years, Baltimore has slowly transitioned into a respectable offensive force, which it needs to be even more if key defensive players end up missing significant time.

There’s no reported timetable for how long either Lew or Webb will be out, as this is just team speculation until the diagnosis is released.

Lewis has been his typical flying-around-the-field self so far this year for the Ravens, despite being 37 years old. He accumulated 14 tackles against the Cowboys before leaving with the injury and 43 on the season, along with a sack.