Safety Dawan Landry was carted off the field last month and cornerback Samari Rolle is coming off neck surgery. But each could see more playing time on Sunday than Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister, whose situation is shrouded in secrecy by Coach John Harbaugh.
McAlister played minimally in a 27-13 win over the Dolphins on Sunday, when he was replaced by Frank Walker and Fabian Washington. But McAlister, who leads the team with three interceptions, was not listed on the injury report and Harbaugh said the benching was not for disciplinary reasons.
Still, Harbaugh was vague when asked why the three-time Pro Bowler spent more time on the sideline than on the field at Dolphin Stadium after failing to stop Colts receiver Marvin Harrison throughout a 31-3 loss on Oct. 12.
“There’s no injury per se,” Harbaugh said. “There’s nothing that’s keeping him out of the game. Any decision we make — and the decision with Chris is no different — is a football decision. We’re always going to put the best 11 players on the field for that situation to play as well as we can whether it’s offense, defense or special teams.”
Harbaugh, whose team is 3-3 entering Sunday’s game at 1 p.m. against visiting Oakland (2-4), appeared much more optimistic regarding the progress of Rolle and Landry during his weekly news conference on Monday. Both players were injured against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 21. Rolle was injured while he was returning an interception. Landry suffered a spinal injury while attempting to tackle running back Jamal Lewis.
“I don’t know what the percentages are, but both have a chance to play on Sunday,” Harbaugh said, adding Landry and Rolle will be examined today.
One player Harbaugh isn’t counting on to play against the Raiders is right tackle Adam Terry, who will miss at least the next two weeks after having surgery today to repair a slight meniscus tear in his right knee, which he injured against the Colts.
Terry’s injury further depletes an offensive line that already is without right guard Marshal Yanda, who is out for the year with a knee injury. Chris Chester and Willie Anderson are expected to start in place of Yanda and Terry, respectively.
Still, receiver Derrick Mason is pleased with the team’s progress, as the Ravens ended their three-game losing streak by winning for the first time in eight road games dating to last season.
“Guys came together, we continue to press and we continue to work hard in practice,” Mason told reporters on Sunday. “We know eventually we are going to make those plays we didn’t make in the previous game. We’re going to make them this time and pull out a victory and that’s what we did. Miami fought hard, but me made a few more plays than they did.”
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