Ravens tight end Todd Heap said if this were the regular season, he would probably be out on the field.
But this is the preseason and after missing 10 games last season with a hamstring injury, Heap is determined not to let that happen again.
“Right now I’ve got to keep the right mindset and be ready for the regular season in a couple of weeks and make sure I don’t have any setbacks,” Heap said. “At the same time, I need to get in as many reps as I can.”
Heap’s mindset is similar to many of the Ravens’ veteran players, who understand that it’s not worth trying to play through an injury during the preseason.
Cornerback Chris McAlister and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata practiced on Tuesday, but are questionable for the team’s preseason finale on Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium.
McAlister missed eight games with an injured right knee and not played this preseason after injuring the same knee during training camp. Ngata has dealt with a strained right medial collateral ligament since early in training camp.
Ngata said it has been very difficult not to be out on the field, but wants to keep the bigger picture in perspective.
The 2006 first-round pick has not missed a game in his first two NFL seasons and finished last season with 94 tackles and three sacks.
“Coaches are trying to tell me to slow down and I just want to get out there and bang with the guys,” Ngata said. “I just feel bad I can’t help them out.”
With fewer than two weeks before the Ravens’ season opener on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the following players still are dealing with injuries and did not practice during the portion of session open to the media: quarterback Kyle Boller (right shoulder) and Troy Smith (viral illness) defensive backs Ed Reed (shoulder), Derrick Martin (right shoulder) and Fabian Washington (hamstring), defensive tackle Kelly Gregg (knee) and wide receiver Marcus Smith (separated right shoulder).
But several players are working their way back onto the field, including receiver Demetrius Williams (left Achilles’ tendon) and left tackle Jared Gaither (right ankle), who also are questionable to play against Atlanta.
“It’s going to be based on what [head athletic trainer] Bill Tessendorf thinks,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “That’s something that we wanted to see them go through these two days of practice and see how far along we are. Probably right before the game [we will make a decision]. Pushing them as long as we can, but not to the point where we stress that injury.”
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