Of course Derrick Mason and Ed Reed are going to play in Saturday’s game against the Titans, even if they are hurting.
“It’s a long season and injuries happen,” Coach John Harbaugh said. “Guys prepare and we have walk-throughs and practices and whatever guys can do, they will do.”
Mason has been hindered by a separated left shoulder that at times has been so painful he can’t lift his young son, and Reed’s nerve impingements had him contemplating retiring before the season. But both players have produced one of the finest seasons of their careers.
“I think our guys practice trough more stuff than a lot of teams do,” Harbaugh said. “They do a great job of preparing and ready to play.”
RETURN GAME HELP The Ravens appear to have settled on rookie safety Tom Zbikowski and safety Jim Leonhard to handle the majority of their kickoff and punt returns. Return specialist Yamon Figurs missed the regular season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a concussion and played, but did not handle any returns, in the wild card win over the Miami Dolphins.
Zbikowksi, who returned kicks in college at Notre Dame, had one kickoff return for 31 yards against the Dolphins and averaged 24 yards on two returns against the Jaguars. Leonhard averaged 11.6 yards on 20 punt returns in the regular season and averaged 11.5 yards a return against the Dolphins.
“Tom has secured the football and he’s taking it north and south,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a track record in college as being a new returner and hopefully he can make some plays for us in the return game.”
MAWAE OUT? Official injury reports don’t come out until today, but Titans quarterback Kerry Collins may have inadvertently gave away some injury news.
Center Kevin Mawae missed Tennessee’s regular season finale against the Colts with an injured right elbow injury he suffered the previous week against the Steelers. But the team was hopeful the seven-time Pro Bowler would be play against the Ravens on Saturday. Collins, however, said he expects second-year player Leroy Harris to play in his place, when asked about Mawae’s health in a conference call with the Baltimore media on Tuesday.
KOKINIS INTERVIEW POSTPONED Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner won’t interview George Kokinis, the Ravens’ director of pro personnel, until Sunday at the earliest because the 41-year-old is helping prepare his team prepare for Saturday’s playoff game at Tennessee. Kokinis is among those on the short list to replace Phil Savage, a former Ravens director of college scouting, who was fired after the regular season.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
