The Ravens designed the first two days of training camp to acclimate quarterbacks and rookies before the veterans arrive on Wednesday. But the practices also offered players who ended last season on injured reserve the chance to get a jump-start on proving they have returned to full heath.
Among the veterans who practiced Tuesday were defensive end Trevor Pryce, linebackers Dan Cody and Prescott Burgess, running back P.J. Daniels and offensive tackle Mike Kracalik.
Pryce, a five-time Pro Bowler, played just five games in last season after breaking his wrist before tearing a pectoral muscle. Cody and Daniels missed all of last season with knee injuries, and Burgess missed eight games with a hip injury.Kracalik appeared in two games and spent the rest of the year on the practice squad.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it is important to make sure injured players prove they are capable of practicing in non-contact drills before full-contact drills begin next week.
“We don?t want to make the mistake of pushing a guy through the first week of training camp and not having him for the first week of games,” Harbaugh said.
Early roster moves
The Ravens added some much-needed depth at tight end when they signed veteran Aaron Walker prior to the team?s first practice. Walker, a fifth-round pick in 2003, had 25 career catches in three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams. The Ravens also cut undrafted free agent Brad Roach out of Catawba College.
Practice cut short
The first lasted 90 minutes after it was scheduled to run as long as 2 1/2 hours because the team was short on players. The team had 25 players in camp, as the veterans don?t arrive until Wednesday and don?t take the field until Friday.
“There?s only about 25 guys out there and there is no way to run a two-hour practice with the guys who are here,” Harbaugh said. “We basically got the same amount of reps, it just doesn?t take as long.”
