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The Beat with Aaron Wilson - RAVENS NOTEBOOK: IVY IMPROVES ENOUGH TO LEAVE HOSPITAL

Uncertain if cornerback will play again this season (Photo by Sabina Moran)

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Posted On: 10/12/06

Written By:  

Aaron Wilson

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Although it remains unclear whether he’ll play again this season, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey Ivy is scheduled to be released from a Pittsburgh hospital today after suffering a torn kidney Monday night.

 

The team charter flight made an unscheduled landing in Pittsburgh early Tuesday morning after a 13-3 loss to the Denver Broncos where Ivy injured his kidney on a punt return after colliding with fullback Justin Green’s helmet. Doctors initially thought that Ivy, who has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, had incurred a rib injury.

 

Ivy has been under the observation of renal specialists with team physician Andrew Tucker remaining in Pittsburgh with the sixth-year reserve defensive back.

 

“He is feeling very well,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said. “He’s very anxious to get home. So far with every report, we are more and more encouraged, but we will have to wait and see.”

 

Billick emphasized that the team has been given differing scenarios on whether Ivy might return this year. Hence, no roster move has been made as far as placing him on injured reserve or signing another defensive back.

 

“There is potential either way,” Billick said. “We will see what type of prognosis they have when he gets back. The prognosis was encouraging, but not definitive.”

 

Meanwhile, the secondary will employ reserves Evan Oglesby and Ronnie Prude in Ivy's place in nickel packages. Another cornerback -- possibly David Pittman or Derrick Martin -- will probably be activated for the first time this year.

 

“It’s unfortunate what happened to Corey, I talked to him and he’s making a great recovery,” Prude said. “The next man has to step up. Me and Evan will probably be sharing the nickel. Whoever gets it, I know they have tremendous faith in us that we can get the job done.”

 

TRAINING ROOM: The Ravens listed five players as questionable, including tight end Todd Heap (ankle, leg), Green (thigh), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (knee, chest), linebacker Mike Smith (head) and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (thigh). 

 

Panthers middle linebacker Dan Morgan is out for the season because of chronic concussions, and rookie running back DeAngelo Williams won't play Sunday due to a sprained ankle.

 

QUICK HITS: Although quarterback Steve McNair wasn’t listed on the official injury report, center Mike Flynn indicated that he has a toe injury. “He’s banged up a little,” Flynn said. “He had to watch practice a little bit.” … Flynn predicted that McNair, who wasn’t available for comment, will rebound strongly from his three-interception outing in Denver. “He’ll come back, he’ll be focused,” Flynn said. “He’s going to have a lot better game Sunday.” … Wide receiver Derrick Mason has been the offense’s most outspoken critic inside the organization, and his frustrations haven’t relented. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Mason said. “For me to sit here and say, ‘I’m OK with the direction of the offense,’ just because two days have passed would be crazy.” Pressed about whether the play-calling of offensive coordinator Jim Fassel is an issue, Mason replied: “You’re not going to get me to point the finger at the offensive coordinator. We can’t point the finger at one person or one thing. We win as a team and we lose as a team.”

 

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland

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Enlarge Text Decrease Text Print this Article send this article to a friend Add This bookmark facebook twitter rss

Posted On: 10/12/06

Written By:  

Aaron Wilson