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The Beat with Aaron Wilson - Ravens Notebook: Cousins latest to fall
Rookie tackle sprains right knee
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Posted On: 8/1/08
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WESTMINSTER -- The Baltimore Ravens suffered another blow to an offensive line already decimated by injuries as rookie offensive tackle Oniel Cousins sprained his medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
The Ravens are already missing starting tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry due to sprained ankles.
Cousins left practice Thursday morning and limped off the field. An ice pack was taped to his heavily-wrapped knee.
The third-round draft pick from UTEP underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam and received relatively good news as it revealed that it's not a major injury. However, even mild knee sprains typically take a week or two to recover from.
With Cousins out and former Oakland Raiders lineman Chad Slaughter starting at left tackle, it has opened up an opportunity for Mike Kracalik at right tackle with the first-team offense.
"Mike's hard to budge," offensive line coach John Matsko said. "He leans on you and he's hard to move. In pass blocking, it's hard to get around him. There's no question about his desire for the game. He's a very hard worker."
The 6-foot-8, 340-pound former San Diego State player has bounced around between the Ravens' practice squad and the waiver wire over the past few years. This has been his most extended action since arriving in Baltimore.
"This is my dream," Kracalik said. "Why else would I be here?"
INJURY UPDATE: The trend of multiple players missing practice continues one week after launching training camp at McDaniel College.
Cornerback Chris McAlister, who had offseason knee surgery, didn't practice in the afternoon after working in the morning without incident.
Also not practicing: nose guard Kelly Gregg (left knee), wide receivers Demetrius Williams (left Achilles' tendon) and Patrick Carter (dislocated left shoulder), tight ends Aaron Walker (knee) and Daniel Wilcox (offseason toe surgery), running backs Cory Ross (arm, toe), Allen Patrick (mild concussion) and P.J. Daniels (cramps), cornerback David Pittman (foot), offensive tackles Joe Reitz (shoulder), Cousins (knee), Gaither (sprained right ankle) and Terry (sprained left ankle), fullback Justin Green (knee), defensive tackles Haloti Ngata (sprained medial collateral ligament) and J'Vonne Parker (undisclosed), linebacker Gary Stills (undisclosed or 30-and-over club) defensive end Dan Cody (right foot) and safety Ed Reed (shoulder).
The medical prognosis for Terry is that he'll be out at least two weeks.
Gregg usually has swelling in his knee early in camp.
Reitz is expected back soon, as is Patrick.
"It's nothing major," Patrick said. "I was just a little shaken up. This is my first one and it's no fun. It made me kind of dizzy."
Offensive guard Adrien Clarke limped off the field and didn't return.
Running back Willis McGahee (left knee) was limited with rookie Ray Rice taking most of the carries again. McGahee had his knee wrapped in ice.
"We don’t want to overwork Willis, because he’s really been working hard, but the knee is tender right now," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "So, we’ve got to be smart about that position.”
Quarterback Kyle Boller left the morning practice early without wearing his right cleat, but practiced in the afternoon and seemed fine.
Fullback Le'Ron McClain seemed to hurt his right foot, but gutted it out.
Williams, Wilcox and Reed remain on the physically unable to perform list.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Derrick Mason (right knee) and linebacker Edgar Jones (right leg) returned to practice.
Cornerback Samari Rolle (bereavement) and linebacker Terrell Suggs (contract dispute) remain absent from camp.
"We've got a tentative timetable, but I'd rather leave that to Samari right now," Harbaugh said.
QUICK HITS: Harbaugh indicated that he hasn't picked a starting quarterback yet for the preseason opener against the New England Patriots, adding that the decision will probably be made Tuesday. ... Rookie safety Tom Zbikowski took his turn with the first-team defense as the former Notre Dame star followed stints by sixth-round pick Haruki Nakamura and veteran Jim Leonhard. ... Bart Scott, Prescott Burgess, Antwan Barnes and Frank Walker penetrated a patchwork offensive line for sacks. Barnes had a fumble recovery on a flubbed snap between rookie Joe Flacco and center Jason Brown. ... Kicker Matt Stover was given a day off, and rookie Piotr Czech converted all five of his field goal attempts with successful boots from 20, 32, 44, 48 and 53 yards. ... There was a lot of trash-talking between middle linebacker Ray Lewis and quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson. When Lewis deflected a pass to cornerback Fabian Washington for an interception, Lewis asked Jackson, "Why is your head down, Hue?" Then, Jackson made a quiet retort after a long first down from Mark Clayton. Lewis' response: "I'm done with it!" ... Yamon Figurs had a long run on a backfield reverse. ... Fifteen military representatives attended the afternoon practice and they were invited into the huddle to close practice.
The Ravens are already missing starting tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry due to sprained ankles.
Cousins left practice Thursday morning and limped off the field. An ice pack was taped to his heavily-wrapped knee.
The third-round draft pick from UTEP underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam and received relatively good news as it revealed that it's not a major injury. However, even mild knee sprains typically take a week or two to recover from.
With Cousins out and former Oakland Raiders lineman Chad Slaughter starting at left tackle, it has opened up an opportunity for Mike Kracalik at right tackle with the first-team offense.
"Mike's hard to budge," offensive line coach John Matsko said. "He leans on you and he's hard to move. In pass blocking, it's hard to get around him. There's no question about his desire for the game. He's a very hard worker."
The 6-foot-8, 340-pound former San Diego State player has bounced around between the Ravens' practice squad and the waiver wire over the past few years. This has been his most extended action since arriving in Baltimore.
"This is my dream," Kracalik said. "Why else would I be here?"
INJURY UPDATE: The trend of multiple players missing practice continues one week after launching training camp at McDaniel College.
Cornerback Chris McAlister, who had offseason knee surgery, didn't practice in the afternoon after working in the morning without incident.
Also not practicing: nose guard Kelly Gregg (left knee), wide receivers Demetrius Williams (left Achilles' tendon) and Patrick Carter (dislocated left shoulder), tight ends Aaron Walker (knee) and Daniel Wilcox (offseason toe surgery), running backs Cory Ross (arm, toe), Allen Patrick (mild concussion) and P.J. Daniels (cramps), cornerback David Pittman (foot), offensive tackles Joe Reitz (shoulder), Cousins (knee), Gaither (sprained right ankle) and Terry (sprained left ankle), fullback Justin Green (knee), defensive tackles Haloti Ngata (sprained medial collateral ligament) and J'Vonne Parker (undisclosed), linebacker Gary Stills (undisclosed or 30-and-over club) defensive end Dan Cody (right foot) and safety Ed Reed (shoulder).
The medical prognosis for Terry is that he'll be out at least two weeks.
Gregg usually has swelling in his knee early in camp.
Reitz is expected back soon, as is Patrick.
"It's nothing major," Patrick said. "I was just a little shaken up. This is my first one and it's no fun. It made me kind of dizzy."
Offensive guard Adrien Clarke limped off the field and didn't return.
Running back Willis McGahee (left knee) was limited with rookie Ray Rice taking most of the carries again. McGahee had his knee wrapped in ice.
"We don’t want to overwork Willis, because he’s really been working hard, but the knee is tender right now," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "So, we’ve got to be smart about that position.”
Quarterback Kyle Boller left the morning practice early without wearing his right cleat, but practiced in the afternoon and seemed fine.
Fullback Le'Ron McClain seemed to hurt his right foot, but gutted it out.
Williams, Wilcox and Reed remain on the physically unable to perform list.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Derrick Mason (right knee) and linebacker Edgar Jones (right leg) returned to practice.
Cornerback Samari Rolle (bereavement) and linebacker Terrell Suggs (contract dispute) remain absent from camp.
"We've got a tentative timetable, but I'd rather leave that to Samari right now," Harbaugh said.
QUICK HITS: Harbaugh indicated that he hasn't picked a starting quarterback yet for the preseason opener against the New England Patriots, adding that the decision will probably be made Tuesday. ... Rookie safety Tom Zbikowski took his turn with the first-team defense as the former Notre Dame star followed stints by sixth-round pick Haruki Nakamura and veteran Jim Leonhard. ... Bart Scott, Prescott Burgess, Antwan Barnes and Frank Walker penetrated a patchwork offensive line for sacks. Barnes had a fumble recovery on a flubbed snap between rookie Joe Flacco and center Jason Brown. ... Kicker Matt Stover was given a day off, and rookie Piotr Czech converted all five of his field goal attempts with successful boots from 20, 32, 44, 48 and 53 yards. ... There was a lot of trash-talking between middle linebacker Ray Lewis and quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson. When Lewis deflected a pass to cornerback Fabian Washington for an interception, Lewis asked Jackson, "Why is your head down, Hue?" Then, Jackson made a quiet retort after a long first down from Mark Clayton. Lewis' response: "I'm done with it!" ... Yamon Figurs had a long run on a backfield reverse. ... Fifteen military representatives attended the afternoon practice and they were invited into the huddle to close practice.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
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Posted On: 8/1/08
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- 5/24/12: Give 100% of what you've got everyday in every way...except of course if you are at the blood bank...
- 5/24/12: @ThundercatJay Way too soon to tell. Practices are in shorts and far from game speed.
- 5/24/12: #Ravens #Harbaugh not concerned about Ed Reed: http://t.co/8a6G7TGw
- 5/24/12: For now, the Ravens are primarily having Paul Kruger lined up at Suggs' rush outside linebacker spot.
- 5/24/12: Rookie 2nd round pick Kelechi Osemele took the majority of the first-string repetitions at left guard with Jah Reid rotating in at tackle.
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