With Reedโs two fumbles and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, itโs clear the second-year receiver wonโt be returning kicks against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The man who will be back deep on kickoffs is anyoneโs guess, however, as the Ravens continue to look for stability at the position after Reedโs gaffes cost them dearly in Seattle.
โI think weโre looking for our kick returner,โ Harbaugh said. โProbably [Lardarius] Webbโs our best guy if you look at it, but heโs a starting corner and heโs our punt returner. You canโt put too much on any one guyโs plate. Weโre looking for the best guy to do it. Thatโs where weโre at.โ
The Ravens could elect to shift Webb to the kick return spot and use defensive back Chris Carr as their primary punt returner. Carr lacks the explosiveness needed to return kicks, but he is a safe choice to field punts cleanly and hand the ball back to the offense. Other options the Ravens might consider at kick returner would be LaQuan Williams (whose playing time as the No. 3 receiver has declined in recent weeks), reserve safety Tom Zbikowski, and starting wideout Torrey Smith.
Reed may find himself with another opportunity down the road, but Harbaughโs message was clear regarding the return manโs inability to protect the football on a play crucial to gaining field position.
โYou canโt turn the ball over,โ Harbaugh said. โThatโs job one, and David knows that. Thatโs something that he works on very hard just like all our guys do. You canโt turn the ball over, especially in a kickoff return situation. Itโs just not something that weโre going to be able to do and expect to win football games.โ
Evans returning this week?
Despite practicing all last week on a limited basis, wide receiver Lee Evans missed his seventh straight game on Sunday with the left ankle injury heโs battled since late August. The veteran did not suffer any setbacks in his return to practice, a good sign for a potential return to the field against the Bengals.
However, Harbaugh still wasnโt ready to deem Evans ready to return after such a long layoff and just three days of limited work. The painfully familiar โwait-and-seeโ approach will once again be at work regarding the 30-year-old receiverโs status this week.
โI think weโll see,โ Harbaugh said. โThatโs to be determined, you know. Always hopeful, but weโll have to see.โ
The Ravens coach did not report any new injuries on Monday after the team returned to Owings Mills.
Harbaugh, Ravens "not licking any wounds" in aftermath of Seattle loss

Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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