OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Rookie guard Alex Lewis made a surprise return to practice as the Ravens moved closer to their Monday night meeting with the New England Patriots.
Sidelined with a right ankle sprain suffered in the Week 10 win over Cleveland on Nov. 10, Lewis was expected to miss at least six weeks of action at the time of the injury. Head coach John Harbaugh even labeled Lewis “a good ways away” when asked about his status this past Monday.
A return for the Patriots game might be too aggressive after a month-long absence, but the better question is where Lewis will fit in for the remainder of the season. Five-time Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda has played the last three games on the left side out of necessity because of his bad left shoulder.
Yanda told WNST.net this week that he was all but resigned to needing season-ending surgery last month before Lewis’ injury opened the door for his idea to switch to left guard, a position that is easier on his damaged shoulder.
Despite being a 10-year veteran, Yanda has acknowledged the difficulty in making the in-season transition to the opposite side, making you wonder if they’d move Lewis to right guard in place of veteran Vlad Ducasse. The Ravens could just continue with the same offensive line combination used in last Sunday’s 38-6 blowout win over Miami.
“It’s not as drastic as going from writing with your right hand to going with your left, but it’s very similar in that aspect of it,” Yanda said. “Your feet are flipped, and just the way you set with your feet, it just feels awkward as heck flipping your stance. It takes some time, and I’m still awkward.”
Ducasse has started the last four games at right guard after being re-signed in October. Lewis, a fourth-round pick out of Nebraska, has made five starts at left guard and three at left tackle in his rookie season.
Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (hamstring) and tight end Crockett Gillmore (hamstring) remained sidelined on Friday and appear unlikely to play against the Patriots. Linebacker Terrell Suggs and center Jeremy Zuttah were also given a veteran day off.
Below is Friday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Crockett Gillmore (thigh), LB Terrell Suggs (non-injury), RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (thigh), C Jeremy Zuttah (non-injury)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: G Alex Lewis (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: G Marshal Yanda (shoulder)
NEW ENGLAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Danny Amendola (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Martellus Bennett (ankle/shoulder), S Jordan Richards (knee), LB Elandon Roberts (hamstring), CB Eric Rowe (hamstring), WR Matt Slater (foot)
