Unresolved contract doesn't keep Mosley away from Ravens

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — At a time of year when many NFL players seeking contract stability choose to skip voluntary workouts or even mandatory minicamp, Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley has continued to show up.
The long-term contract extension that many anticipated hasn’t yet come to fruition, but that hasn’t prevented the three-time Pro Bowl selection from regularly attending the offseason workout program. Mosley once again shied away from discussing his contract situation on Tuesday, but he explained why it hasn’t impacted his attendance in Owings Mills this spring.
“It’s just what I’m used to,” said Mosley, who is set to make $8.718 million this season. “Coming to work, being here with my guys in the offseason, building new relationships with the rookies and the new players on the team. For me, it’s just what I’ve been used to the last four years.”
With Don “Wink” Martindale taking over as the defensive coordinator this offseason and much discussion centering around the flexibility and responsibility being handed to veteran players with tweaks to the defensive system, the Ravens have been pleased to have their “Mike” linebacker on the practice field and in the huddle to ease the transition.
“We’re doing a lot of really neat things on defense; things that are really good,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “C.J. is excited to be in there and learn them and do them. The fact that we’re putting more than ever on our players on the field in real time to make decisions, you want your decision-makers out there practicing now.”
Mosley’s presence serves as a reminder of the stability he’s brought to the position despite being tasked with following in the colossal footsteps of Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. Whether the Ravens reward that productivity with something north of $10 million per year — the going rate for a top inside linebacker — remains to be seen.
Lewis sidelined with back issue

Two weeks after receiving an extended look at the center position, third-year offensive lineman Alex Lewis was sidelined with a back issue that could keep him out through the end of minicamp.
According to Harbaugh, Lewis started experiencing spasms in the weight room recently. The 2016 fourth-round pick showed promise as a rookie, but he’s played in just 10 of a possible 32 games so far in his career, a factor making one take pause about entrusting him with the all-important center spot.
“We’re just holding him out right now. We’ll be evaluating it,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t think it’s anything, according to our trainers, serious that would keep him out of training camp or even keep him out for very long. But I didn’t see any reason to bring him out here today with all the work he’s got in already.”
With Lewis absent from Tuesday’s practice, Matt Skura was once again manning the center spot with Jermaine Eluemunor and James Hurst at the left and right guard spots and Ronnie Stanley and rookie Orlando Brown Jr. at the left and right tackle positions. The versatile Hurst has already lined up as the starting right tackle, starting left guard, and starting right guard at different points this spring.
“That’s part of the job, moving around,” said Hurst, who signed a new four-year, $17.5 million contract in March. “We have so many young guys out there right now that they have that flexibility. Marshal [Yanda] isn’t out there right now, and Marshal is the right guard. Everyone knows that. Because of that flexibility, it gives us the chance to try guys and move guys around and get everyone in their best position, which is promising.”
Attendance report
A total of 11 players were not taking part in Tuesday’s workout, a list that included Lewis, Yanda (ankle), cornerbacks Jimmy Smith (Achilles tendon), Maurice Canady (knee), and Jaylen Hill (knee), safety Anthony Levine (foot), linebackers Albert McClellan (knee) and Bam Bradley (knee), defensive tackle Carl Davis (shoulder), tight end Vince Mayle (undisclosed), and wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo (leg).
On the flip side, defensive end Brent Urban (foot) increased his activity level from earlier spring workouts by taking reps in full-team drills, an encouraging step ahead of the grind of training camp. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound lineman suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 3 of last season
“He looks good from what I can tell,” Harbaugh said. “He has a lot of rust, sure. It’s all new to him. But it’s good to get this in before he gets the time away [and] then back to training camp to get a little feel for it again. He’s a big guy. It’s fun seeing him out there.”