Ravens LB Suggs to be 'game-time' decision Sunday

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

By DAVID GINSBURG

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs doesn't intend to let a torn right biceps keep him out of Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.

"We kind of live by the creed of, if you can breathe then you can play," Suggs said Wednesday. "We just got to check it out. We got to see how it holds up throughout the week. (It will) definitely be a game-time decision on Sunday."

The injury occurred last weekend in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 loss to Pittsburgh.

Another injured Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis, returned to practice Wednesday - the next stage of the 37-year-old's attempt to come back from a tore right triceps. Lewis was hurt Oct. 14 against Dallas and placed on injured reserve, designated for return.

"I'm making progress and will practice some today," Lewis said in a statement. "But the story shouldn't be about me right now. We're playing the Redskins Sunday, and I am not eligible to play. If I can help prepare my team in some way for that game, I will. When I know I will play in a game, or when I play in a game, I will say more then."

Suggs, on the other hand, will be on the field for the Ravens (9-3) against the surging Redskins (6-6) if his ailing right arm won't hinder his effectiveness.

"I don't want to be out there and can't make a play because I'm unhealthy and I don't have a full biceps," he said. "It's more if I will help us or hinder us by playing."

After missing the first six weeks of the season with a torn right Achilles tendon, Suggs returned sooner than expected and has 19 tackles and two sacks in the last six games. Given his remarkable recuperative powers, Suggs appears to be a good bet to be among the Ravens chasing Robert Griffin III at FedEx Field on Sunday.

"That's Suggs," Baltimore defensive back Corey Graham said. "He comes back from everything, so nothing would surprise me with him."

Defensive tackle Terrence Cody added, "The guy is really tough. He came off an Achilles. Now, he's got this injury. You really find out about guys in situations like this. It means something to him. It's always good to have a guy like that on the team that's going to play through everything, loves to play football, loves to go to war like that."

The 30-year-old Suggs missed only three games in his first nine seasons before this year. He played in all 16 games last season, had 14 sacks and helped the Ravens reached the AFC title game before being named NFL defensive player of the year.

Baltimore appears on course for another trip to the playoffs, but nothing is assured - yet.

"We got a job to do and we've got to get a win," he said. "...If I can play with it, we're going to do everything we can to protect it so I don't injure it anymore."

Playing with a torn biceps is not unprecedented.

"I've been told a couple of guys in the NFL are playing with torn biceps and that it may get better, it may not, you may need surgery, you may not," he said. "We're going to go over it and decide what's best for the team and myself."

Baltimore is 4-2 with Suggs in the lineup, and his presence has been a factor in the improved play of outside linebacker Paul Kruger, who has five sacks in the last four games.

"Players like Terrell Suggs do make everybody around them better, so that's probably part of it," coach John Harbaugh said.

Lewis is another player with that quality. There is no timetable for his return, but the Ravens don't seem to be the Ravens without No. 52 in the middle of the defense.

"This will be part of his rehab, and we'll see how he does," Harbaugh said. "Whether he gets back soon, late, at all, what he's done to work through the injury, the rehab he's put himself through ... it's really impressive."

Having him on the practice field wasn't the same as having him in the huddle, but it was an encouraging sign.

"He's Ray Lewis. Everybody knows how much it means," linebacker Jameel McClain said. "Whether it adds up to something in the long run, we don't know that yet. Only Ray knows that. But having him here is definitely a plus for all of us."

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Updated December 5, 2012