ExtremeRavens

Trio had practiced Wednesday on a limited basisA day after practicing on a limited basis, wide receiver Lee Evans, left guard Ben Grubbs and strong safety Tom Zbikowski did not take part in Thursday’s session at the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills. View the full article

Sean Tuohy Jr. has committed orally to play basketball at Loyola UniversityRavens offensive tackle Michael Oher is plenty busy with the football season, so he hasn't really gotten a chance to see his adoptive brother, Sean Tuohy Jr., play basketball much. But that figures to change soon. View the full article

Both teams have dominated opponents in first quarterWhen the Ravens and Houston Texans meet Sunday, the outcome could be decided in the first quarter. View the full article

Star wideout's absence doesn't guarantee anything for defenseThe Houston Texans appeared like a different team without five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson in their 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. View the full article

Quarterback insists offense can still be successfulAs has been documented, Joe Flacco ranks 31 st in the NFL in completion percentage with a 49.3 success rate, and the Ravens’ signal caller is just one of four quarterbacks with at least two starts who has completed less than half of his passes. (Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams, Blaine Gabbert of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kerry Collins of the Indianapolis Colts are the others.) View the full article

Former teammate was dealt by Jets just in time to return to M&T Bank Stadium, againThe news that former teammate Derrick Mason’s short stay with the New York Jets was over – and that he would join the Houston Texans for Sunday’s game in Baltimore – was met with equal parts surprise, curiosity and even humor Wednesday by the Ravens. View the full article

When Ravens cornerback Chris Carr missed a game because of injury for the first time in his NFL career this season, he bought a hyperbaric chamber to aid healing. So far, it hasn't helped. View the full article

Only Carr, J. Smith don't practiceFive of the seven players who sat out the Ravens’ 17-point victory over the New York Jets almost two weeks ago returned to practice Wednesday – albeit on a limited basis. View the full article

Ravens center Matt Birk was required by the new CBA to wear a microphone, but took it off due to discomfortVeteran Ravens center Matt Birk said Wednesday he will appeal a $5,000 fine from the NFL for failing to wear a microphone under his jersey as prescribed by the new collective bargaining agreement. View the full article

Evans, Grubbs among those participating in some capacityIf participating in practice is any indication, the Ravens appear to be getting much healthier. View the full article

Outside linebacker says Leach is comfortable with his roleFullback Vonta Leach has been a popular subject for interviews this week as his former employer, the Houston Texans, will pay a visit to his current employer, the Ravens, on Sunday. View the full article

Outside linebacker says Leach is comfortable with his roleFullback Vonta Leach has been a popular subject for interviews this week as his former employer, the Houston Texans, will pay a visit to his current employer, the Ravens, on Sunday. View the full article

Texans coach says five-time Pro Bowler is still recoveringHouston Texans coach Gary Kubiak said five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson (right hamstring) is out for Sunday’s contest against the Ravens. View the full article

Starting strong safety still feeling "a little cloudy"Tom Zbikowski made his first appearance in the Ravens locker room since sustaining a concussion in the team’s 34-17 victory over the New York Jets on Oct. 2, and the starting strong safety said each passing day brings a slight improvement to his health. View the full article

Derrick Mason played six seasons for the Ravens, and he also saw them just two weeks ago while he was with the New York Jets. View the full article

Former Ravens receiver Derrick Mason talked his way out of a job with the JetsJets wide receiver Derrick Mason's short stay in New York basically ended Sunday when he was replaced by rookie Jeremy Kerely, who hauled in several passes in New York's loss to New England. Not only was Kerely more impressive and younger than Mason, but his emergence showed that the Jets didn't have to put up with Mason's mouth any longer. View the full article

Center reportedly cited for not wearing microphoneRavens center Matt Birk has been fined $5,000, but it's not for a late hit or critical comments about an officiating crew. Birk apparently didn't wear a microphone for a recent game. View the full article

Kubiak won't rule out star wide-out just yetWhile there is no timetable for the return of Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, many reports have the five-time Pro Bowl selection at least missing Sunday’s game against the Ravens and likely the Oct. 23 game against the Tennessee Titans. View the full article

Veteran acquired in trade has played only two gamesWide receiver Lee Evans was able to get through only two games before his cranky left ankle sent him to the sideline in Week 3. Whether he resurfaces on Sunday against the Houston Texans or not should give us a better read on his availability this season. View the full article

After week of relaxation, Ravens are eager to get back to routineIt was the pause that refreshes. When the Ravens broke camp for their bye week, they were battered from the physical toll of the first four games. When they came back to Owings Mills this week, they were buzzing with renewed vigor. View the full article

Ravens must figure out how first-round pick Jimmy Smith fits in corner rotationIt will be interesting to see how the Ravens use rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith once he returns from an ankle injury. Smith hasn't played since the opening kickoff of the first game, and the Ravens have remained silent about if he was going to be the starter for that game. Physically, Smith is the best cornerback on the roster. He has good size and showed his strength early in training camp by going right after veteran Anquan Boldin. He still needs to work on ball awareness skills, but that will come in time with more playing experience. View the full article

Derrick Mason will be playing at M&T Bank Stadium Sunday for the second time in three weeks. View the full article

AFC North only division with three teams with winning recordsESPN AFC North blogger and former Baltimore Sun beat writer Jamison Hensley pointed out that only the AFC North has three teams with winning records, and it is the only division without a one-win team or a winless team. View the full article

Ravens coach says 49ers coach did right thingSan Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has been catching a little flak for his decision to play several starters into the fourth quarter of an eventual 48-3 laugher against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. View the full article

Harbaugh defends quarterback's inconsistent four weeks Last Thursday, ESPN NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay were asked to pick the one young quarterback with less than four years of NFL experience they would build a franchise around, and neither picked Joe Flacco. (Kiper selected the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford, while McShay chose the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan.) View the full article