The Ravens' starting offense and defense is coming off a rough preseason performance.
But remember, that's without two of the respective units' best players.
That could change this Thursday when the Ravens take on the Carolina Panthers at M&T Bank Stadium in the teams' third preseason game.
Top cornerback Lardarius Webb and the offensive line's Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda could play for the first time this preseason.
"I think there's a good chance that both of those guys could play," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Sunday. "But I don't want to say anything until we feel better about it and we get through a couple more days of practice. But it would be nice to get those guys out there."
Webb hasn't played in a game since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on Oct. 14 last season against the Dallas Cowboys. Yanda has been sidelined since getting shoulder surgery shortly after the Super Bowl.
The Ravens have taken a careful, meticulous approach to easing both players back onto the field.
Webb and Yanda both participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time this preseason on Saturday. Webb had been practicing with the team since the start of training camp, but was doing individual and situational non-contact work. Yanda did individual drills for a week before jumping back into full action.
"He looks good. He's looked really good," Harbaugh said of Yanda. "I talked to him this morning, and [there's] no problem with the shoulder at all. He said his legs were a little wobbly – he's got to get his sea legs back a little bit. But he's in great shape. He's been really working hard. He's done well."
It's not set in stone that Yanda and Webb will play Thursday. Harbaugh said he, the players, coaches and doctors will make a decision probably the day before the game. Harbaugh said he might leave the decision "a little bit" up to Webb.
If they don't play Thursday, they might not play at all in the preseason, as most starters rest for the fourth preseason game and let the backups take over.
"It would be nice to get him the work before we tee it up for real," Harbaugh said. "Once he gets in a game and gets his first tackle and all that – that will be a good step for him. Then he can kind of stop thinking about those things."
