The Ravens are taking it easy with cornerback Lardarius Webb.
Webb, who has been out since the second day of training camp due to back spasms, will probably miss the first two preseason games, and possibly the third, Head Coach John Harbaugh said Saturday.
"He has some things going on in there that aren't long-term things," said Harbaugh, who indicated that Webb's absence is as much a product of precaution as the injury itself.
"This early part of camp – I just don't want to put him through this on his back. ... I just would rather keep him out of this first part of training camp, and we'll just see how it feels more toward the end of camp."
Harbaugh said Webb also had sports hernia surgery and that there's still some scar tissue to work through.
The Ravens starters, including Webb, get the most action of the preseason in the third game, so Webb could be back in time for that.
"It's [really] not that important to him. I want to get him right," Harbaugh said.
In other injury news, rookie defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan is nearing a return to the field after being part of a collision that ended rookie defensive end Brent Urban's season on Wednesday.
"I thought he might come back today, maybe, but he has to be able to push [and] he has to be able to pull without the thing locking up on him," Harbaugh said.
"But it's all muscular, so it should be soon. He assures me he'll play Thursday night. We'll see what the doctors say. He's doing well."
The Ravens will play their first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.
