During the Ravens' mandatory minicamp two weeks ago, wideout **Derrick Mason** was able to do some light work in some practices despite having shoulder surgery to repair his labrum and scapula this offseason.
But Mason has not been on the field yet for Baltimore's current four-day passing camp.
Mason remained inside team headquarters while the Ravens worked in earnest to continue the development of their aerial attack.
"Derrick's program right now is more geared towards the mental part of football, the rehab, lifting and conditioning," head coach **John Harbaugh** said after practice. "We worked out a plan with his offensive position coaches, the trainers and strength and conditioning coaches to get Derrick where he needs to be.
"If he were fully healthy, he'd be out here because he wants to play football. But, I think it's a situation where we can do more work for him inside."
Mason said in minicamp that there was a possibility that he could miss training camp, which begins with the first full-squad practice on July 27.
After a visit with a specialist in San Francisco, earlier this year, Mason said that there was more damage in his left shoulder than originally anticipated.
"It turned out to be a little bit more than what we expected," Mason explained. "But, great doctors, they find a way to mend you back so you can get back on the field as quickly as possible."
For their part, the Ravens are hoping their top receiver from 2008 can come back for part or all of training camp.
"Maybe he'll show up soon, but we'll have to see where he is," Harbaugh stated.
Meanwhile, tight end **Todd Heap** continued to wear a red mesh top over his practice jersey as he recovers from a nagging lower back injury.
Heap hurt his back late in the season and played with significant pain during the Ravens' run to the AFC Championship, so much so that he regularly hunched over when he moved around the locker room after playoff games.
"It was really just the playoffs when it got that way," Heap said. "It was frustrating, but it was the playoffs. You're not really thinking too much about yourself then."
Heap finished third on the team with 35 receptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that did not live up to his Pro Bowl standard.
But, he was asked to block more than usual in offensive coordinator **Cam Cameron’s** system that was also handcuffed by a young offensive line and a rookie quarterback that needed sturdy protection.
Heap has been limited to individual drills in practice, along with fellow tight end **L.J. Smith**, leaving **Edgar Jones**, **Isaac Smolko** and rookie [Davon Drew to take all the live reps.
"I've been doing individual drills every day, just making sure that I'm 100 percent healthy before coming back," said Heap. "It's getting there, but I'm not sure when I'll completely be able to come back. This time of the season, it's time to get your body better so you're ready to go."
Harbaugh said that he thought Heap would be fully healthy at this point in the offseason, but is confident he'll recover.
"There are some issues there where he's got to work through and strengthen it," said Harbaugh. "He's not as far along as we thought he would be or even he thought he would be, but he'll just have to work through it."
The Ravens had multiple contributors wearing the red tops in addition to Heap and Smith, including running back **Willis McGahee**, linebacker **Antwan Barnes**, and defensive backs [Ed Reed, **Samari Rolle**, **Fabian Washington,** **Frank Walker** and **Chris Carr**.
