Linebacker Ray Lewis has returned to the Under Armour Performance Center.
But Head Coach John Harbaugh tempered expectations that his presence means he's ready to step back on the practice field immediately.
He's eligible to begin practicing Thursday, but that doesn't mean he will.
"Ray Lewis is here, he's rehabbing," Harbaugh said. "He's not practicing today and we'll just play it day by day as far as whether he practices or not.
"He is not imminent to return to play [in a game] or anything like that, so to me it's really a non-story. He'll go out there when he's ready to practice when the elbow holds up. And when that happens, we'll let you know."
Lewis' teammates are happy to see their leader back in the building.
"It means a lot just seeing him out there," running back Ray Rice said. "If he gets out to practice, that would be pretty amazing. The guy to me is my modern day Superman."
Rice said Lewis' desire and work ethic to return to the field is a driving motivation to him and other players on the team. Rice joked that after seeing Lewis in a "full-on sweat" in the training room, he's going to figure out how to get the keys to the weight room.
"Why is he coming back? People ask that question all the time," Rice said.
"He's coming back because he firmly believes that this is the team that can go ahead and do it [win a Super Bowl]. He does it for us. He's not doing it for stats, he's not doing it for fame, he's not doing it for none of that. He's doing it solely because he loves the Ravens, he loves his teammates and he loves this organization."
Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has helped make up for the loss of Lewis. He returned to the field on Oct. 21 versus the Texans, the game after Lewis tore his triceps.
And Suggs, who returned from his torn Achilles in 5 ½ months, knows about quick returns.
"When he did it, all you guys said he was out for the season. But we've heard that before," Suggs joked, alluding to himself. "I guess they've got [something] in the water here in Maryland. It will be [add] good to finally get the General back, but whenever that is we're going to continue to play football until he gets back."
