Ravens left tackle Alex Lewis did not practice Wednesday after his neck injury suffered during Sunday's game in Tennessee. However, Head Coach John Harbaugh said Lewis continues to make progress.
"I guess I would label it, for lack of a better term, a pinched nerve," Harbaugh said prior to Wednesday's practice. "That could heal like that (snapping fingers), or it could take a little bit of time. Day-to-day is the best way to describe it right now. I do not expect him to practice (today)."
There was serious concern about Lewis after he was carted off the field on a backboard and taken to a Nashville-area hospital Sunday night. However, Lewis was cleared to fly home with the team, has undergone more tests, and has been around the Under Armour Performance Center this week.
Teammates are very happy to see Lewis in the building.
"Obviously, anytime that something that looks as serious as that could've been, you're definitely hoping for the best," Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. "I know I got home, my wife had recorded it on her phone, and my parents were asking me about him, making sure he's okay. Everybody worries about that kind of stuff when we play this game. To see him walking around and doing well is definitely a good thing."
If Lewis can't play Sunday, the Ravens would likely either turn to rookie sixth-round pick Bradley Bozeman at left guard or move right tackle James Hurst to left guard, where he started 16 games last year, and plug rookie third-round pick Orlando Brown Jr. in at right tackle.
Bozeman played 17 offensive snaps in Tennessee after Lewis went down while Brown stepped in for five, mostly as an extra blocker in jumbo formations.
Cornerback Brandon Carr (knee) was the only other player that missed practice due to injury. Defensive back Anthony Levine (hamstring) was limited, and rookie cornerback Anthony Averett (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis. Averett has not played since Week 2.
Wide receiver John Brown and safety Eric Weddle missed practice for non-injury reasons.
The Saints injury report listed two players missing practice – wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (knee) and defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (ankle). Three Saints were limited – offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee), guard Andrus Peat (head) and wide receiver Cameron Meredith (knee).
