OWINGS MILLS — Baltimore Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington was ruled out Friday because of a dislocated right shoulder, further thinning the secondary depth heading into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts’ formidable passing game led by quarterback Peyton Manning.
Washington was filling in for starter Samari Rolle, who is out at least a month following neck surgery last week.
Now, Frank Walker is expected to start in place of Washington with nickel back Corey Ivy working in behind him. Walker hasn’t started a game since 2006 when he was with the New York Giants.
He did a decent job in a 13-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans when quarterback Kerry Collins targeted him, deflecting a career-high four passes with an interception nullified due to his defensive holding penalty.
Washington had mentioned potentially wearing a harness and playing through the pain, but that didn’t seem viable. He said he doesn’t think he’ll need to have surgery.
"I’m trying to get this thing healthy," said Washington while demonstrating a normal range of motion with the shoulder to reporters. "It popped out, so it can always pop out again. There will be a chance it will do that until I stop playing football. I’ve got to strengthen the muscles around it."
Meanwhile, right offensive tackle Adam Terry is doubtful with a lateral meniscus issue in his sprained right knee. Even though he didn’t practice all week, he expects to be a game-time decision after being carted off the field last week against the Titans.
"From the end of that game to now, it feels a lot better," Terry said. "It will be a game-time thing. I anticipate being out there. We can tape it up, brace it up, see how it feels. After missing a lot of time last year with the ankle, anytime I can get out there I’m going to get out there."
If Terry can’t go, then four-time Pro Bowl tackle Willie Anderson will start.
Although offensive tackle Jared Gaither (knee) and middle linebacker Ray Lewis (knee) are listed as questionable, they are expected to play. Both were limited in practice Friday after being held out the previous day.
Linebacker Tavares Gooden (hip) and safety Tom Zbikowski (shoulder) are questionable and were limited.
Linebacker Antwan Barnes (knee), running back Willis McGahee (knee) and safety Ed Reed (thigh) are probable. All three players participated fully in practice.
Strong safety Dawan Landry (spinal cord concussion) remains out.
The Colts officially ruled out safety Bob Sanders (high-ankle sprain, knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (knee) and wide receiver Roy Hall (knee).
Defensive end Dwight Freeney (hamstring) is questionable, but participated fully in practice, as did cornerback Marlin Jackson (ankle) and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (concussion).
RUNNING ON EMPTY: The Colts’ trademark stretch play with running back Joseph Addai hasn’t paid many dividends this season.
Indianapolis has the league’s lowest-ranked running game, and Addai has been limited to 213 yards for a 3.6 average with a long run of 15 yards. He has scored four touchdowns, but hasn’t been his usual breakaway threat.
Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan has a theory why, attributing it partially to Peyton Manning’s knee injury limiting his ability to get the outside handoff to Addai.
"I think early in the season, they were running a lot of tosses," Ryan said. "I’m not sure, but I don’t think Peyton’s knee was to where he could run that stretch. You’re seeing it now that they’re back to running that stretch the way they used to.
"But I think they tried to use tosses instead of running that wide stretch that we’re all used to seeing. But I think they’re back to doing that now."
COVER 2: Colts coach Tony Dungy said that his team hasn’t been able to use its base defense as much this year because Indianapolis has been falling behind early in games.
"We’re playing it a lot less now because we really haven’t been ahead a lot," Dungy said. "We are getting more runs and we’re getting people that are really running the football. When we’ve gotten ahead and we’re able to sit back and play Cover 2, it’s been good for us.
"But those have been few and far between this year. So we have to get off to better starts, see if we can get out in front and get people in throwing situations. We haven’t played to our strength yet this year."
The Colts have been consistently pounded by the run, ranking last in the league in run defense.
"We’ve played against running teams that want to run the ball, and this is no different," Dungy said. "They’re probably going to get their 41 runs in during the course of the game. So, we have to play accordingly."
CHEERING SECTION: Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he’s counting on the support of his brother-in-law, Indiana University basketball coach Tom Crean, who’s married to Harbaugh’s sister, Joanie.
"Blood is thicker than water, he’s family first," Harbaugh said. "I’m quite sure that he’s rooting for the Ravens. All those Colts fans and Hoosiers fans can rest assured of that."
Harbaugh’s brother, Jim Harbaugh, was the Colts’ starting quarterback from 1994 to 1997 and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2005. He also played for the Ravens during the Ted Marchibroda era.
QUICK HITS: The Colts have yet to win at Lucas Oil Stadium, their new playing venue, and have lost their past four home games. … Since 2002, wide receiver Derrick Mason has averaged 6.5 receptions for 74 yards in eight games against the Colts. Eleven of his 21 career catches against the Colts have gone for first downs. … Lewis has 74 career tackles against the Colts with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. … Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and Reed were roommates at the University of Miami and remain good friends. "I’ve already talked to him, but we mainly talk about what we’re going to eat when he gets in town," Wayne told Indianapolis reporters. "When we go to Baltimore, me and him go out to eat. But I can expect a call from him because he’s watched a lot of film and is going to want to know what is going on. I’m going to ask him what’s going on. It never works. He never gives me anything and I never give him anything." … More than 300 tickets for Sunday’s game were returned by the Ravens and are available for sale through the Colts.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
Photo by Kevin Moore.
