WESTMINSTER — His back spasms have subsided, but that hasn’t necessarily improved Chris Carr’s mood.
The Baltimore Ravens’ kick returner and cornerback was far from satisfied with his inauspicious preseason debut against the Washington Redskins last week.
Carr wound up calling for a fair catch on a punt return even though there was no one even close to him. And he dropped a punt, recovering the loose football to pick up some yardage.
“I was really relaxed. I was maybe too relaxed on the one that I dropped. I had a lot of time. It’s just a matter of getting comfortable back there again and getting the timing down with everybody.”
As for his health, Carr returned to practice Tuesday morning and made it through the workout without incident.
“It’s feeling a lot better,” Carr said. “I want to be careful with it. There’s some lower back pain, but I’m fine.”
JERSEYGATE: One day after New York Jets coach Rex Ryan ripped the Ravens for giving former Baltimore defensive end Michael McCrary’s old No. 99 jersey to rookie Paul Kruger, the outspoken former Ravens defensive coordinator didn’t back off those remarks.
“It was more of a shock to my system,” Ryan told New York reporters, adding that McCrary played in Super Bowl XXXV with a shattered hand. “I just know what Mike McCrary meant to the organization and what he meant to me. I just think he epitomized what we wanted. He was a tough [butt].
While Kruger has bristled at the criticism from Ryan and has said he’s honored to wear the number, Ravens coach John Harbaugh downplayed the situation.
“I don’t even know if I saw that,” Harbaugh said of the flap.
And Harbaugh said that the only number that won’t be available to be worn this season is former Ravens line backer O.J. Brigance’s No. 57 jersey.
Brigance is the Ravens’ director of player development and is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It’s a fatal, cruel illness also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which affects the nerve cells that control movement.
The number was worn last year by linebacker Bart Scott, who’s coincidentally now playing for the Jets.
“Everybody knows the situation with O.J and this inspiration he’s brought to our team,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh declined to get into a war of words with Ryan. And the Ravens are expected to welcome him back prior to kickoff Monday night with a video tribute.
"I think it means a lot to go against a Rex Ryan-coached team," Harbaugh said. "We think the world of Rex, [Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine], [strong safety] Jimmy [Leonhard] and Bart.
“You don’t go through a season like we went through without it meaning a ton. We’ll be their biggest fans, most of the time. We know what they’re building there and we respect it."
INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Samari Rolle, who has been to see a neck specialist, returned to the Ravens’ team hotel.
Rolle remains on the physically unable to perform list and it’s unclear when he’ll be able to start practicing. Rolle underwent neck surgery last year.
Also not practicing: linebackers Terrell Suggs (strained left heel, Achilles’ tendon) and Dannell Ellerbe (sprained right knee), wide receivers Mark Clayton (strained left hamstring), Demetrius Williams (right hamstring), Yamon Figurs (foot) and Biren Ealy (groin) and offensive tackle Stefan Rodgers (calf, foot).
In an encouraging sign, Clayton caught passes on the side and ran at something approaching half-speed without aggravating his leg.
Fullback Le’Ron McClain took a shot to the stomach from nose guard Kelly Gregg and was down on the sidelines for a prolonged period with abdominal cramps.
Wide receiver Derrick Mason came over to tease McClain, saying, “He’s pregnant.”
All McClain could do was laugh while wincing on the ground.
“I’m feeling better even though Kelly Gregg punched me in the stomach,” McClain said. “Hell yeah, I owe him one.”
Gregg joked that McClain, who reported to training camp at 270 pounds, should do some more crunches to strengthen his midsection.
“No doubt, you bet,” Gregg said. “He’s a big back, so it’s fun to get after him.”
LOGJAM: The Ravens have quite the crowd at quarterback these days with five currently on the roster.
Third-string quarterback John Beck, whose shoulder sprain prompted the Ravens to sign Cleo Lemon and Drew Willy to work behind Joe Flacco and Troy Smith, is recovering rapidly and took part in some full-team drills Tuesday
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron made it clear that Lemon and Willy rank behind Flacco, Smith and Beck.
“We thought John was going to be down, obviously he bounced right back from the shoulder, so Cleo is here, and we were familiar with Drew,” Cameron said. “Right now, the way the roster’s set up, those guys can help us in look squad.
“They’re doing a great job, but we’ve got three quarterbacks that we’re focusing on. Those other two guys, if someone goes down, they’ve got to be ready.”
QUICK HITS: Harbaugh expressed concern with the Ravens being flagged nine times for 70 yards against the Redskins. “Some penalties we can live with because it’s just a matter of finding where that line is drawn,” he said. “Other penalties are just unacceptable. The pre-snap penalties, the blocks in the back on special teams, those penalties we just can never have. Those are the ones we’ve worked really hard on to make sure we eliminate in this next game. So, we’ll be disappointed if we don’t make some progress in that area.” … Offensive guard Marshal Yanda has been splitting repetitions with Chris Chester at right guard with the first-team offense. … Smith was intercepted three times, including once by rookie linebacker Willie VanDeSteeg. VanDeSteeg taunted quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson with the football afterward… Flacco was intercepted by cornerback Domonique Foxworth. … The Ravens were given Tuesday afternoon and this morning off from practice and are scheduled for a 2:45 p.m. practice today. … The Ravens are holding a Military Appreciation day today. The first 200 military members that show up in uniform will be granted reserved bleacher seating.
