OWINGS MILLS – Cornerback Fabian Washington made it clear Monday that he’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by Josh Wilson. However, Wilson declined to acknowledge that’s the case.
"I’m ready for whatever, it’s up to the coaches," Wilson said. "All I want to do is make sure I go out there every week and do something to help the team win.
"If I do that, I did my job. I don’t want to do anything for Josh Wilson. I want to do everything for the Baltimore Ravens. All I want to do is help this team."
Wilson deflected three passes, intercepted Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne in the fourth quarter and ran step for step with Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
Acquired via a trade from the Seattle Seahawks before the first game, the former University of Maryland and DeMatha Catholic star isn’t resting on his laurels
"The only thing I’ve warranted is to make sure I can come back here every day and have a locker and I get to see y’all walking around the locker room," Wilson said. "The one thing about this league is it’s a league where you go out and perform to the best of your ability every day and you let the cards fall where they may."
SPECIAL TREATMENT? Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice emphasized that he wasn’t granted special treatment because of his status as an NFL player when a police officer pulled him over for the tinting on his car windows Monday night.
Rice said he only offered the office an autograph after being issued a warning at the Garrison Forest shopping center in Baltimore County. However, a comment on his official Twitter account made it sound like he got out of the ticket because of the autograph he signed for the officer’s son.
Rice deleted the following message: "Just got pulled over for my tints smh [shaking my head] But gave the officer an autograph for his son and he let me go."
Rice said he didn’t realize that his white Range Rover’s windows were too dark, according to Maryland state law.
"I didn’t realize they were illegal until they pulled me over," Rice said Tuesday at the Ravens’ training complex. "He gave me a warning to get it fixed. I didn’t have anything outstanding or nothing wrong with my plates.
"As I’m walking to the store, the cop said his son is a big fan. I took it upon myself to offer him an autograph to his son. That was after the warning. It was bad decision by me wording it on Twitter."
Rice said he was on his way to buy the new "Call of Duty" video game. The Ravens tailback said he could have been much clearer in his message, which implied he was being given a break.
"I don’t want to make it seem like I was getting any [special] treatment by an officer," Rice said. "He was doing his job. I must get my tints fixed because they are pretty dark."
According to Baltimore County police, Rice was stopped at roughly 6:45 p.m..
Police spokesman Rob McCullough said that Rice was given a warning to get a lighter tint on his car windows, adding that no paperwork or police report was written up for the incident.
"It was a simple traffic stop," McCullough said.
A preliminary investigation has been launched, though, regarding the officer obtaining the Ravens star’s autograph, but no disciplinary measure has been taken.
Going forward, Rice said he’ll conduct himself differently when it comes to social networking.
"I definitely won’t make that decision of putting it on Twitter again," Rice said. "On to Atlanta."
INJURY UPDATES: For the second day in a row, free safety Tom Zbikowski didn’t practice due to a bruised right heel. Sidelined for the past two games, Zbikowski has all but been officially ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.
Zbikowski said it’s difficult remaining patient about his injury, but said he needs to rest and rehab the foot before he can resume playing.
"Hasn’t practiced, so probably not going to make it," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
Meanwhile, rookie defensive tackle Arthur Jones indicated on his Twitter account that he missed practice to attend a funeral.
The Falcons do expect wide receiver Roddy White to play despite a knee injury that kept him out of practice again.
"All indications now [are] that Roddy should be ready to go," Falcons coach Mike Smith said in a conference call with Baltimore reporters.
White has caught 58 passes for 796 yards and five touchdowns.
Also not practicing Tuesday: rookie outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (knee) and center Todd McClure (knee).
Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (knee) was limited as well as wide receiver Brian Finneran (knee, ribs), running back Jason Snelling (knee) and cornerback Brian Williams (hamstring).
Former Ravens quarterback Chris Redman (non-injury reasons) returned to practice and participated fully.
QUICK HITS: Harbaugh said he hasn’t pondered whether the NFL will ever eliminate Thursday night games. "I haven’t even thought about that," he said. "I could care less. I just want to go play this Thursday night. Unless they’re going to eliminate the one this Thursday night, I’m not thinking about that right now. Down the road, it’s probably a good thing to discuss and think about. Based on that, I just haven’t thought about it. It’s probably a good point." … Over the past two games, the Ravens have intercepted five passes and recovered two fumbles. What’s the difference? "Ed Reed," defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said of the star free safety who has intercepted three passes since being activated from the physically unable to perform list. "Just knowing he’s back there and his leadership with those guys back there, he does a great job. He’s just one of those playmakers."
