OWINGS MILLS – Baltimore Ravens star free safety Ed Reed didn’t practice Thursday due to a neck injury, a potentially negative development considering his history of neck problems.
A nerve impingement in his neck has bothered Reed for years, but he hasn’t been listed on the injury report with a neck injury until this week.
He practiced Wednesday and wasn’t listed as having an injury following the Ravens’ 20-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Reed has intercepted six passes in nine games since being activated from the physically unable to perform list.
"I would think that every quarterback, when they see Ed Reed back there, they have to be a little sharper," defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. "And they sometimes can’t take the gambles that you would take, because he may be thinking exactly the same way that quarterback is thinking and he’s standing there."
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer had a pass intercepted by Reed last season that the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
"It’s just hard to do because you can’t have our practice-squad safety simulate what he does in practice," Palmer said during a conference call with Baltimore reporters. "The looks you get in practice are much different than the looks you actually get on game day because you never really know what Ed’s going to do.
"But you’ve just got to approach the game plan and go through your reads and see the coverages unfold and try to keep one eye on him and one eye on the rest of the defense as you’re playing."
Meanwhile, safety Tom Zbikowski (bulging disc in his back) and linebackers Tavares Gooden (dislocated left shoulder) and Prescott Burgess (illness) didn’t practice for the second consecutive day. Burgess has a history of severe migraines.
Rookie wide receiver David Reed (concussion, sprained wrist ligament) was limited again, but said he expects to play Sunday after passing his impact test.
"Yeah, we’ll see what happen," special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said. "It’s good to see him out here, and we’ll have to wait and see what the doctors say.
"I’d love to have him back. I look forward to having him back, and if he’s available and ready to go on Sunday, I look forward to putting him back in."
Center Matt Birk (knee) returned to practice and participated fully.
Tight end Todd Heap (pulled right hamstring) participated fully again, an encouraging sign.
Wide receiver Derrick Mason (ankle, abdominals), cornerback Fabian Washington (back) and rookie tight end Dennis Pitta (concussion) participated fully.
For the Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (ankle), cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle), tight end Jermaine Gresham (knee) and linebacker Dan Skuta (back) didn’t practice.
Ochocinco isn’t making the trip to Baltimore.
Running back Bernard Scott (toe) was limited, and defensive end Carlos Dunlap (shoulder) was upgraded to full participation after being limited Wednesday.
GETTING IN SYNC: The Ravens’ specialists are working overtime to build timing with new long snapper Kevin Houser, who was signed this week as a replacement for injured rookie Morgan Cox.
"We’re trying as hard as we can to get him on the same page and pick up where Morgan left off," kicker Billy Cundiff said. "It’s kind of strange to tell a guy who’s been in the league as long as Kevin that he’s got big shoes to fill, but Morgan did a great job. Knowing that he’s got the skills helps, we’re just working on getting the timing down."
Houser, 33, has previous stints with the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks.
The transition is has been smooth so far in the wake of Cox tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, according to Rosburg.
"It’s gone well," Rosburg said. "I think he’s had two real good days with our specialists. He’s had two real good days with our units. The advantage we have is we have a guy that has NFL experience and while some of the protection calls and some of the system names are different than what he’s accustomed to. It’s football, and he’s been around it and he understands it. So, he just has to make the translation, and he’s done that quite well and quite quickly."
OVERLOOKED: Rosburg saluted punter Sam Koch for having a strong season, albeit one that only got him first alternate to the Pro Bowl.
Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler was named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time.
"I think Sam has had a great year," Rosburg said. "He’s had a Pro Bowl-caliber year, in my opinion. Unfortunate circumstances, there’s another Pro Bowl-caliber punter in the same conference. Shane Lechler is a fine player, and I know Sam feels the same way.
"There’s no shame in being second place to Shane. The other thing I would say is that the thing we really feel good about with all of our Pro Bowl guys is they all understand the importance of winning and how that affects not only their careers and their accolades, but also the rest of the guys in the room. And Sam feels the same way. He doesn’t want to be available on that day."
Koch and his wife are headed to the Pro Bowl anyway, if the Ravens aren’t in the Super Bowl. They’ll be guest of Cundiff.
"Yeah, I’m probably bringing entirely too many people if we go," Cundiff said. "I just think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Matt Stover was here a long time and he only went one time. So, it’s pretty rare. If you get a chance to go, you want to reward all the people that helped me to get there."
Cundiff made it to the Pro Bowl for the first time, leading the NFL in touchbacks and connecting on 24 of 27 field goals for a career-high 110 points.
"Obviously, it’s confirmation I did the right thing," Cundiff said. "I found a formula that works for me. You’re always striving to get better."
ON PACE: The Ravens have only 18 turnovers this season on nine interceptions and nine lost fumbles.
Barring a sloppy game against the Bengals, they’re on pace to break the franchise record for fewest turnovers after 21 turnovers two seasons ago.
Running back Ray Rice has no fumbles after losing one last season and three as a rookie.
"I’m going to go find me some wood to knock on," Rice said. "I’ve said to myself, and I said at the beginning of the year that I wasn’t a fumbler. I’m used to carrying the ball. You’ve just got to be conscious of situations that you’re in."
Rice has carried the football 287 times and caught 63 passes.
"If you know you don’t have to fight for the extra yard, or if you need to go down, put two hands on it," Rice said. "We’ve all made an effort to protect the football. I wouldn’t say it’s a goal; it’s my job to protect the ball.
"If you’re making a cut, sometimes it’ll get loose. But in traffic, you will find it tight to my body as tight as possible. It’s sort of almost like putting the ball in a headlock in a different kind of way. Running with it, you’ve got to get naturally used to running with the football, and it becomes instinctive."
QUICK HITS: Four-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has only 4 ½ sacks on Palmer and has struggled in recent years against left offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, a formidable pass blocker who hasn’t allowed a sack to an AFC North opponent in two seasons. "I’ve been playing against this man since college, and I don’t think I have a winning record against him," Suggs said. "So, I don’t sleep much when I’m playing against this guy." … Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison took the fifth when asked if strong safety Dawan Landry deliberately committed an encroachment penalty to buy the coaches more time to decide whether to challenge the Browns’ touchdown on a trick play. "I’d have to kill myself if I answered that question," Mattison said with a laugh. "I couldn’t answer that question."
