OWINGS MILLS– The outlook for Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth’s surgically repaired right knee is much more promising than the labor strife that has thrown the league into a standstill.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh affirmed that the executive committee member is expected to make a healthy return after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last July.
"He will be back, he probably could play right now," Harbaugh said during a conference call with season ticket holders. "He’s spending a lot of time on some of the union stuff, but I know he’s also working out, he’s training, he’s doing great.
"I don’t think we’re going to see too many side effects of him coming back early on. He should be full speed right out of the gates."
Foxworth hurt his knee during a non-contact drill in Westminster the day before the first official practice of training camp.
Foxworth had his knee repaired by Dr. James Andrews on Aug. 10.
"I don’t know if he’s ahead of schedule, but the good thing is, if there is a light at the end of the tunnel or a silver lining to that cloud, at least he got hurt as early as possible," Harbaugh said. "I mean it was before he even really started practice, so it gives him the maximum possible time to get that knee right."
The Ravens could use Foxworth since starting cornerbacks Chris Carr and Josh Wilson are unrestricted free agents, and Fabian Washington isn’t expected to return.
Foxworth recently told Ravens24x7.com that he’s ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.
"I’m doing a lot better, and I could play right now if I had to," said Foxworth, a former University of Maryland standout. "Could I have played if we had made it to the Super Bowl? I don’t know if I would have been better than the people we had, so I don’t know how great I would have done. Sometimes, you think you’re doing better than you are. I’m doing really well, though. The knee feels great.
"It’s getting close, I feel pretty close. I’m not back to the fastest I’ve been, but I feel good. I haven’t worked out this hard in a long time. You get so caught up in the technical parts of the game that an injury like this will humble you quickly. I’m back to all of the old fundamentals that you take for granted."
