Ravens cornerback **Chris McAlister** is electing to have surgery on his knee, which would end the three-time Pro Bowler's 10th season in purple and black.
Head coach **John Harbaugh** confirmed the decision Friday after McAlister sought multiple opinions on the injury from specialists in Florida and Canada. McAlister is suffering from posterior cruciate ligament damage and cartilage issues.
"Talking to Chris today, it looks like he's going to have the surgery," Harbaugh said following practice. "I'm pretty certain he's going to end up going down. He expressed to me he felt like it was in his best interest. The knee is a problem because the position he plays just wore the knee down."
McAlister started the first five games of the season and was leading Baltimore with three interceptions.
He sat for the majority of the Ravens' Week 7 contest in Miami, and then was deactivated for the past two games because of the knee.
Meanwhile, another decision was expected to be made in the secondary, as the Ravens were looking to rule on safety **Dawan Landry’s** injury status by the end of the week.
But Harbaugh said the team could wait until Monday to place Landry on Injured Reserve because of a spinal cord concussion sustained in Week 3.
"I wouldn't say it's optimistic," noted the coach. "We should know by Monday. We're still trying to hold out hope."
No Hall in Baltimore
Harbaugh admitted that the Ravens had preliminary discussions about former Oakland Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who was released earlier this week.
It didn't go any further than that.
Minutes after Harbaugh made his comments on the Pro Bowler, reports surfaced that Hall had agreed to terms with a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins.
"We would be interested, if he was interested in coming here under our framework," Harbaugh stated. "We think it would be a pretty attractive option for him, in the sense that he could come in and help our team win football games.
"We've got some really good corners. We don't need a top corner. We need a football player."
Lewis III Top Youth Pick
It seems that football runs in Ray Lewis' family. The nine-time Pro Bowler's son, Ray Lewis III, was the first pick in the inaugural Football University Youth All-American Bowl, which pits the nation's top seventh- and eighth-graders against each other in an all-star game.
The younger Lewis led the LMP Junior High football team to its first winning season and even scored five touchdowns in one game, setting a Junior High record.
"He can play pretty much anything – just an athlete," beamed the proud father. "They have him playing quarterback and linebacker now, but he can go to a lot of different positions. He understands the game more than others. It's amazing."
Lewis III is a 5-5, 140-pound 14-year-old, but has already demonstrated the dedication that drove No. 52 to the top.
"He really appreciates the game," Ray Lewis said. "I'm really hard on him, telling him to make sure and do his push-ups and sit-ups every day and always understand what he wants to be. He's made up his mind that he wants to be the best at something, so he's started at a very-young age."
Injury Update
McAlister and Landry were the only two players ruled out of this weekend's matchup with the Houston Texans, while tight end Daniel Wilcox is doubtful with an illness and a thigh injury.
The Ravens' top three running backs – **Willis McGahee** (ankle), Ray Rice (chest) and **Le’Ron McClain** (ankle) - are all listed as probable.
Notable
In the wake of Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs shredding of the Ravens' return coverage units, special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg was adamant that his charges will rebound against a team that has many weapons. Cribbs totaled 278 return yards. "What we did against Cleveland was not acceptable, so yeah, we're working hard on our coverage aspect this week to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said. "In the end it comes down to, it's you and him - you've got to get him on the ground." … The Ravens released offensive lineman Marvin Phillips and re-signed wideout Ernie Wheelwright to the practice squad. … Harbaugh thought Houston tight end Owen Daniels, who has 43 catches for 528 yards on the year, reminded him of some dynamic tight ends he saw while coaching the Philadelphia Eagles. "He's a heck of a position tight end in the box," Harbaugh said of the athletic 6-foot3, 246-pounder. "He's got an ability to get open, he's got great body control. You think of some of the NFC East tight ends that we've seen – [Jason] Witten and [Chris] Cooley."
