Reporters and fans are looking for any clues that linebacker Ray Lewis will be activated for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
One hint may be that the Ravens have yet to replace linebacker Jameel McClain on the roster. On Monday, Head Coach John Harbaugh ruled McClain (spinal cord contusion) out for the remainder of the year, but the team has yet to place him on injured reserve.
So is it legitimate to speculate that the spot is being held for No. 52?
"I think it would be fair – and I'm pretty sure you're going to do it any way – to consider any possibility on that," Harbaugh said Wednesday.
The Ravens do have other options. They could bring up a player from the practice squad, as they have before with players such as linebacker Josh Bynes, defensive back Anthony Levine and safety Omar Brown this season. Inside linebacker Nigel Carr and outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton are current P-squad possibilities.
On Monday, Harbaugh left open the possibility that the Ravens could sign somebody. They did so on Tuesday, but it was running back Lonyae Miller to the practice squad. Baltimore could still make a move for a linebacker.
If Lewis is going to be activated, it would have to be by Saturday at 4 p.m. He has been practicing for two weeks, first returning on Dec. 5.
