Ravens linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs suffered what he called a "heel-strain," and is expected to return as early as this week.
"I had a little strain in my heel, but it's nothing but a couple of days," Suggs explained after Monday morning's practice. "There's no need to get all worried about it. We got it, we're good."
Suggs was only a spectator during the session after hurting his foot in the first of two practices on Sunday. He was able to walk off under his own power, but was seen wearing a protective boot on his left leg at the team hotel in Westminster, Md., later that day.
"I knew it wasn't a big injury because I hobbled off on it," he said. "Anytime you can walk on it, it's not that bad. They said just a couple of days to treat it and get back as fast as I can."
Scheduled to speak with the media on Monday, Suggs "hobbled" down the stairs from the training and locker rooms at McDaniel College's Gill Gymnasium to the field as reporters and cameramen documented each step.
As one of the NFL's top young defenders, Suggs is a hot topic among Ravens fans. Baltimore recently awarded the three-time Pro Bowler with a lucrative six-year contract that multiple reports have valued at $63 million, including a $10.1 million signing bonus and a $23 million option bonus due next year.
Suggs, who is coming off a dominant season that saw him notch a career-high 102 tackles, team-leading eight sacks and two interceptions returned for touchdowns, said the money will not change him.
"The way I play is the way I play," Suggs stated. "The extra pressure comes from outside the locker room and field. I ain't particularly worried about it. I'm the same player and that's why we got a deal done."
"Players are not defined by their salary," he later said. "They are defined by what they do on the football field."
As if to show solidarity with the team and the City of Baltimore, Suggs traded the New York Yankees hats he typically sports for a bevy of Baltimore Orioles caps.
"I figured if a city is willing to invest in my future, I better change up what hats I'm wearing these days," he said with a smile. "I found enough O's hats to go with my wardrobe, so you won't see too many of those other kinds of hats."
Suggs reported to training camp on time after the new contract lifted his franchise tag, a designation he held during the entire 2008 campaign.
Even though he said he is "not a big fan of training camp],” Suggs is obviously having fun. When he’s been on the field, Suggs’ voice can be heard playfully taunting the offense and the Ravens’ two kickers, [**Graham Gano** and **Steve Hauschka**.
The Ravens expect to have that boisterous personality with them soon.
"Suggs should be fine. He put in three really good, hard days, and he's off to a good start," said head coach **John Harbaugh**.
