Ravens Put Preseason to Rest
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In a game in which a majority of their starters took the night off, the Ravens might have been preparing to be without a Pro Bowl player in the regular-season opener.
At the start of last night's 13-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Ravens moved Adam Terry to left tackle, a possible indication that injured Jonathan Ogden could miss the Sept. 10 game in Cincinnati.
"We'll have to see what J.O.'s situation is," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "He progressed fairly well through the week, but we'll have to see what next week brings."
With 13 of 22 starters sitting out the preseason finale - including quarterback Steve McNair and linebacker Ray Lewis (who didn't accompany the team on the trip because of family reasons) - the surprise reshuffling of the offense line became the most intriguing story line.
Terry, a natural left tackle, spent all of the offseason minicamps and the first three preseason games at right tackle, where he replaced Tony Pashos.
But Ogden said earlier this week that he was uncertain whether he would be ready for the season opener because of his hyperextended toe.
In his first start at left tackle last night, Terry lasted an uneventful seven plays before joining the rest of the starters on the sideline. Last season, Terry had two strong starts filling in for Ogden, not allowing a sack to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Joey Porter or the Buffalo Bills' Aaron Schobel.
"It felt fine," said Terry, a second-round pick in 2005. "It was like riding a bike."
The Ravens started Jared Gaither at left tackle for the first three preseason games, but they probably don't want a rookie to be protecting McNair's blind side when the games count. So, Terry shifted to the left side and rookie third-round pick Marshal Yanda took over at right tackle.
Asked if he was ready to start on the left side if Ogden couldn't play, Terry said, "I have no other choice. To feel comfortable is not an option. You just have to go out and do it."
Read More: Ravens put preseason to rest [Baltimore Sun]
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