Smith sent to hospital, Boller's status still unclear
The battle for the Ravens starting quarterback job is starting to look more and more like an episode of "Survivor".
Troy Smith, who some considered the favorite to win the job a couple weeks ago, had to be sent to Union Memorial Hospital before Thursday night's game, where he is being treated for what the Ravens are now calling a tonsil infection. He will receive IV fluids for the next two days to try and clear out the infection.
The Ravens will reevaluate his status this weekend.
A team spokesman also indicated that Kyle Boller will not need surgery on his injured shoulder, but head coach John Harbaugh refused to go into details about the extent of the injury. There have been reports that Boller has a partially torn labrum.
Rookie Joe Flacco remains the only healthy, viable candidate for Harbaugh at this point.
If Boller has to miss significant time, and Smith can recover from his infection within the next few days, it means that in all likelihood, Harbaugh and the coaching staff will have to decide between Smith (who has two career starts) and Flacco (who has none).
Harbaugh did not rule out the option of bringing in another quarterback to compete for the starting position.
"We're open to any and every possibility," Harbaugh said. "But I would not think we would need to go out and get another quarterback to be our starter before opening day. If lightning strikes, that's a possibility, but that's not what we're looking to do right now."
Smith's illness has limited his opportunities this preseason, and he has gone just 8-of-17 for 99 yards and an INT in his two games played. By contrast, Flacco is 35-for-67 for 284 yards and a TD in his time this preseason.
"I think Joe is in a place where he can come back and compete for us as an opening day starter," Harbaugh said. "We'll have to see in the next four or five days, but he's acclimating himself very well."
The Ravens organization seemed to prefer to take a cautious approach with Flacco early on. They had planned on letting him start the season as a backup and learn the offense from the sidelines. With all the injuries going on around him, that plan might no longer be an option.
When asked if he would be ready if the starting job were given to him, Flacco's reply was as simple as it gets.
"Yes."
I still think it would be wise to start Smith on opening day; but he certainly didn't earn the right to start. Maybe starting from game one is Flacco's destiny. I say it totally depends on how the coaches feel the offensive line is doing. It seemed to do OK last night.