Daniel Wilcox is hurting this season.
The Ravens tight end sprained his right ankle during the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 10. Three weeks later against the Cleveland Browns, he sprained his left ankle, which is the same ankle he injured during the second week of training camp. Finally, he sprained the big toe on his left foot on the same play against the Browns.
But what bothers Wilcox the most is not being able to contribute on the field. Instead, he has been relegated to standing on the sideline or staying at home watching as the Ravens staggered to a 4-3 record before this weekend's bye.
"It's horrible," Wilcox said about being unable to play. "It's almost a feeling of `I'm letting my teammates down' because you wish you could be out there with them. You wish you could suit up with them, and you wish you could go to work with them."
Whether Wilcox will play again this season is in question. On Monday, coach Brian Billick said he expected all of the team's injured starters to return in time for the Ravens' Monday night game Nov. 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers - with the exception of Wilcox.
"The Pittsburgh game will put us right on that outer edge that we'll have to see: `Has he made the progress we think he can and is therefore worth holding on to [for a roster spot]?'" Billick said. "Or do the doctors tell us: `No, you're still another couple weeks out?' Then we'd have to think about that [putting him on injured reserve]."
Wilcox, who has missed five games, shook his head when asked whether he considered shutting himself down for the remainder of the season.
"I want to play," he said. "I'm here for one reason, and that's to be an excellent teammate, to win games, to play my position, and that's what I'm going to do. Right now, I know I'm a little down and out, but when the time comes for me to step on the field, I'll be ready to go."
Wilcox has endured injuries in the past. A high ankle sprain forced him to miss the final three games of the 2005 season, and a pulled right hamstring sidelined him for two games late last year.
But this season has been the most difficult for Wilcox. The left ankle sprain in training camp occurred when running back Willis McGahee accidentally stepped on Wilcox's heel during practice.
A month later against the Bengals, Wilcox sprained his right ankle while blocking for B.J. Sams on a return. ("The whole ankle turned," he said.) Then against the Browns, a defender's knee landed on and twisted Wilcox's left foot and toe.
