Though still being bothered by a lacerated right eyelid, running back Willis McGahee participated fully in practice yesterday for the first time this week and is expected to be available for the Ravens' showdown with the reigning AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Speaking before yesterday's practice for the first time since suffering the injury Sunday, McGahee sounded noncommittal about whether he would be able to play against the Steelers.
"I don't know how it's going to be, to tell you the truth," said McGahee, who wore sunglasses but is listed as probable on the team's injury report. "I'm going to go out here and try to practice and see what goes on after that."
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron sounded slightly more optimistic about McGahee's status, saying: "He's doing fine from what I can tell. His eye doesn't look great, but I think he's been doing OK in meetings today. ... He's getting ready to play. That's the important thing."
McGahee, who missed the entire preseason and the season opener after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown in the Ravens' 28-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
But he left the game in the third quarter with blood dripping from his right eye after gaining 7 yards and moving the ball to the Browns' 1.
After the injury, McGahee, who was also poked in the left eye, carried the ball just one time for minus 1 yard, and coach John Harbaugh sent film of the game to the NFL for a determination on whether a Browns player had intentionally gouged McGahee's eye.
The league cleared the Browns on Thursday of wrongdoing.
"I don't even know what happened, to tell you the truth," said McGahee, who said he has not watched the game film. "I'm just finding out about it. ... I don't know what the call was. I'm just taking it day by day."
Even with McGahee, the team could rotate fullback Le'Ron McClain and rookie running back Ray Rice against the Steelers, the NFL's second-toughest rush defense.
McClain, who leads the team in carries (36), yards (152) and touchdowns (two), missed practice Thursday because of a migraine, but he returned yesterday and also is listed as probable.
"He's full go," Cameron said. "He was great in meetings this morning, and he'll be ready to play."
As expected, cornerback Samari Rolle, who injured his right shoulder in the fourth quarter of Sunday's victory, did not practice yesterday and was ruled out for Monday's contest.
