Among the few injury concerns the Ravens are dealing with, the most positive sign involved Mark Clayton, who said he intends to play in Sunday's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The wide receiver, who did not play in the preseason because of a strained left hamstring suffered Aug. 2, said the hamstring feels strong.
"I'm excited, and I'm ready to go," said Clayton, who reassumed his starter's job alongside Derrick Mason during the media-viewed portion of practice Wednesday. "I've been practicing at a high level and taking a lot of reps on it. I've been going full speed because if I'm going to go out, I needed to mimic everything that I would be doing in the games. I've been able to do that well."
Clayton's return would bring some stability to a corps that has just four wide-outs in Mason, Kelley Washington, Demetrius Williams and Clayton. But while Clayton expressed optimism about playing, coach John Harbaugh kept his thoughts under wraps.
"I wouldn't comment on it if I did know," Harbaugh said of Clayton's status. "I really don't know for sure. Those are the kinds of things that you have to wait and see how they go, how he practices and how he feels with it. It's a hamstring, so we just have to see."
Clayton has missed just two contests in his four-year career and has played in 57 consecutive games. But Clayton said continuing the streak would not play a role in his return.
"I'm going because I feel really good," he said. "Coach knows that if it was something that was questionable, I'm going to go. That's just how I am."
Tight end L.J. Smith, who has been dealing with a pulled left hamstring suffered Aug. 24, said the injury is healing but that he was relegated to running on his own and sitting out practice Wednesday.
"We've got to test it out and see if it's ready," Smith said. "It's 16 games, and the coaches definitely want to make sure that I'm available."
Marshal Yanda said his surgically repaired right knee feels good, but he conceded that Chris Chester will likely get the start at right guard Sunday.
"There is a chance [Yanda could start], but most likely, it looks like Chris is going to start," said Yanda, who tore the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and medial collateral ligament. "I'm just working hard every day and we'll go from there."
Offensive tackle Oniel Cousins (twisted right ankle) and rookie linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (sprained right medial collateral ligament) said they are improving and hope to play against the Chiefs.
