Andre Gurode

Each week, we bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player, coach or team executive to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is center/left guard Andre Gurode. You have made the switch from center to left guard while Ben Grubbs recovers from strained ligaments in his toe. How would you describe the process of making that transition? It's pretty difficult. Playing offense is a challenge in and of itself, but it's difficult from the stance that your dominant hand as a right guard is your right hand, and your dominant hand as a left guard is your left hand.

In his own words, Matt Birk "can only imagine" what Andre Gurode must be going through. Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowler at center between 2006 and 2010 when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, is preparing to possibly start at right guard for the injured Marshal Yanda when the Ravens visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the teams' regular-season finale on Sunday. Birk, the starting center since joining the team prior to the 2009 campaign, smiled when asked about the difficulty in Gurode's assignment.

The Ravens reached a one-year agreement Sunday with five-time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode, increasing questions about Matt Birk's availability for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Birk, the Ravens' starting center for the past two seasons, didn't play this preseason after having knee surgery Aug. 3. He didn't participate in the team's only practice since the preseason finale. Gurode, 33, is the best insurance policy the Ravens could have gotten at center.

If the bruised ribs and thigh that Marshal Yanda suffered in the Ravens' 20-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns are too problematic for Yanda to overcome, Andre Gurode figures to be the first in line to start at right guard in Sunday's road contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Gurode is a five-time Pro Bowl center, but he started five games at left guard this season while Ben Grubbs was rehabilitating a big-toe injury on his right foot. Coach John Harbaugh praised Gurode's ability to fill in during the game against the Browns.

In his own words, Matt Birk "can only imagine" what Andre Gurode must be going through. Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowler at center between 2006 and 2010 when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, is preparing to possibly start at right guard for the injured Marshal Yanda when the Ravens visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the teams' regular-season finale on Sunday. Birk, the starting center since joining the team prior to the 2009 campaign, smiled when asked about the difficulty in Gurode's assignment.

If the bye week proves beneficial for the strained ligaments in the toe on Ben Grubbs' right foot, the expectation is that Grubbs will resume his role as the starting left guard when the Houston Texans visit the Ravens on Oct. 16. That would seem to leave Andre Gurode, the five-time Pro Bowl center who has made two consecutive starts at left guard in Grubbs' absence, out of the mix for the front five. But coach John Harbaugh sounded determined to find a role for Gurode even after Grubbs' return.

With starting left guard Ben Grubbs listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at the Tennessee Titans due to a toe injury, the prevailing thought was that Andre Gurode -- who is listed as the first backup at center and both guard positions -- would slide into that left guard spot. But it was Mark LeVoir, an offensive tackle, who got the nod over Gurode. It was a somewhat surprising development since Gurode had played guard during his first three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Then again, Gurode had made his living at center, where he was a five-time Pro Bowler.

If the bruised ribs and thigh that Marshal Yanda suffered in the Ravens' 20-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns are too problematic for Yanda to overcome, Andre Gurode figures to be the first in line to start at right guard in Sunday's road contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Gurode is a five-time Pro Bowl center, but he started five games at left guard this season while Ben Grubbs was rehabilitating a big-toe injury on his right foot. Coach John Harbaugh praised Gurode's ability to fill in during the game against the Browns.

The Ravens released the final injury report of the week, and starting left guard Ben Grubbs is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest at the Tennessee Titans. Grubbs has been bothered by a toe injury that has shelved him for the entire week of practices, but both he and coach John Harbaugh maintained some hope that he would be available.  If Grubbs -- who has made 67 consecutive starts at left guard since the beginning of the 2008 season -- cannot play, Andre Gurode will slide in at left guard.

Andre Gurode is expected to start at left guard after the Ravens deactivated both Ben Grubbs and Mark LeVoir for Sunday's road contest against the St. Louis Rams. The team announced that Grubbs, who did not practice this past week, had been scratched because of sprained ligaments in his toe. The surprise was that LeVoir, who started at left guard in a 26-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, had also been deactivated. Gurode is a five-time Pro Bowl center who hasn't played right guard since 2004 when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

Ravens center Matt Birk, who injured his shoulder in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, returned to practice Friday after sitting out the previous two and is optimistic that he will make his 93rd straight start. “Yeah, I feel good. We're still 48 hours away, and there's a lot to be done,” Birk said. “But I think it's one of those things where we'll have to see how it feels on Sunday. ... There's so much stress and worry and all those things that you just live in the now and go to the trainer's room and do what they tell me to do.” If for some reason Birk can't go Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Andre Gurode is waiting in the wings.

If the bye week proves beneficial for the strained ligaments in the toe on Ben Grubbs' right foot, the expectation is that Grubbs will resume his role as the starting left guard when the Houston Texans visit the Ravens on Oct. 16. That would seem to leave Andre Gurode, the five-time Pro Bowl center who has made two consecutive starts at left guard in Grubbs' absence, out of the mix for the front five. But coach John Harbaugh sounded determined to find a role for Gurode even after Grubbs' return.

Each week, we bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player, coach or team executive to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is center/left guard Andre Gurode. You have made the switch from center to left guard while Ben Grubbs recovers from strained ligaments in his toe. How would you describe the process of making that transition? It's pretty difficult. Playing offense is a challenge in and of itself, but it's difficult from the stance that your dominant hand as a right guard is your right hand, and your dominant hand as a left guard is your left hand.

Andre Gurode is expected to start at left guard after the Ravens deactivated both Ben Grubbs and Mark LeVoir for Sunday's road contest against the St. Louis Rams. The team announced that Grubbs, who did not practice this past week, had been scratched because of sprained ligaments in his toe. The surprise was that LeVoir, who started at left guard in a 26-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, had also been deactivated. Gurode is a five-time Pro Bowl center who hasn't played right guard since 2004 when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

Andre Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowler at center who started at right guard in 2003 and 2004 with the Dallas Cowboys, compared making the switch to left guard to asking a right-handed person to write with his left hand. “I've played guard before,” Gurode said Thursday. “I played on the right side, but I've never played on the left side. It's challenging, but I'm getting better day by day.” Gurode said he and Mark LeVoir are getting reps at left guard while starter Ben Grubbs continues to rehabilitate his injured toe. Grubbs has sat out the team's past two practices and is extremely questionable to play in Sunday's road game against the St. Louis Rams.

With starting left guard Ben Grubbs listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at the Tennessee Titans due to a toe injury, the prevailing thought was that Andre Gurode -- who is listed as the first backup at center and both guard positions -- would slide into that left guard spot. But it was Mark LeVoir, an offensive tackle, who got the nod over Gurode. It was a somewhat surprising development since Gurode had played guard during his first three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Then again, Gurode had made his living at center, where he was a five-time Pro Bowler.

Andre Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowler at center who started at right guard in 2003 and 2004 with the Dallas Cowboys, compared making the switch to left guard to asking a right-handed person to write with his left hand. “I've played guard before,” Gurode said Thursday. “I played on the right side, but I've never played on the left side. It's challenging, but I'm getting better day by day.” Gurode said he and Mark LeVoir are getting reps at left guard while starter Ben Grubbs continues to rehabilitate his injured toe. Grubbs has sat out the team's past two practices and is extremely questionable to play in Sunday's road game against the St. Louis Rams.

Ravens center Matt Birk, who injured his shoulder in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, returned to practice Friday after sitting out the previous two and is optimistic that he will make his 93rd straight start. “Yeah, I feel good. We're still 48 hours away, and there's a lot to be done,” Birk said. “But I think it's one of those things where we'll have to see how it feels on Sunday. ... There's so much stress and worry and all those things that you just live in the now and go to the trainer's room and do what they tell me to do.” If for some reason Birk can't go Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Andre Gurode is waiting in the wings.

Starting left guard Ben Grubbs, who sat out his third consecutive practice Friday, could not characterize his availability for the Ravens' road game at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. "I don't really know right now," Grubbs said after practice. "I'm just trying to take it one day at a time. Today's rehab and treatment were really big. I made some pretty big steps. So hopefully, tomorrow, I can help. That's what I'm looking forward to. " Grubbs, who has been plagued by a toe injury, will be a game-time decision, according to coach John Harbaugh.

The Ravens released the final injury report of the week, and starting left guard Ben Grubbs is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest at the Tennessee Titans. Grubbs has been bothered by a toe injury that has shelved him for the entire week of practices, but both he and coach John Harbaugh maintained some hope that he would be available.  If Grubbs -- who has made 67 consecutive starts at left guard since the beginning of the 2008 season -- cannot play, Andre Gurode will slide in at left guard.