Daniel Wilcox

Quinn Sypniewski is perfect. Eight times the football has been thrown in Sypniewski's direction this season, and eight times the Ravens tight end has caught the pass, displaying a talent that he hoped to showcase in his second NFL season. "I have a lot of confidence in myself," Sypniewski said. "Just to be able to go out there and show that to my teammates is definitely something I like to do." Selected in the fifth round in 2006 for his blocking skills, Sypniewski has been waiting to be a part of the Ravens' passing attack.

Although the Ravens are hoping that Trevor Pryce might return for the Oct. 14 game against the St. Louis Rams, the defensive end is not nearly as optimistic. Pryce, who hasn't played since fracturing his left wrist in the third quarter of the Ravens' win over the New York Jets on Sept. 16, said yesterday that he did not think he would be ready to play before the team's bye Oct. 28. "After the bye," Pryce said of his projected return. "I'm almost 90 percent sure I'll play against Pittsburgh [on Nov. 5]

Arizona at Ravens CARDINALS -- Out: C Al Johnson (knee). Questionable: Alan Branch (hand). RAVENS -- Out: T Jonathan Ogden (toe), DT Trevor Pryce (wrist). Doubtful: TE Daniel Wilcox (ankle). Questionable: RB Justin Green (thigh), CB Samari Rolle (illness). Probable: T Jared Gaither (knee), CB Corey Ivy (thigh), QB Steve McNair (groin), CB David Pittman (ankle), S Gerome Sapp (foot), LB Gary Stills (knee), TE Quinn Sypniewski (neck).

When punter Sam Koch walked into the Ravens' special teams meeting room Wednesday, attached to the board was a printout noting he was second in the AFC in punting average. Koch quickly took down the sheet of paper. "I immediately took it off there because I don't want to put that in the back of my head," he said. "I could have a solid game with only inside-the-20[-yard line] punts, but that would bring down my average. So I don't really try to think about it. I just want to do what I have to do to help the team out."

Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and quarterback Steve McNair said yesterday that they are aiming to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Both took part in practice yesterday, and although Ogden was more limited, he and McNair said their goal is to play at M&T Bank Stadium. "I'm still trying for this week," Ogden said. "All I can do is go through practice and see how it feels. If it feels OK, then you've got to go in the game. There's no preseason for me. I've just got to be ready to go or not and see how it goes from there."

The Ravens are still in a holding pattern regarding offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden. Ogden, a 10-time Pro Bowl pick, practiced yesterday for the first time in pads but was limited during practice, according to the team. Afterward, Ogden, who has been sidelined for the entire offseason and preseason with a hyperextended toe, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about playing against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night but also acknowledged that if the game was yesterday, he would not have played.

In a society where your age can be viewed as a blessing or a curse, the focus on age is even more pronounced in sports, where athletes who are 30 or older are usually categorized as slower, weaker and less productive. With a veteran nucleus, the Ravens have been frequently mentioned as a team whose window for winning a Super Bowl is closing. The team has 10 projected starters who are 30 or older -- center Mike Flynn, defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, linebacker Ray Lewis, wide receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Chris McAlister, quarterback Steve McNair, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, cornerback Samari Rolle and kicker Matt Stover.

The Ravens' biggest player -- literally and figuratively -- is also their biggest injury concern. Ten-time Pro Bowl pick Jonathan Ogden, listed at 6 feet 9 and 345 pounds, is still a question mark for the Ravens' season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Ogden, who has been sidelined the entire preseason by a hyperextended toe on his left foot, took part in individual drills yesterday. At one point, he lined up next to left guard Jason Brown, and the pair attacked reserves Ikechuku Ndukwe and Mike Kracalik during a blocking drill.

Ending one of the few position battles this preseason, the Ravens selected rookie Troy Smith as the No. 3 quarterback and released Drew Olson yesterday. The move was somewhat surprising as Olson had outplayed Smith. But Smith was the team's fifth-round pick in April's NFL draft and is expected to be groomed as a possible successor to starting quarterback Steve McNair. "Decisions have to be made," coach Brian Billick said after practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. "Drew was with us for his first year.

The Ravens' rash of penalties in their last preseason game can be called an aberration. Their struggles in the running game cannot. RAVENS@REDSKINS Preseason game, tonight, 8 o'clock, FedEx Field, Landover TV, radio: Chs. 45, 9, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM, 730 AM, 97.9 FM, 92.7 FM What to watch for POSITION -- Receiver. With Mark Clayton out with an ankle injury, Demetrius Williams will make his second straight start. But this is the time when Devard Darling and Clarence Moore need to step up. Darling and Moore, both of whom are battling for the No. 4 receiver spot, have combined for five catches for 53 yards this preseason.