David Reed

David Reed was admittedly disappointed when special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg informed him on Wednesday that he would not be returning kicks in the Ravens' game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. But Reed, who fumbled three times in the past two contests and lost two of those fumbles in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, said his disappointment was directed at himself, not his coach. “I'm disappointed in myself,” he said. “I let myself down, I let my teammates down, I let Jerry down.

Months after trading veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers following a contract dispute, the Ravens waited until the seventh round to draft a wide receiver. Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta attributed that to how their draft board stacked up with only a few elite receiver prospects like former Dunbar star Tavon Austin, but didn't rule out the possibility of acquiring an established receiver prior to the regular season. "I think the hunt goes on," DeCosta said Monday night during The Baltimore Sun Sports Forum.

Drug charges against Ravens kick returner David Reed have been moved to the inactive docket by Baltimore County prosecutors, effectively dropping the case. Reed was charged Dec. 8 with possession of marijuana. Lt. Robert McCullough told The Sun at the time that Baltimore County police were called to Reed's Owings Mills apartment to investigate "possible narcotics. " Though the case was set for a court date next week, prosecutors on Friday placed the case on the "stet" docket, meaning the case will not be pursued and will eventually be dropped after a year.

David Reed raised a few eyebrows when he wore Lee Evans' No. 83 jersey at practice Wednesday. Evans was blamed by many for being unable to hold onto a potential game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco in the waning minutes of the Ravens' 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots in last year's AFC championship game. But Reed didn't wear the same jersey Thursday or Friday. After Friday's practice, the receiver explained why. “That's my boy,” Reed said. “But you know, with the circumstances that went down last year, guys were giving me a hard time about it a little bit. So I haven't worn that jersey anymore.” In addition to showing some solidarity with a former teammate, Reed said he was wearing No. 83 to help the defense prepare for the Patriots' No. 83. “I was being Wes Welker for the scout team,” Reed said.

Coach John Harbaugh confirmed that wide receiver and kick returner David Reed rejoined the Ravens for their walkthrough on Monday after serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.  The return of Reed means that the organization must waive someone from the roster. The plan has been to possibly get rookie defensive end Michael McAdoo through waivers and sign him to the practice squad, but Harbaugh sounded as if that plan was still in a state of flux.

In the aftermath of losing two fumbles on kick returns in the Ravens' 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13, David Reed was instructed to work with running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery on addressing his issues with ball security. On Thursday, special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg provided an update of Reed's progress in that department. “The drills have been really productive,” Rosburg said during his weekly media briefing Thursday. “Wilbert is really good at this, and he's been grinding on David.

Thursday's news that David Reed upgraded to full participation after being limited Wednesday was perhaps the clearest signal that the wide receiver and kick returner is ready to return Sunday when the Ravens play host to the Houston Texans. Special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg sounded optimistic about Reed's chances when Rosburg addressed the media during his weekly briefing Thursday. “He's practicing,” Rosburg said. “So we'll wait and see until Sunday. But it's good to see him out there running around.

The Ravens' 31-24 win against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday was the first time David Reed had been a healthy scratch since Oct. 24, 2010 against the Buffalo Bills. It's a scenario that Reed is hoping doesn't become a habit. “I want to play,” Reed said after Monday evening's practice. “I don't like feeling like that. I want to contribute any way I can to the team. Not being able to play definitely hurt, and I want to try to avoid that.” Reed, who had his kick return duties stripped from him after fumbling three times in his previous two games and losing two in a 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13, said he fully understands why he was deactivated.

Three fumbles in two games has cost David Reed his job as the Ravens' primary kick returner. Special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said during his weekly briefing Thursday that Reed, who fumbled two kick returns that contributed to the team's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, will not return kicks this Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals visit M&T Bank Stadium. Lardarius Webb and rookie LaQuan Williams are listed as the primary and secondary options , respectively, on kick returns, but Rosburg said the team is still in the process of naming the primary returner.

David Reed's status as the Ravens' primary kick returner is unclear after his performance in the team's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his status among his teammates has not changed. Torrey Smith, who replaced Reed in the second half after he lost two fumbles and drew a critical unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, said he hoped that Reed would be given the opportunity to return kicks this Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals visit M&T Bank Stadium. “I hope David is back there,” Smith said.

It had been a long time since David Reed had done something productive on the football field. It had been even longer since the last time he did something on offense. But in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, the wide receiver and return specialist caught both balls thrown in his direction - one for 12 yards in the third quarter and the other for 10 yards in the final frame. The receptions were Reed's first since the Ravens selected him in the fifth round of the NFL draft in 2010.

The Ravens announced Monday that they had activated wide receiver David Reed from the physically unable to perform list and placed safety Anthony Levine on season-ending injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Reed, 25, a 2010 fifth-round draft pick, hasn't played since he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 of the 2011 season. He was not ready for the start of training camp and he was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of the regular season, as his surgically-repaired knee was not fully healed.

There was a much lighter turnout at today's Ravens voluntary OTA (organized team activity) than a week ago. By my count, 19 of 90 players on the roster are absent today. Missing from today's workout: Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ray Rice, Bernard Pollard, Haloti Ngata, Anquan Boldin, Marshal Yanda, Bryant McKinnie, Jah Reid, Jimmy Smith, Cody Glenn, Rodney Bradley, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Asa Jackson, Pernell McPhee, Bryan Hall, David Reed and Vonta Leach. David Reed could be here somewhere.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday what the team feared when David Reed crumpled to the turf at M&T Bank Stadium without being hit by a Cleveland Browns player Saturday. Reed tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during his 30-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter. It's the second time in as many years that Reed will be unable to complete a season as he was shelved for the team's final two regular-season contests and two postseason games last year by torn ligaments in his left wrist.

In the aftermath of losing two fumbles on kick returns in the Ravens' 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13, David Reed was instructed to work with running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery on addressing his issues with ball security. On Thursday, special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg provided an update of Reed's progress in that department. “The drills have been really productive,” Rosburg said during his weekly media briefing Thursday. “Wilbert is really good at this, and he's been grinding on David.

Unlike last Sunday, there were no blatant miscues on kick returns in the Ravens' 31-24 win against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. Tom Zbikowski returned one kick for 26 yards, and Chris Carr and Lardarius Webb split four touchbacks. While not earth-shattering, those results were much better received than David Reed's two lost fumbles in the 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13. For Zbikowski who got drilled by Bengals safety Taylor Mays on his lone return, returning a kick for the first time in about a year was about regaining a feel for the assignment.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday what the team feared when David Reed crumpled to the turf at M&T Bank Stadium without being hit by a Cleveland Browns player Saturday. Reed tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during his 30-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter. It's the second time in as many years that Reed will be unable to complete a season as he was shelved for the team's final two regular-season contests and two postseason games last year by torn ligaments in his left wrist.

Months after trading veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers following a contract dispute, the Ravens waited until the seventh round to draft a wide receiver. Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta attributed that to how their draft board stacked up with only a few elite receiver prospects like former Dunbar star Tavon Austin, but didn't rule out the possibility of acquiring an established receiver prior to the regular season. "I think the hunt goes on," DeCosta said Monday night during The Baltimore Sun Sports Forum.

The Ravens' 31-24 win against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday was the first time David Reed had been a healthy scratch since Oct. 24, 2010 against the Buffalo Bills. It's a scenario that Reed is hoping doesn't become a habit. “I want to play,” Reed said after Monday evening's practice. “I don't like feeling like that. I want to contribute any way I can to the team. Not being able to play definitely hurt, and I want to try to avoid that.” Reed, who had his kick return duties stripped from him after fumbling three times in his previous two games and losing two in a 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13, said he fully understands why he was deactivated.

David Reed was admittedly disappointed when special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg informed him on Wednesday that he would not be returning kicks in the Ravens' game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. But Reed, who fumbled three times in the past two contests and lost two of those fumbles in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, said his disappointment was directed at himself, not his coach. “I'm disappointed in myself,” he said. “I let myself down, I let my teammates down, I let Jerry down.