Matt Birk

On Friday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh didn't sound optimistic that Matt Birk would be available for Thursday night's preseason opener at the Atlanta Falcons. But the 36-year-old center said Saturday that he is holding out hope that he might be able to play Thursday. “I hope I don't” miss the game, Birk said after the team's practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. “We talked today, and although you can't predict the future, I hope I don't. My goal is to be out there.” Birk confirmed Harbaugh's diagnosis that back spasms have shelved him for the past six days.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh just met with reporters following practice and provided an update on several of his injured players: Cornerback Jimmy Smith, who left practice early yesterday, had his back lock up on him. Harbaugh said that it is a muscular issue that Smith also dealt with while playing at the University of Colorado. "It takes a couple of days usually for that to resolve," Harbaugh said. Center Matt Birk missed his fifth straight practice today and Harbaugh essentially ruled him out from next Thursday's preseason opener in Atlanta.

Ravens center Matt Birk missed practice for a fourth consecutive day Thursday. The reason for his absence has not been disclosed, though head coach John Harbaugh said on Tuesday that the 36-year-old is at the stage of his career where he doesn't have to practice every day. Rookie Gino Gradkowski has been filling in for him at center. There was still no sign of defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (hamstring) and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (back). Neither has practiced in training camp so far, though Harbaugh said Wednesday that Ngata is getting closer.

The Ravens just wrapped up another padded training camp practice at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, and head coach John Harbaugh had nothing new to report on offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, who has not been cleared to practice, and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who has a hamstring injury. However, Harbaugh confirmed what has already been reported: tight end Dennis Pitta broke his right hand. “We'll be shooting for the first regular season game,” Harbaugh said.

Like many young men who labored through youth football leagues, high school competition and eventually the college gridiron, Gino Gradkowski had visions of reaching the pinnacle of his profession and playing in the NFL. But Gradkowski - whose dream became reality when the Ravens used the first of two fourth-round picks in April's draft to select the Delaware product - conceded that there was one facet that gave him reason to pause. "You hear the horror stories about the NFL, about the guys who tell you the wrong thing or just won't talk to you at all," the rookie center-guard said.

After undergoing surgery to repair varicose veins in his legs, Matt Birk said he feels optimistic that his legs won't be a hindrance for him during the upcoming season. “I feel better,” the Ravens starting center said Tuesday, after the team's opening day of training camp . “[The doctors] say it'll help me feel better during the season. My leg won't get as fatigued. So it's a good thing.” Birk was among the limited group of players (quarterbacks, rookies and injured veterans)

The Ravens are doing the right thing by signing veteran offensive linemen like guard Bobbie Williams and center Tony Wragge. Regardless of head coach John Harbaugh saying the left guard position is open, it really isn't because Williams is the starter. Barring injury, he'll be in the lineup in the season opener. When he was with the Bengals, Williams used to play well against the Ravens and he got an endorsement from Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata during the offseason.

The Ravens opened up their mandatory minicamp Tuesday afternoon without two starters from their offensive line. Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and center Matt Birk were not on the rain-soaked practice field, though head coach John Harbaugh said their absences were excused. McKinnie was held out of practice due to concerns about his conditioning, but he was inside the practice facility. Meanwhile, Birk had surgery to have varicose veins fixed in his legs, something that has been on his plans since the end of last season but wasn't taken care of until last week.

Ed Reed  is not on the field participating in the first day of the Ravens' three-day mandatory minicamp, spurring even more questions about the mercurial safety's desire to play in 2012. Reed, the eight-time Pro Bowl selection who is entering the final year of his contract, has expressed some discontent with the Ravens on several occasions this offseason, and has yet to fully commit to playing this coming season though team officials have said that they expect to have him. An hour into practice, there was no sign of left tackle Bryant McKinnie, center Matt Birk and defensive lineman Pernell McPhee.