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As Lardarius Webb works his way back from a torn ACL, he's heard the talk that he might be out through training camp and possibly through part of the regular season.
But Webb isn't thinking about any of that or setting any timetables for himself. All the Ravens' rookie cornerback wants to do is rehab his injured knee carefully and get completely healthy.
"I'm not looking at anything," Webb said recently. "I'm just going to take it slow. I'm going to work hard on my recovery, and whenever I come back, I come back.
"I don't want to rush myself to get back at a time and then I hurt myself again. So I'm going to be taking my time with this one."
Webb recently had surgery to repair the torn ligament in his right knee. ("Everything went good, but it just hurt," he said. "It was painful."), and now comes the process of getting his strength and mobility back, which will not be an easy task.
ACL recoveries usually take somewhere in the seven-to-nine month range, and because Webb's injury came so late in the season (Dec. 20), that could take him through OTAs and training camp, making him a potential PUP candidate at the start of the 2010 season.
The Ravens hope that Webb's youth will make it an easier rehab process, and the 24-year-old corner said he plans on staying in Baltimore during the offseason to work with Ravens trainer Bill Tessendorf.
"I'm here. I don't get a break," he said. "I'm here the whole time, working with Bill T. trying to get back as quick as possible."
Webb made slow but steady progress in his rookie season, starting the year as a contributor on punt return and punt coverage and working his way up the playing time ladder.
At the time of his injury, Webb had become a key member of the Baltimore defense and special teams. Webb earned the job as the Ravens' full-time kickoff returner a few weeks into the season, and after cornerback Fabian Washington went down with a torn ACL of his own, Webb was elevated to a starter at corner.
Many rookies would consider that an impressive start to their NFL careers, but Webb wants more.
"I just got started," Webb said. "I wasn't really able to prove myself yet. It's going to be a lot of hard work this offseason because I have a lot to prove when I come back. I'm anxious to get back and anxious to get to work.
"When I get back, I'll be ready."
