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He took part in some light team drills last week, but wide receiver Donte' Stallworth had what he called his first real practice yesterday since breaking his foot over two months ago.
Stallworth says he feels like the injured left foot is coming along and responding well to the increased work, and he considers himself a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
"As of right now, it's still going to be a little sore after practicing today," Stallworth said. "It's a little sore right now. The main thing is making sure I get treatment on it and do what I'm supposed to be doing.
"You've got to work it back in. The good thing about having a bye week is we had a light practice today. We get an extra day of the work. By the end of the week, I should be feeling pretty good and feeling good enough to play."
If he is able to make his 2010 debut this weekend, Stallworth will help the Ravens stretch the field on offense, and he could provide a spark on special teams as well, where head coach John Harbaugh is desperately searching for someone who can give him a big play or two in the punt return game.
Asked about the chances of Stallworth returning punts this Sunday if he's active, Harbaugh said that it's a possibility, but that the Ravens would have to be confident that the eight-year veteran was comfortable enough in that role.
"I think if he's able to go, he's able to go with whatever we need. The foot injury, we wouldn't be worried about that," Harbaugh said. "But it'd be a matter of whether he's ready to do it or not. He'd have to look good catching punts in practice in traffic. He's done it before; he's a good, solid punt catcher. As a matter of fact, he's been catching punts for weeks out there. So, it would just have to be something that we feel like he'd be our best option, and I would say that's a possibility."
For what it's worth, Stallworth says returning punts is something that he would enjoy doing if the coaches feel he's ready.
"I would like to," Stallworth said. "Whatever Harbs wants me to do, I'll do whatever they need me to do. I've been in the meetings and catching some punts. I guess that will come a little later in the week once we start actual game planning for the Dolphins this week."
If he does return this weekend against Miami, Stallworth said that he doesn't expect to be 100 percent healthy. But that doesn't necessarily bother him.
"In the NFL no one is ever 100 percent. You're not even 100 percent during OTAs," Stallworth said. "Being 100 percent isn't my goal, it's just making sure I can feel good about my routes. I asked the DBs a lot how do I look and trying to get some tips and if I'm giving anything away in my routes. They're helping me out a whole lot.
"I feel pretty good speed-wise. The main thing is making sure I keep the maintenance up and not let the soreness compound into another setback."
