OWINGS MILLS, Md.: Baltimore
Ravens running back Willis McGahee, currently
limited to running in a swimming pool as he
recuperates from arthroscopic surgery on his left
knee, expects to be running with the football when
the season starts.
Although he's off crutches, McGahee isn't able to jog
yet. He's targeting the Ravens' Sept. 7 season-opener
against the Cincinnati Bengals for his return.
"I will be ready, but I don't know about playing in the
preseason," McGahee said. "We will have to wait and
see. It's always making progress. Every day I come out
here, it's getting better."
Because he can't run yet and the clock is ticking down
to the opener, McGahee is making the most out of his
aquatic workouts.
"I know it ain't exactly running, but running in the
pool is great conditioning," McGahee said. "Just ask
Michael Phelps."
McGahee underwent surgery in Coral Gables, Fla., during
training camp at the same hospital where doctors
surgically repaired a devastating injury to his left
knee during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Now,he's trying to work his way back in shape from the
much less serious setback.
"It's not the same rehab, it's totally different,"
McGahee said. "This is like a walk in the park."
Ravens coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that there's a
chance that McGahee may miss the entire preseason.
"There is a timetable, but I'd have to say it's fluid
because you just don't know for sure," Harbaugh said.
"That's the thing coaches ask all the time: 'Tell us
when he's going to be back.' We want that answer, too,
but it's impossible."
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is intalling a new
offense that features the tailback, but McGahee is
missing valuable repetitions after skipping the
majority of offseason workouts.
"There are certain things you need to be on the field
to see," McGahee said. "Right now, they're throwing the
whole playbook at us and they want you to remember it
all. What they did the first day, they might not bring
it back up again until today, and I'm like, 'Man, I
don't remember all this.'"
McGahee is in no apparent danger of losing his job to
rookie Ray Rice, a second-round pick who rushed for 77
yards and a touchdown in a 23-15 loss to the Minnesota
Vikings. Harbaugh has said McGahee remains entrenched
as the starter.
Four-time Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal looks forward
to forming a productive tandem with McGahee when
he returns.
"He's a physical man and we just want him to have a
speedy recovery so we can get him out here on the
field," Neal said. "We're going to need that guy
because he's definitely a workhorse. The guy is a
great back."
(iht.com)