<p id="story-body">Mark Clayton is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason because of a sprained ankle, but the Ravens wide receiver said he'd be ready for the regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 10. Clayton, who sprained his right ankle while throwing a block in the first quarter of the team's 13-12 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday night, wore a protective boot yesterday as he walked around the locker room at the Ravens' training facility in Owings Mills. Clayton and coach Brian Billick agreed that the third-year receiver likely will miss the final two preseason games, against the Washington Redskins on Saturday and the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 31. But Clayton said he won't miss the season opener, even if the training staff suggests a longer absence to allow the ankle to heal.</p><p id="story-body2">"I'll be running as soon as possible, catching balls as soon as possible," Clayton said. "I need to be out there and work repetitions." Clayton, who suffered a high ankle sprain during his rookie season, said the pain associated with the current injury is not as severe. "For me, it's kind of the bone right above the ankle, kind of at the bottom of the shin," Clayton said. "That bone is really sore. So it's tough getting on my toes and everything." </p><div class="story-subhead">Ngata's injury status unclear</div>In other injury-related news, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (swollen knee), right guard Chris Chester (sprained foot) and rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes (twisted ankle) practiced. Ngata hurt his left knee when he banged it on the turf while diving after a Giants running back. He was unsure whether he would be playing against the Redskins. Chester, who hasn't played since spraining his foot against the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 13, said he will play on Saturday. "I would imagine that I'm going to be playing on Saturday," he said. "It would take a freak course of events for me not to play on Saturday, I think." <div class="story-subhead">Moore ready to fill in 'for anybody'</div>With Clayton and fellow wide receiver Derrick Mason unable to play against the Giants, Clarence Moore was the first receiver off the bench to play opposite Demetrius Williams. Moore caught just one pass for 4 yards, but he said he hopes his insertion into the offense was an indication of the coaches' confidence in him. "If any position is down, I can play that position," Moore said. "It builds faith in the coaches that I can get out there and fill for anybody that goes down, and I'm going to make sure that I keep it that way." <div class="story-subhead">Olson hopes for more playing time</div> Even though quarterback Drew Olson played just two of three Ravens offensive series in the third quarter, he didn't express disappointment with the limited number of snaps. "That's the way the game goes," said Olson, who threw just four passes and completed one for 6 yards. "Kyle [Boller] had to go a little bit longer, and they had the ball a little bit more. That's just the way it goes. It's never going to come out the way it's drawn up. It is what it is, and hopefully we'll get in there and get a little bit more next week and the following week." Olson is competing with rookie Troy Smith for the No. 3 role. The fifth-round choice played all three fourth-quarter series, completing four of eight passes for 60 yards and leading the offense to two Rhys Lloyd field goals. <div class="story-subhead">End zone</div>Notes: Besides Clayton, cornerback Samari Rolle (sprained ankle), tight end Daniel Wilcox (sprained ankle), running back P.J. Daniels (tweaked hamstring) and offensive tackle Steve Edwards (knee) did not practice. Defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison also was missing from practice, but the reason was unclear. ... Billick joked that he hadn't watched game film of Sunday night's loss. "I don't want to go back and look at the film," he said. "It was ugly. Just like I don't want to go back and look at that Minnesota game last year. We just didn't take care of business, the stupid little things. Physically, we were fine. The passion was fine. Execution wasn't bad. We just didn't take care of the little things, and hopefully we've got that out of our system."
With Clayton out, Moore and Darling might have a shot to show what they've got. I hope the injury heals before the season opener though because he is the top reciever on our team.
I hope he is good for season opener as well. He had a great season last year even thou it was towards the end. I see him having another great season breaking 1,000 yards. I also have him on my fantasy team.</p> I want to see him and Yamon Figurs on opposite side, that is how I roll on Madden 08'</p>
I think he'll be good to go for season opener. He is going to be very important this season. Billick keeps stressing how he wants to stretch the field more and think it's key to moving further in the playoffs.We'll see more 3WR sets, which also makes Willams key coming out of the slot. </p> I don't see Figurs making a huge impact this season as WR yet. He'sstillquiteraw. I'm sure he will see time though, here or there.</p> </p> Oh, and hey, welcome to the board. Hope you stick around. </p>
