ALAMEDA, Calif. — Linebacker Aaron Curry has returned to practice with the Oakland Raiders for the first time since May after dealing with nagging knee problems in recent months.
Curry began the season on the physically unable to perform list and was unable to practice for the first six weeks. He made his first appearance on the field with his team on Wednesday, starting a three-week window for Oakland to decide whether to activate him, release him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.
Curry is working at all three linebacker spots for now after playing mostly as a weak-side linebacker last season in his first year with the Raiders.
“He looked good,” coach Dennis Allen said. “He moved around well. I think the key is to see how he responds tomorrow and we’ll continue to monitor him as we go through the week.”
Curry last practiced with the team at OTAs in mid-May. He was shut down later in the offseason program and wasn’t ready at the start of training camp. Curry told CSN California during training camp that he underwent stem-cell treatments on both knees, using bone marrow from his hips this summer.
Curry, the fourth overall pick by Seattle in 2009, was acquired by Oakland in a midseason trade last year for a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2013.
Curry played in 11 games, starting nine, for the Raiders and had 32 solo tackles, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
He was expected to start at weak-side linebacker but was never healthy enough to practice. Now the Raiders aren’t sure where he will be used if he is activated.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Allen said. “That’s not a decision that we have to make right now.”
Ravens’ Lewis ‘designated to return’
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ray Lewis has been placed on injured reserve with a “designated to return” tag that provides him the chance to play again this season.
Lewis tore his right triceps in Sunday’s 31-29 win over Dallas. He was scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday.
His return this season is unlikely, but by being designated to return, the 37-year-old is eligible to come back in six weeks.
Coach John Harbaugh says, “We have no idea whether that time frame has anything to do with the injury, but there’s an opportunity, and we’re going to keep the door open.”
