Jake Delhomme still can't trade his walking boot for cleats.
The quarterback, who injured his right ankle during his Week 1 debut with the Cleveland Browns, hasn't been cleared to practice, and it appears he will be sidelined for this Sunday's game in Baltimore and possibly next week as well.
*The Cleveland Plain Dealer* reported Thursday, citing a league source, that Delhomme has a high ankle sprain. If that's the case, Delhomme could miss anywhere from four to six weeks.
Browns coach Eric Mangini has been intentionally vague about Delhomme's status, and the team hasn't given any specifics about the severity of the ankle injury, which the 35-year-old sustained while throwing a costly interception during the first half of the opener at Tampa Bay.
If Delhomme can't play, and that appears the case, backup Seneca Wallace will make his second consecutive start Sunday against the Ravens. Last week, the Browns didn't announce Wallace would start the home opener and that Delhomme was inactive until an hour before kickoff.
Delhomme hasn't practiced, nor has he been available to the media this week. A team spokesman said Delhomme was undergoing treatment and will meet with reporters Friday.
Mangini maintains that Delhomme is getting better. Before Thursday's practice, the coach was asked if Delhomme's injury could carry into next week.
"Could it?" Mangini asked. "I think there is potential. He's been progressively better each day. I thought he was moving around pretty good today when I saw him. With injuries, I don't really know. Sometimes they ... I don't know."
Delhomme could be dealing with the dreaded high ankle sprain, an injury from which it can take as long as a month to recover. Mangini said Delhomme is still wearing a protective walking boot, but it's common for players to wear one with similar injuries.
Running back Jerome Harrison (thigh), nose tackle Shaun Rogers, wide receiver Brian Robiskie (ankle) and linebacker Marcus Benard (ankle) also missed practice Thursday. Mangini is optimistic he will have a few players back for Friday's practice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
