Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that he's pleased by Jared Gaither's progress with a back injury, telling the team's official blog that the right tackle could possibly return by the Sept. 13 season opener against the New York Jets.
"That's what I've been told. We'll just have to see how it goes," Harbaugh said. "I know one thing: He's working really hard. He gets treatment all day long, he's working very hard on his lower body lifting, he's working hard on his cardiovascular. I think Jared's doing everything he can to get himself back."
Gaither told the *Baltimore Sun* on Tuesday that he won't need back surgery, but he couldn't put a timetable on his return.
The fourth-year pro, who hasn't practiced in three weeks, said he has been diagnosed with a thoracic disc injury, a condition involving a herniated disc in the upper back that can cause pain and numbness.
"Nothing's going to accelerate my return but healthiness," Gaither said. "Whenever I'm 100 percent, that's really the only thing that will get me back on the field. This is my back, and you need that for life. The only thing that can get me back on the field is (being) 100 percent healthy."
If Gaither can't play in the opener, Oniel Cousins or Tony Moll likely will receive the call at right tackle. Cousins has been sidelined with a concussion and didn't play in last week's preseason game against the Washington Redskins. Moll, a former Green Bay Packers starter, did well in the position against the Redskins.
