Ray Lewis' much-anticipated return to the Baltimore Ravens' lineup after missing four games with a toe injury hasn't quite been the game-changing addition many anticipated.
The 13-time Pro Bowl linebacker does have 20 tackles in his past two games, but the Ravens' defense looked uncharacteristically soft in giving up 34 points in a loss to the San Diego Chargers. One opposing coach told The Baltimore Sun this week that Lewis doesn't look 100 percent.
"It's obvious that the toe injury hasn't healed completely and he can't push off," the coach said. "The toe is not ready. If you look back over Ray Lewis' career, one of his biggest assets was being able to get off blocks and run. Now, he can't get off blocks because he can't push off. He doesn't have the same juice in his legs. He can still go side to side, but if you run straight at him, he can't hold ground."
The Ravens can clinch a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs Sunday with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
