Terrell Suggs walked onto the practice field right around 8:45 Monday morning to little fanfare.
There was no acknowledgement from the team before practice about his activation from the physically unable to perform list. There were no antics from Suggs, who has been known to announce his arrival to practice with a song or a pose in front of reporters and cameras.
Instead, the Ravens' longest-tenured player headed to practice quietly and by himself, taking a businesslike approach to his first appearance on the field since he tore his left Achilles tendon 11 months and two days earlier.
"He doesn't have to say anything, you can tell by the energy and the smile on his face that he was happy to be out here," Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr said. "He was licking at the chops to get out here. You can tell he was excited."
Suggs, 33, didn't do a whole lot during the Ravens' 13th practice of training camp. He worked primarily in individual drills and saw a couple of plays in 11-on-11 action. He also opted not to speak to reporters after the practice was over, although he did provide a statement through a team official.
"Darth Sizzle is back," Suggs said. "It felt great to be back on the field with the team. There is nothing like it. Didn't get to do too much today as I'm working my way back."
Suggs has felt ready to return for a couple of weeks. He easily passed the team's conditioning test on his own earlier this month to prove he was physically ready to practice. Ravens coach John Harbaugh played it safe with the14th-year veteran on two surgically-repaired Achilles' tendons.
The rush linebacker moved around pretty well Monday, and also appeared to be in decent shape, given his extended absence. It's extremely unlikely he'll play in the Ravens' second preseason game Saturday night in Indianapolis. However, Monday's return to the practice field should allow him to get snaps in the all-important third preseason game on Aug. 27 against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium.
Harbaugh traditionally plays his starters the most in the third preseason game before holding them out of the fourth and final contest. All along, Harbaugh has said his only concern is making sure Suggs is ready for the Sept. 11 regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
"Guys that have played a long time know their bodies better than we do," Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. "He knows better than anybody if he's ready to play right now. He passed that conditioning test with flying colors a couple of weeks ago. That's been a decision between the three of them _ coach Harbaugh, (head athletic trainer) Mark Smith and him _ when he came back. It will be the same thing; It will be a decision between those three guys of when he's ready to step on the field. I just want to be ready at the Buffalo game. That's all I care about."
Still, Pees acknowledged that "it was nice to see (No.) 55 out there. He's always fun in practice."
Ravens training camp has been relatively quiet so far without Suggs on the field to verbally spar with quarterback Joe Flacco and the team's offense, and with fiery wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. still on the PUP list as he rehabs an Achilles injury of his own. But that figures to change the more Suggs gets comfortable.
"It was great having him back today," nose tackle Brandon Williams said. "Seeing him come out gives us a lot of energy. He's just that fun-loving guy you love to see on the field. Not having him all last year, it's just a breath of fresh air having him out there, hanging out with the guys again. I saw him getting taped up and I was like, 'Hey, hey you,' and he was like, 'Yeah, so.' I saw him on the table getting taped up ready to go and he was out there."
Several team officials, including owner Steve Bisciotti, believe the 2015 Ravens never recovered from Suggs' season-ending Achilles injury in a Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos. The team finished 5-11, the worst season in Harbaugh's tenure, and generating a consistent pass rush was an issue all year.
How much a healthy Suggs can rectify that problem isn't yet clear. The six-time Pro Bowl selection and 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is the franchise's all-time leader in sacks (106 {) and forced fumbles (29). But he's also the team's oldest defensive player, and he's had two significant foot injuries in a four-year span.
Suggs left the team last September following his injury and was barely seen or heard from for months, spurring questions about his commitment to continuing his career. However, Suggs broke his silence early in training camp and said that he was hungry and motivated, and still feels he has good football left in his body.
There wasn't much to be gained from one practice in which Suggs was a limited participant, but the Ravens were just happy to get one of their leaders back on the field again. After all, it had been a while.
"We'll work him in as we can work him in," Pees said. "His health is the most important thing right now. He knows the defense. He knows what we're doing. He's been in all of the meetings. Anything we've changed, he knows. Now, it's just a matter of getting him ready."
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