Ray Lewis was ruled out for the fifth straight game, but the injured All-Pro linebacker has told some of his Ravens teammates that he plans on returning for next week's game at Miami.

Lewis' partially dislocated left shoulder has improved this week, and Ravens officials are encouraged that he will not need season-ending surgery. Lewis has not played since jamming his shoulder into the ground Oct. 6 while pouncing on a loose ball.

"With each week, he gets better," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "How much better is the key. Ray is really the only one that can know. He's certainly carrying himself with a little more bounce. So, that's probably a pretty good indicator."

Lewis was not available for comment yesterday.

If Lewis does return, there is still a chance he will need to have his shoulder surgically repaired after the season. The normal recovery time is six months, meaning Lewis could be ready for training camp if he has surgery in early January.

"If indeed, he comes back and plays the last five or six games, that possibility may have to be addressed at the end of the season," trainer Bill Tessendorf said. "Ideally, the sooner the better."

Lewis was entering the end of a six-week window set by the team to determine if the linebacker needed surgery during the season. Although he never made it out to the practice field this week, he had a good week of lifting weights and even wrestled around with teammates in the locker room.

"We're moving in the right direction," Tessendorf said.

The Ravens defense has held up admirably without Lewis but his return would be a significant boost leading up to the game against the AFC East-leading Dolphins. The Ravens are 1-3 in Lewis' absence, with the defense giving up an average of 19 points without him.

"Obviously, we want Ray Lewis back," Billick said. "But for this team to do what it's done without Ray Lewis will benefit us in the long run. Now, if indeed Ray can come back, it will augment the gains they've made without him, and that's a tremendous environment for us to be in the remainder of the season."