Jeff Blake will start the next three games for the Ravens and likely finish the season as the starting quarterback.

Ravens coach Brian Billick spent most of his news conference yesterday sidestepping the quarterback situation but confirmed that Chris Redman would be out until Week 14 - Dec. 8 - with a back injury. Under that timetable, the Ravens would have to make a decision between Blake and Redman as their starting quarterback with four games left in the regular season.

If the Ravens are in playoff contention at that point, it's a near certainty that Billick would stick with Blake. If the team is out of the postseason hunt, Billick would likely base his decision on Blake's performance.

When asked whether he went by the theory that starters don't lose their jobs because of injury, Billick said, "I've never been one to believe in that."

Tied with the Cleveland Browns for second place in the AFC North, the Ravens (4-5) have crept to 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and have moved into an AFC logjam of teams that is a game out of the final wild-card spot.

The Ravens' next three games are: at the Miami Dolphins (5-4), home against the Tennessee Titans (5-4) and at the Cincinnati Bengals (1-8).

Under the right circumstances, the Ravens remain interested in developing Redman, a third-round draft pick in 2000. He had been solidifying himself as a legitimate starter in the league earlier in the season, playing smart and completing 97 of 182 passes for 1,034 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Redman, who was 3-3 as the starter, wouldn't beat teams regularly with downfield throws, but he rarely made costly mistakes. He is tied with Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe for the lowest interception percentage in the AFC.

But Redman's run ended on Oct. 25. He felt pain shooting down his right leg from a herniated disc hitting a nerve and experienced numbness in his foot and toes. That injury supplied the opening for Blake.

A stark contrast to Redman, Blake is the more animated quarterback who has delivered extreme results. Blake has connected on 59 of 101 passes for 710 yards and three touchdowns. While going 1-2 as the starter, he has also thrown four interceptions and fumbled twice - once on the Ravens' 1-yard line and the other on the opponent's 1-yard line.

Blake signed a one-year contract in the offseason, and Redman will be a restricted free agent after the season.

"Jeff Blake is a very young 31 years old," Billick said. "He is young enough that you could consider him - if, indeed, he's your guy - that you've got your guy for the next four or five years."

Although Redman said yesterday that he wants to return to practice tomorrow, trainer Bill Tessendorf indicated that Redman will probably be relegated to quarterback-related activities this week such as throwing and dropbacks off to the side.

When he shows that he can hold up after a full week of practice, he will move from the emergency third-string quarterback to the backup. But the Ravens don't believe he can accomplish that for a couple more weeks.

In other injury news, the Ravens are optimistic about the return of linebacker Ray Lewis (shoulder) and cornerback Chris McAlister (ankle) but are unsure about the status of receiver Brandon Stokley (foot) and defensive end Michael McCrary (knee).

Lewis has told some of his teammates that he plans on returning for Sunday's game in Miami and might return to practice tomorrow.

McAlister, who missed the first game of his four-year NFL career against the Bengals, might not work out tomorrow, but he seems intent on progressing fast enough to suit up Sunday.

"If I were a betting man, I would bet my paycheck I was playing," McAlister said.

Stokley sprained his left foot Sunday when Ravens 340-pound left tackle Jonathan Ogden accidentally fell on the back of his leg during a running play. On crutches, the Ravens' fourth-leading receiver (in terms of catches) was scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging exam yesterday.

Stokley would be considered doubtful for the game and would be replaced by the rookie combination of Ron Johnson and Javin Hunter.

"That's one guy you don't want to roll up on you," Stokley said. "I was kind of unlucky that way."

McCrary has missed four of nine games this season and remains day-to-day. Despite his absence, he ranks among the team leaders in quarterback hits.

Next for Ravens

Opponent:Miami Dolphins

Site:Pro Player Stadium, Miami

When:Sunday, 4:15 p.m.

TV/Radio:Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM)

Line:Dolphins by 4 1/2

SunSpot:For more coverage, visit sunspot.net/ravens