Ray Lewis doesn't know if his Miami homecoming will be for business or pleasure.

Still bothered by a shoulder injury, the Ravens' All-Pro linebacker returned to practice yesterday but remained doubtful for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

With no reported setbacks after yesterday's noncontact workout, Lewis is scheduled to participate in a padded practice today - his first since partially dislocating his left shoulder five weeks ago - and is expected to have some light hitting.

From these two days of practice, the Ravens hope to have a better gauge of his status by the end of the week.

"I'm feeling OK. I'm not feeling the best," Lewis said. "I don't even know if I'm going to play this week. Hopefully, by Friday, I can say something else. Right now, I just really don't know."

There are strong indications that Lewis will not need to have surgery during the season, although he admitted that the shoulder likely will have to undergo some repair this offseason.

"The type of injury I'm dealing with now, it's just pain tolerance," said Lewis, who has had to wear a harness while sleeping so his shoulder doesn't slip out at night. "If I can get away with it, I will. I'm not worried about re-injuring it. I just make sure my pain tolerance is right.

"I know I'm going to have to have [surgery] after the season, let that come. I don't want to go have surgery now and have my young guys worry about me. I want them to keep playing because we have a long time left."

Without Lewis, the Ravens (4-5) have lost three of five games yet have stayed in the playoff race.

Lewis told some of his teammates last week that he was aiming to come back against the Dolphins. His return not only would provide a boost for the team heading into a pivotal game but it also would occur in Miami, Lewis' first home.

He grew up in Lakeland, Fla., and was a three-year starter at the University of Miami. But he has to weigh the short-term rewards against the long-term repercussions.

"There's always that competitive side saying, 'I need to play. I want to play. We can go to .500 this game. We can do this and we can do that,' " Lewis said. "The realistic part is the long run. If I go out there and it isn't feeling that well, and I re-injure it, then we're back to square zero again."

Lewis, however, said he isn't motivated to rush back because of a showdown with Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, the third-leading rusher in the AFC.

"He's average," Lewis said. "I've always said this about any back: If you put your pants on the same way I do, one leg at a time, I don't have problem with you. Now, if you're jumping in them or flying in them, then I've got a real problem.

"Yeah, [quarterback] Jay Fiedler is hurting and [Williams] has to carry the load. That's what they brought him in for. You hear his comments in interviews where he says that the late part of the season is his time. Hopefully, if I play, we'll find out."

The Dolphins would prefer Lewis skip his sixth straight game.

When asked if he hoped to see Lewis staring across the line at him, Dolphins quarterback Ray Lucas told Miami reporters, "What, are you insane? You want to play against the best, but come on. I've been playing against him since college. I hated him then, and I hate him now. If he plays, great. If he doesn't play, greater."

If Lewis is cleared to play, the Ravens aren't worried about him being tentative. But they do have another concern.

"Once the doctors say the shoulder is fine, and we're getting to that point, then there's a conditioning factor here, too," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "There's a football aspect where he may be fine, but he hasn't played for a month. So, we'll keep that in mind as well.

"Before I'm real comfortable, the doctors are going to have to tell me the shoulder is OK, he's going to have to tell me the shoulder is OK, and I'm going to have to see him move around so he can protect himself adequately."

After practicing for just the second time since Oct. 6, Lewis can only play the waiting game.

"If I'm healthy, I will play," Lewis said. "If I'm not, I have to make that decision one more time and just be coach again. Whatever happens, happens."

Next for Ravens

Matchup:Ravens (4-5) vs. Miami Dolphins (5-4)

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