For the third straight week, Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister sounded optimistic about his chances of playing.

McAlister said his injured right ankle, which has kept him out of the past two games, is getting better and he might be ready to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. McAlister, however, said virtually the same thing last week and the week before that.

The difference might be that McAlister returned to practice yesterday.

"I think there is a great chance that I can play," McAlister said. "I moved around very well [yesterday] morning. Come [today] and Friday, I'll have a better idea on whether I'll be able to run. I don't think I can sit out another game. Regardless of how my ankle feels, sitting on the sidelines and watching the game and not being able to help or do anything about it is more frustrating. I'm real motivated to try and get out there."

Quarterback Chris Redman reported no setbacks in his rehabilitation and also practiced. Redman, who has missed the past four games with a herniated disc, had a cortisone injection earlier this week. Jeff Blake will start against the Titans.

"It feels better, so hopefully we'll move in that direction [of him playing]," Redman said.

Receiver Brandon Stokley, listed as questionable, is not as optimistic as Redman and McAlister. Stokley hurt his foot against Cincinnati and missed Sunday's loss at Miami. He ran for the first time Tuesday and was not impressed with the results.

"It wasn't as good as I want it to be," Stokley said.

If Stokley is out, Ravens coach Brian Billick said he will continue to use both Ron Johnson and Javin Hunter to fill the void.

"We'll go with both," Billick said. "Both played a good deal. Some of it has to do with where we want to put Travis [Taylor] in this configuration. But they both will play an appreciable amount."

Not talking the talk

So far, the normal digs from coaches and players that usually accompany Ravens-Titans week have been nonexistent.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher was relatively complimentary of the Ravens yesterday, and many of the Ravens players had little to say about their past success against Tennessee. This will be the first time the teams meet not as divisional rivals.

In the past, there have been references to a running back curling up like a baby, entering the opposing team's stadium screaming like a banshee, bringing 2-by-4's and mutual questioning of the other team's class.

"There is going to be a lot of faces they don't recognize based on the old rivalry," Billick said. "But that doesn't change the fact that it would be a hotly contested game.

"It's a real rivalry. We've been fortunate enough for some of the success we've had. We've cost them some things. The first year, we cost them home field. The second year, we were the first ones to beat them at their stadium and then knocked them out of the playoffs. Then last year, we caught them a couple of times where that helped send their season in a certain direction."

Rise of Hymes

Receiver Randy Hymes barely had enough time to celebrate his promotion to the active roster before he was thrust into Sunday's game.

Hymes spent the previous nine games on the practice squad before the Ravens moved him up a week ago in place of kicker J.R. Jenkins.

With Stokley out and Hunter missing parts of the game with a concussion, Hymes played a handful of snaps as the Ravens' third receiver, but no passes were thrown his way.

"The whole 11 weeks, I had been waiting for that moment to move up and help the team," Hymes said.

C. Brown honored

Linebacker Cornell Brown's number was retired at last night's West Virginia-Virginia Tech game.

Brown recorded 40 career sacks at Virginia Tech and was first-team All-Big East his senior season. Out of football last year, Brown returned to Virginia Tech and received his degree.

"To be up there with guys like Bruce Smith, Jim Pyne; Michael Vick just got his retired there. It's a great honor to me to go down in school history," Brown said.

Injury update

Linebacker Ray Lewis (shoulder/calf, doubtful) and defensive end Michael McCrary (knee, out) did not practice. Defensive end Tony Weaver (knee, questionable) practiced.