Ray Lewis finds himself in the same painful predicament, albeit with a different injury.

After missing five weeks with a shoulder injury, the Ravens' All-Pro linebacker hurt his left calf and ankle in his first game back and was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. He did not practice yesterday and his role is expected to be a game-time decision.

"It's something that happens," Lewis said. "It's going to be this thing where people want me to be frustrated. I'm not frustrated. I just don't have the answers people want me to have. I just don't. It's just that simple. I'm just trying to get healthy and trying to play football, and we'll go from there."

Lewis injured his leg in Miami after colliding with teammate Ed Hartwell.

Team officials said X-rays yesterday revealed soft-tissue damage in Lewis' leg, which is preventing him from running. It's unlikely Lewis will practice today.

"It was just a freak accident," said Lewis, the team's second-leading tackler, who is averaging 17 stops per game.

Lewis' seventh season has become his most trying one. He had started 63 consecutive games before partially dislocating his left shoulder on Oct. 6, when he jammed his arm into the turf while diving for a loose ball.

After enduring the longest stretch on the sideline of his career, Lewis came back Sunday and delivered a strong effort despite wearing a protective harness.

When asked about his shoulder, Lewis said: "It's all right. It's not the best, but I'm surviving."

In his return, Lewis led the Ravens with 18 tackles but added to his injury list in the process.

"I'm sure he's disappointed about that just because he worked so hard to get back with the shoulder, then you get something on the leg that slows you up a little bit," outside linebacker Peter Boulware said.

"But he's not going to stay down too long. If he can go out and play, he's going to do it."

At this point, Lewis has no gauge about his playing status even with the tempting showdown with Titans running back Eddie George on the horizon.

"It's nothing really to keep talking about," Lewis said.

"I'm not a doctor. I wish I were. I'm not feeling up to par, and they're advising me not to go out. So I'm just dealing with it."