Ray Lewis will not play in the Ravens' remaining five games because he has chosen to undergo surgery on his injured left shoulder next week.

The perennial All-Pro linebacker told The Sun yesterday that he plans to have the operation after Thanksgiving, but the final details have not been worked out. Team officials said it will take between four and six months for Lewis' shoulder to heal, a recovery time that should have him ready for next year's training camp.

Lewis indicated that he made the decision to have surgery last week.

"It was a lot of things," said Lewis, 27, who has made the AFC Pro Bowl squad in every season except his rookie year. "I could play, but I didn't know how much damage I was doing, or how much I had already done.

"Then I had the calf muscle problem, and my whole left side was messed up. As the season has gone on, it seemed to get better and better, then it's out again. I kept fooling myself, thinking I could still come back and lead this team to a Super Bowl, but it hasn't worked out that way."

Lewis had started 63 consecutive games and was having one of the best seasons of his career before he partially dislocated his left shoulder Oct. 6, jamming his arm into the turf while diving for a loose ball in Cleveland.

After missing five weeks with the injury - the longest stint on the sideline of his career - Lewis came back in Miami on Nov. 17 and led the Ravens with 18 tackles despite wearing a protective harness. But he hurt his left calf and ankle in "a freak accident" during the game, suffering soft-tissue damage in a collision with fellow linebacker Ed Hartwell.

Lewis was inactive for Sunday's 13-12 win over the Tennessee Titans, which improved the Ravens to 3-3 in his absences this season.

Despite playing in only five of 11 games this season, Lewis is the team's second-leading tackler, averaging 17 stops a game. He also finished with two interceptions, three passes broken up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Lewis will be replaced in the starting lineup by eight-year veteran Bernardo Harris, who is a solid run-stopper but doesn't have the same range as Lewis.

In his news conference yesterday, coach Brian Billick denied a decision on Lewis had been made. "As of this moment, no, we have not made that determination," Billick said.

Lewis, however, said he already has been preparing for his return next season.

"To be honest, the league is not ready for what I'm about to do," Lewis said. "Great plays have become easy plays. Think about it? How many sack masters like [Miami's] Jason Taylor, go to get a sack, but they don't go for the ball? You go in the locker room, and they can tell you they got two or three sacks. But I'm going to go for the ball to make a play for the team. I've got this figured out, where I can make the tackle and strip the ball. I'm going to make big plays look easy."

Lewis already has signed a nutritionist to prepare his meals, and he has a two-month boot camp ready as soon as his shoulder is ready.

"I've got some hot stuff coming as far as training," Lewis said. "Remember what I said before the start of this season, and you know when I say something, it's true. I'm going to have this boot camp for two months where no one will be able to reach me. The only people who will be able to contact me is family. I've got people preparing my food. When I'm finished, I'm going to be at 250 pounds and running a 4.3. That's my goal. I've already written it down."

At 5-6, the Ravens probably will have to win the rest of their games to have a shot at the playoffs. Now, they will have to do it without their leader.

But Lewis' mind-set is already on carrying this team in 2003.

"I've already looked at next year's schedule, and there are a lot of things I have to get done," Lewis said. "It's a very tough schedule. Every week it's going to be like a Super Bowl.

"We've got San Francisco. So that's Garrison Hearst against Ray Lewis. We've got St. Louis, so that's me and Marshall [Faulk]. San Diego is on the list, so that's me and LaDainian Tomlinson. Seattle: Me vs. Shaun Alexander. That's the way I want it, me against the best running back on-on-one. Next year is going to be great. The league hasn't seen anything yet. I'm going to take my game to a whole new level."

Next for Ravens

Matchup :Ravens (5-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1-10)

Site: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

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

Line: Ravens by 3

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