Ravens offensive tackle Adam Terry will undergo an arthroscopic procedure today to clean out his ailing right knee and is likely to miss at least the next two weeks.
While making the announcement yesterday during his weekly news conference at the team's training facility in Owings Mills, coach John Harbaugh estimated that Terry - who has missed the past two games - could return in time for the game against the Houston Texans on Nov. 9.
"It's a little bit of an opportunity to go in there and just see what the deal is," Harbaugh said. "He's got a slight meniscus tear on the outside, and that's something you can play with. We've been trying to get that thing back and see if he could play with it, but he's not coming back as quick as we had hoped."
That means tackle Willie Anderson and guard Chris Chester will man the right side of the offensive line for a few more weeks. Filling in for starter Marshal Yanda (injured reserve-knee), Chester played well in his eighth career start at right guard, helping the offense gain 357 yards in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins.
"Chris Chester came in and did a nice job," Harbaugh said. "He was physical. He kind of was up to the standard and grew up a little bit with his style of play. I think he's got a lot to be proud of. The fact that we didn't have miscommunications back there, no real busts, that's a big credit to the whole group, and I think they rallied around the fact that we had lost Marshal."
Smith top backup
There was a quarterback change, but it did not involve starting rookie Joe Flacco.
Troy Smith recovered enough from his tonsil infection to leapfrog Todd Bouman in Sunday's game and claim the second-string job. Harbaugh said Smith is still working on his timing and footwork but is getting closer to the conditioning and shape he displayed before getting sick before the third preseason game.
"We just felt like he was back enough to do it," Harbaugh said. "Troy's a talented quarterback, and if Joe can't go, we think Troy can go in there and do some things that are going to cause defenses a lot of problems. We've got confidence in Todd, too, but Troy was the guy this week."
No taunting
Harbaugh said he believes linebacker Antwan Barnes, who said he was not taunting Dolphins return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. after a kick return late in the second quarter.
Barnes said he was bending down to help lift rookie safety Haruki Nakamura, who had made the tackle on Ginn, to his feet, but Barnes was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"Obviously, the official felt like he was leaning over and talking to the returner. We take Antwan at his word," Harbaugh said. "I think that's what he was trying to do."
Harbaugh said the team also plans to ask the NFL to review Miami wide receiver Brandon London's questionable hit on tight end Edgar Jones on a Miami kickoff return early in the second quarter.
Though the play occurred in front of an official, London was not flagged for decking Jones even though it took place after Ginn had been forced out of bounds. "We will be sending that one in, along with our usual plays," Harbaugh said. "It will be interesting to see what they say."
End zone
Matt Stover improved to 7-for-10 on field-goal attempts and converted a 47-yarder in the first quarter, his first from beyond 40 yards. "It was windy down there. I don't know if you guys felt it or not, but there was a lot of crosswind down there," Harbaugh said. "He managed it really well, knocked those things through." ... Wide receiver Mark Clayton will be working today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pizza Hut at 1404 Merritt Blvd. in Baltimore trying to raise money for the World Hunger Relief campaign. Clayton will be competing with Seattle Seahawks center Chris Spencer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Davin Joseph and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams, who raised $10,000 after delivering pizzas in Detroit last year. "I know Baltimore can do better than that," Clayton said.