Second-year linebacker Jason Phillips is tied for second in tackles, fourth in sacks and first in recovered fumbles, and it's still not enough for him to feel entirely comfortable with his standing on the Ravens.

"I don't think you can ever think you've made enough of an impression," he said. "You've constantly got to work to get better in this league. There's always going to be someone who's just as good, if not better. So you really can't be satisfied with making a couple plays here and there because it's a week-in, week-out process. It's a long season, so you just have to keep consistently doing it."

A fifth-round pick out of Texas Christian in last year's draft, Phillips is in the unenviable position of lining up at a position where the Ravens are especially deep. The inside linebacker is believed to be trailing Jameel McClain, Dannell Ellerbe and Tavares Gooden in the competition for a spot on the team's 53-man active roster.

Phillips' development was delayed by a knee injury that forced him to injured reserve, thereby sitting out his rookie season. Rather than stew about it, Phillips viewed it as a chance to further his development.

"It was almost like having a redshirt year in the pros," he said. "It gave me a chance to see how everything works, see how going through a 16-game season works, watching Ray [Lewis] and those guys prepare every week. I was just getting a feel for the operations around here. So it definitely helped."

Coach John Harbaugh also noted Phillips' opportunity to learn last season.

"We really liked him coming out [of college], and I think he had the whole season where he trained, and he was in meetings and things like that," Harbaugh said. "There was a little bit of -- probably in training camp -- knocking off the rust a little bit because he hadn't played for a while. But I would say the last week, he's really come on. He's played well in both preseason games, and he's making a real run out of it."

Phillips' best performance occurred Saturday night when he sacked and stripped Washington Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman in the third quarter and pounced on another fumble by Grossman in the fourth in the Ravens' 23-3 win.

Phillips said his objective is simple.

"I want to make every play I can that comes my way," he said. "You can't really push anything too hard, but when you get your chance, you have to show up and make the play."

Gaither not ruled out

Despite speculation that Jared Gaither's back injury could linger into the regular season, there's also a chance that it can clear up in enough time for the offensive tackle to play in the regular-season opener, Harbaugh said Wednesday.

"That's what we've been told. We'll just have to see how it goes," Harbaugh said. "I know one thing: He's working really hard. He gets treatment all day long. He's worked very hard on his lower body. He's worked hard on his cardiovascular. I think Jared's doing everything he can to get himself back."

Harbaugh said there was no contradiction between the team's and Gaither's accounts of the injury.

A week ago, Harbaugh said Gaither had a slight tear in his back. On Tuesday, Gaither said he had a thoracic disc injury, which is commonly herniated.

"One doctor says it's irritated. The other doctor says it's got a slight tear in it," Harbaugh said. "I was told by the trainers that's what is causing the back spasms."

Harbaugh added, "Jared described it as best he could. To say it's contradictory … we all do the best we can to describe it but we're not doing medical examinations. Until it settles down, he just can't get out there because he can't get in position to do it."

Ayanbadejo's return uncertain

Harbaugh said he is less confident now than at the beginning of training camp about inside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo's joining the team at the start of the regular season.

Ayanbadejo tore a quadriceps muscle in week 4 of the 2009 season and missed the rest of the year. Until then, he had played well as both a starter on defense and on special teams. His absence would hurt the Ravens. Besides being one of the team's top special teams players, Ayanbadejo was one of the team's most complete linebackers.

Despite his small size, he played well against the run last season and could also drop in pass coverage. At one point last season, the Ravens had a special package for Ayanbadejo.

The Ravens currently have McClain, Ellerbe and Gooden competing for the other inside linebacker position opposite Lewis.

"The fact that he hasn't been able to practice all through camp means he's probably pushed back to some extent, and we'll just have to decide, really, within the next week what status he's going to be going into the season," Harbaugh said.

"Well, he works out and trains and all that, but he got no work, obviously, in practice, which is really the main work that you need," Harbaugh said. "He says he's feeling a lot better, and that's where he's at."

Cousins wants to play

Oniel Cousins said he hopes to be available against the Giants, but the offensive tackle also said his body's recovery from a concussion would have the final say.

"Well, I was trying to," Cousins said Wednesday of his plan to play against New York. "That's always my mentality, but if not, then I'm just going to take it day-by-day. Like I said, I feel a little bit better today. Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll feel a little bit better, and if not, then I'll be ready to roll for the next game."

Cousins has not practiced since Aug. 18, when he was carted off the practice field at McDaniel College in Westminster. Cousins, who had started at right tackle in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 12, has had symptoms that include headaches and a sensitivity to light stemming from a concussion.

"You get headaches, and you kind of lose your memory for a little bit, and you just continually have migraines," he said. "It's kind of hard to focus in on the target and the lights, the bright lights on the camera and everything. But like I said, I'm improving, and I'm feeling a little bit better and better every day. So, hopefully, I can be able to go this Saturday night. If not, I'll be ready for the next game."

Cody dealing with injured knee

Rookie nose tackle Terrence Cody is expected to miss another day of practice as he is dealing with "a little swelling" in his left knee and has an issue with cartilage on the outside of the knee, according to Harbaugh.

"It's nothing that needs surgery," Harbaugh said. "He can definitely get through the season with it."

Cody said he wasn't injured in the preseason game at Washington. He said he hopes to practice Thursday and to play Saturday against the New York Giants.

"This is something frustrating because I'm not used to being hurt," Cody said. "I might feel like I'm OK, but if I go back out there and something happens, that would be even worse than what it is right now. So I'm just taking a step at a time and being cautious and not letting it get worse."

End zone

Defensive end Cory Redding and wide receiver Marcus Smith returned to practice Wednesday. Redding declined to give a reason for his absence Tuesday. Smith dealt with a root canal. The following players were missing from the portion of practice open to the media: offensive tackles Gaither (disc in back) and Cousins (concussion), defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (swelling in right knee) and rookie Cody (swelling in left knee), guards David Hale (bruised tailbone) and Daniel Sanders (left shoulder), wide receivers Demetrius Williams (sprained right ankle) and Eron Riley (unspecified) and safety Marcus Paschal (right leg). … It was 10 years ago when Lewis helped the Ravens beat the Giants for their first Super Bowl. Saturday's preseason game matches the two teams again, but the 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker isn't reminiscing. "I only think about that when New York fans remind me, really," said Lewis, the only player remaining from the Ravens' Super Bowl team. "They always claim we stole something from them. I just thought we played a football game." … Punter Sam Koch's 12-year-old son, Ryan, will play in one of the youth football games during halftime Saturday night. Ryan, the eldest of three sons, who plays wide receiver-defensive end, will play with the Westminster Wildcats. His father will try to get back to the field quickly to watch. "I'll go in at halftime, grab a bite to eat and go out and watch him play," Koch said. … Fewer than 500 tickets remain for Saturday night's preseason game against the Giants, the team announced Wednesday.

edward.lee@baltsun.com

Baltimore Sun reporters Jamison Hensley and Ken Murray contributed to this article.