The Ravens announced they have reached an agreement with Sergio Kindle and placed the rookie linebacker on the reserve non-football injury list, which means he will not play this season.
Terms of the agreement weren't made available by the Ravens, but it's believed that the team will sign him to a one-year deal worth the standard rookie salary of $320,000.
Kindle is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore today, when he will sign the deal.
Kindle, the Ravens' top pick in the 2010 draft, suffered a head injury falling down two flights of stairs in late July. The rookie linebacker was essentially ruled out for the season by the Ravens on Friday.
Even though the deal would be for one year, the Ravens would likely hold exclusive rights to Kindle for the first four years of his career.
By signing with the Ravens, he will be able to go to Ravens headquarters, where he can rehab, talk to coaches, watch practices and attend meetings.
Kindle is the last rookie of the 2010 draft class to sign.
Cundiff not miffed at Browns
There's a certain appeal to Billy Cundiff getting a crack this Sunday at the Cleveland Browns, an organization that used him for six weeks before dumping him once Phil Dawson's pulled right calf muscle healed.
But if anger and revenge are on the menu, the Ravens kicker isn't buying.
"If anything, I have an attitude of gratitude," Cundiff said. "They were able to get me back in the league during the regular season. So I obviously have a lot of positive emotions when it comes to thinking about the Cleveland Browns. I got to know Phil pretty well when I was there, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, coach [Brad] Seely, the special teams coach, [punter Dave] Zastudil — he's not playing this year because he got put on IR — and [Ryan] Pontbriand, the snapper. It's nothing but good feelings when we go into a game. Now I'll put that aside when we go into the game. But when I think back about my time in Cleveland, it was, for me, a turning point."
Since being released by the Browns on Nov. 3, Cundiff concluded last season converting 15-of-20 field goals in seven regular-season and two playoff contests. He outperformed Shayne Graham, the fourth-most accurate kicker in league history, in the preseason to cement his status as the team's primary kicker.
Thus far, Cundiff is 2-for-2 on field goals and three of his six kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks. Still, Cundiff knows a lot can happen as the season unfolds.
"This is a marathon, not a sprint, right? Just like it's been in weeks past, my focus is on Cleveland and getting ready for this game," he said. "I want to focus and prepare — regardless of what the situation is — and make sure that I'm ready to go and ready to perform."
Boldin challenge not directed at Flacco
Generally a player who likes to let his actions speak for him, Anquan Boldin isn't afraid to get his opinion across verbally, either. But the Ravens wide receiver emphasized Thursday that his motivational talk during halftime of last Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals did not single out quarterback Joe Flacco.
"Joe knows where I stand," Boldin said. "Myself being a former quarterback, I would never put another quarterback in that position. So nothing I said was directed at Joe. It was about us as an offense — myself included."
Boldin, who has emerged as a leader on offense in the short time that he has been with the Ravens, wouldn't divulge the specifics of the conversation he had with his teammates, but he said the sentiment was shared by others.
"We feel like we're better than 10 points a game on offense," Boldin said. "The way the defense has been playing, we've got to do our job and make their job a lot easier."
Gooden seeking second opinion
Tavares Gooden is seeking a second opinion on the dislocated left shoulder that is expected to keep him on the sideline for at least the next few weeks.
The linebacker suffered the injury in the second quarter last Sunday when he tried to make a tackle on the team's punt coverage unit. He said he was awaiting another medical diagnosis to see if the shoulder would require surgery or whether it could heal via rest and non-invasive treatment.
"Once I get notes back from him, I'll know exactly what I'm dealing with and how long it will take me to get back and what's my status," Gooden said. "But right now, I don't have any clue."
Mason, L.McClain return to practice
Wide receiver Derrick Mason (knee) and fullback Le'Ron McClain (shoulder) returned — albeit on a limited basis — to Thursday's practice after sitting out Wednesday.
That starting duo was joined by linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (knee), who was limited for the second consecutive day.
Offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who has not been ruled out for the first time this season despite a thoracic disk injury in his back, did not practice for the second straight day.
Although outside linebacker Jarret Johnson did not appear to be active during the portion of practice open to media, he is listed as having fully participated despite a back injury that kept him out of practice last Thursday and Friday.
Linebackers Terrell Suggs (ankle) and Jameel McClain (knee), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (back), running back Ray Rice (ankle) and tight end Todd Heap (shoulder) also participated fully for the second consecutive day.
Kruger still in limbo
Defensive end Paul Kruger, who played in only one of the Ravens' first eight games a year ago, is back on the inactive-list fence this year. Although the second-year player from Utah hasn't played the first two weeks after suffering a shoulder injury in the preseason, he said he has been healthy and has practiced for the last 10 days.
Asked what he expected for Sunday, Kruger said, "I honestly don't know. … It's hard to say at this point. My reps have been extremely limited. I'm basically on the scout team right now."
Kruger said he still has some tightness and soreness in the shoulder. "Yesterday, I had a good practice, so I wouldn't say I'm fully 100 percent back, but I'm almost there," he said.
Debut just a regular game to Webb
Second-year cornerback Lardarius Webb played in his first game last Sunday since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Dec. 20 against the Chicago Bears, and although it was the first significant injury of his football career, he said he wasn't overly anxious about his return.
"I wasn't nervous," he said. "I just had regular-game butterflies. … I had already prayed to the Lord above, so he had my back, so I could just go out and play ball."
Webb, who played in the defense's nickel package, said his injury has progressed steadily and that there was no specific point when he knew he was ready.
"I'm still working it," he said. "I'm working myself back in. It's been coming along now."
End zone
Cleveland quarterback Jake Delhomme (high ankle sprain), nose tackle Shaun Rogers. (ankle and hip), running back Jerome Harrison (thigh) and wide receiver Brian Robiskie (hamstring) missed practice for the second consecutive day. Marcus Benard (ankle), who began the season as the starting outside linebacker, also did not practice. … Defensive end Robaire Smith (ankle) practiced on a limited basis after sitting out Wednesday, and three other starters — inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (chest), outside linebacker Matt Roth (foot) and guard Floyd Womack (knee) — were limited in practice for the second straight day. Two more starters, however, in inside linebacker Eric Barton (hip) and right offensive tackle John St. Clair (foot) were downgraded to limited status. Left tackle Joe Thomas (elbow) fully practiced for the second consecutive day, and left guard Eric Steinbach (thigh) was removed from the injury report. … Cornerback Domonique Foxworth appears to be walking without a limp after undergoing surgery on Aug. 10 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. "I'm doing great," he said just before walking out of the locker room. "Ahead of schedule." … The Ravens added second-year cornerback Danny Gorrer to their practice squad Thursday morning. … Suggs has a simple answer for why the Ravens' defense hasn't allowed a touchdown the first two weeks of the season. "We've got a lot of talented guys," he said. "We've got a middle linebacker [ Ray Lewis] that can ride a Raven-bird about as big as a 747, so when you do that, [when] you can blow up Saturn, you've got a pretty good chance of winning on Sunday."
Jamison.hensley@baltsun.com
edward.lee@baltsun.com
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray contributed to this article.