Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed "had a really good week" of practice, according to coach John Harbaugh.
But in Reed's mind, his status is still uncertain for Sunday's game against Buffalo.
"I'm not sure," Reed told The Baltimore Sun. "We'll see how it feels [Saturday]."
Reed remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list after having offseason hip surgery. He could be activated Saturday afternoon, when the Ravens would need to make a roster move.
There have been indications that Reed would be ready to return Sunday. After the season opener, Reed talked to the NFL players union in an attempt to reduce his mandatory six-week inactive stint.
In many ways, it would be a surprise if Reed didn't suit up for the first time since the Jan. 16 playoff loss at Indianapolis.
"He's had a really good week," Harbaugh said. "I don't want to speak for him. It looks good. From a coaching standpoint, I'm probably going to be cautious."
It seems unlikely the Ravens will have backup Tom Zbikowski, who is considered doubtful after missing every practice this week with a bruised heel, available. Zbikowski had started in place of Reed for the first six games.
"The chances of him going are slim at best," Harbaugh said. "I wouldn't count on Zibby."
The Ravens could have issues at safety if Zbikowski is out and Reed isn't activated off the PUP list on Saturday. Without Zbikowski and Reed, the Ravens would probably start Ken Hamlin. Another option is Haruki Nakamura.
"Fortunately, we have enough depth where we feel good about our safety situation," Harbaugh said.
Heap expects to play
Todd Heap is listed as questionable, but the tight end expects to play against Buffalo despite a neck injury caused when he absorbed a helmet-to-helmet blow from New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather in the second quarter of Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Patriots.
"It was a tough week, but I'll be ready to go," said Heap, who was upgraded to full participation Friday after being limited Thursday. "I'm feeling relatively good right now. So we'll see how it feels Sunday, but right now, I expect to play."
Heap said there's still some pain in the neck and shoulder area, but he is fighting through it. Although Meriweather was not suspended for the hit, he was fined $50,000 and the collision was highlighted by the league as being an egregious action. In his first comments since that game, Heap tried to play down his thoughts on Meriweather's hit.
"It is what it was," Heap said. "Everybody saw it. There's no need for me to comment on it now. I think he'll learn his lesson by that. It's not my place to enforce anything. But at the same time, looking back on it and seeing the hit, it was something that I think could've been avoided."
Zbikowski out Sunday
Free safety Tom Zbikowski, who bruised his heel last Sunday, was ruled out for Sunday. His absence could pave the way for six-time Pro Bowler Reed to get activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list after undergoing hip surgery in the offseason. If Reed is unable to play, Nakamura or Hamlin could start alongside Dawan Landry. Chris Carr will likely be the primary punt returner.
Ayanbadejo could play
Brendon Ayanbadejo hasn't played in a game since tearing his left quadriceps muscle against the New England Patriots on Oct. 4, 2009, but the inside linebacker said he plans to sit with Harbaugh and discuss his status for Sunday.
"I'm feeling good," said Ayanbadejo, who participated in practice over the last three days.
"Today was a speed day. We ran through everything. Harbaugh's going to sit down with me on Saturday or Sunday and we're going to figure out what we're going to do. At this point in time, it's not a yes or a no, but we're going to figure it out."
End zone
Rookie wide receiver David Reed (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday. Reed was added to the injury report after not practicing Friday. Offensive tackle Tony Moll (eye) returned to practice after sitting out Thursday's session, and wide receiver Marcus Smith (back) was upgraded to full participation after being limited Wednesday and Thursday. Moll and Smith join a large contingent of players — linebackers Jarret Johnson (back) and Edgar Jones (thigh), wide receiver Derrick Mason (ankle/finger), running back Ray Rice (ankle), Nakamura (back), cornerback Josh Wilson (hamstring) and defensive end Paul Kruger (sprained medial collateral ligament in left knee) — who practiced fully Friday and are probable against Buffalo. … The Bills ruled out a pair of starters in cornerback Terrence McGee (back) and right offensive tackle Cornell Green (knee) after they did not practice for the third consecutive day. Another starter in nose tackle Kyle Williams (ankle) also missed practice for the second straight day, and he is listed as questionable.
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Baltimore Sun reporter Edward Lee contributed to this article.