Ravens veteran defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson had a good excuse for missing practice Thursday. The reserve defensive lineman was performing a civic responsibility: jury duty.
The Georgia native got dressed up to go the courthouse and later arrived at the Ravens' training complex after practice had concluded.
"Never had a player or coach miss for jury duty," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "What can I say about it? I'm not in charge of jury duty. I don't know how that works."
Tyson was the subject of good-natured ribbing from his teammates when he showed up in the locker room, including jokes about his dressing up for court and others asking whether he had sent anyone to jail.
Tyson was selected to sit on a jury in a civil case involving a car accident. The jury found in favor of the defendant and ruled that the plaintiff wasn't hurt, according to the defense attorney that presided over the case.
"I wouldn't say it's a responsibility, it's a task that you have to do when you get called," Tyson said. "It was an opportunity tp experience how juries are able to convict case. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't. I don't want to be the one to give someone a sentence or anything like that. Luckily, it wasn't that kind of case.
"It was a civil case. The judge did a good job explaining everything. That's why it took so long, going over it step by step to make sure we got it right. We got it done."
This is a big week for Tyson, a 2012 seventh-round draft pick from Georgia who has been a healthy scratch for the past three games.
With Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata suspended for the next four games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy after an admitted positive drug test for Adderall, Tyson could play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
He has 17 tackles and two fumble recoveries this season.
"The coaches do a good job of putting the game plan together," Tyson said. "As long as you look over the game plan and study film, you should be as ready as possible as you want to be."