John Urschel acknowledged that being away from the Ravens' practice field didn't exactly help his development. That's why the offensive lineman seemed pleased to return Saturday in his first action since starting in the team's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 11.
"Anytime you've been off for a week or a couple weeks, you're going to be a little rusty," the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Urschel said. "But thankfully for me, I've stayed active and I feel like it's come back pretty quick."
Urschel, who was described by coach John Harbaugh as suffering a contusion, had started three games at right guard in 2014 and seven at center in 2015. He is currently listed on the team's depth chart as the projected starting left guard.
But rookie Alex Lewis had started in Urschel's place in the second and third preseason games and fared well, thus suggesting that he and left tackle Ronnie Stanley might give the Ravens' left side of the offensive line an all-rookie look.
Harbaugh declined to reveal who would start at left guard in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 11 at M&T Bank Stadium, but pointed out that Urschel was ahead of Lewis before his injury.
"Ursch was a starter before he got hurt," Harbaugh said. "We just have to play all of that out. It's good to see him back, and he looked fine."
Urschel also sidestepped whether he views himself as the starter.
"I'll leave that type of thing to the coaches," he said. "Alex is a good kid. He's been doing well. I really like him, and he's really improving."
Whatever is decided, Urschel is looking forward to maximizing the time he has left before the opener.
"It's not really an issue of how much time I need," he said. "It's about how much time I have. I'm back, and now I've got a little over a week. That's how much time I have."