Sunday's game in Dallas a special homecoming for Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr

Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr's first NFL homecoming came under drastically different circumstances. He was a little-known, undrafted rookie out of North Texas when the Ravens traveled to Dallas to play the Cowboys in the 2014 preseason.

When he returns to AT&T Stadium on Sunday, it will be as an NFL starter. After playing primarily on special teams in his first two seasons, Orr won the Ravens' starting weak-side linebacker job in training camp and leads the team with 77 tackles.

"It adds to the excitement," Orr said. "You never take starting in this league for granted at all. Things can change very quickly. Me going back home as a starter and my family to be able to watch me start a game in the National Football League is great. They'll be able to see me play a lot of snaps out there."

Orr starred at DeSoto High, which is about 15 minutes away from AT&T Stadium. He joked that the interest in tickets for Sunday's game from family and friends is "real deep and heavy." He said that it's extra special that his younger brother, Nick Orr, a junior defensive back at TCU, will see him play an NFL game in person for the first time.

Buck stops here: Orioles manager Buck Showalter watched Friday's practice alongside Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and spoke to the team after Harbaugh coaxed him into the team huddle.

"It was great having him out here," Harbaugh said. "He's a great guy, a great storyteller. He told about four stories. He got going. He acted all like he didn't want to talk and then he started telling some stem winders. He had a message and it was about the team and about competing. He's always got some good one liners in there and some new stories as always. It was great. The guys appreciated it."

Showalter will be in Dallas on Sunday, but said he's had a hard time getting tickets for the game.