Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Jimmy Smith might surprise, be ready for start of Ravens training camp

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Baltimore Ravens believe cornerback Jimmy Smith will be ready for the start of the regular season after tearing his Achilles last December.

There's a chance he could be on the field even earlier than that. Smith has a shot at returning for the start of training camp, according to coach John Harbaugh.

"He seems like he's doing well," Harbaugh said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. "He's on schedule. [Ravens trainer] Mark Smith said he's on schedule, maybe ahead of schedule a little bit."

Smith, the team's top cornerback, tore his left Achilles on Dec. 3 and missed the last four games. With the normal recovery being six to eight months, it would be possible for him to suit up for training camp in the middle of July. The Ravens will be among the first teams to open training camp because they're playing in the Hall of Fame game.

At the end of last season, Harbaugh said Smith's status for the start of the regular season was "up in the air." Baltimore added some insurance if Smith isn't ready by picking up Brandon Carr's option.

Cornerback is among the team's deepest positions. In addition to Carr, the Ravens return Marlon Humphrey and Maurice Canady and get back Tavon Young from a season-ending ACL tear.

Without Smith, Baltimore allowed the second-most passing yards in the NFL, giving up an average of 259.5 yards over the last four games. Only the Carolina Panthers gave up more (289.3).

"I'm kind of counting on him to start the season and maybe to start training camp," Harbaugh said of Smith. "I'm kind of really counting on him to be there. That's the hope."

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