Brendon

Ayanbadejo

Ayanbadejo has been of the few effective core special teamers in Baltimore. The Ravens are looking to upgrade a unit that allowed the second-most yards per kickoff return and the ninth-most yards per punt return. The Corey Graham signing should help as well.

Beat writer Aaron Wilson called it ‘mild,’ but he will have to go through the NFL’s mandated testing policy, anyway. We’ll know more about his status when the Ravens return to practice.

The 16-year veteran sustained the injury in last week’s game. It must be serious for him to miss a key NFC North clash. Lewis reportedly traveled to South Florida on Thursday to visit a toe specialist. The Ravens will be without their team leader while the Bengals may play without their best offensive player in A.J. Green. Dannell Ellerbe and Brendon Ayanbadejo are options to replace Lewis.

Ayanbadejo concussion was of the “mild” variety. He’s a core special teamer for the Ravens.

Ayanbadejo is due just a $940,000 base salary in 2013, but with Baltimore right up against the cap, every penny counts. The 36-year-old has been a mainstay on special teams, but his play has dipped as he’s aged.

Ayanbadejo was released by Baltimore on Wednesday. If the soon-to-be 37-year-old doesn’t get a look elsewhere before training camp, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the special teams ace back at the veteran’s minimum.

Ayanbadejo has been a core special teamer for the Ravens since 2008, but his $940,000 salary was expensive for a player who’s going on 37 and played just 173 snaps on defense last season. Ayanbadejo’s experience should net him a look elsewhere.

“I’m totally cool with them,” Ayanbadejo said. “I’m a Raven for life.” Ayanbadejo also said the “groundwork” is being laid for as many as four players to come out at the same time. “We’re in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. ... It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out.”

Ayanbadejo still says he’ll be ready for training camp, but said he remains in “an unusual amount of pain.” The special teams ace is finding that it’s hard to recover from injuries as he enters his age-34 season.

Ayanbadejo should have a decent chance to make the Bears roster.