David

Reed

Reed was serving a one-game suspension for a 2010 marijuana incident. He’ll return to the primary kickoff-return job while battling Tandon Doss and Torrey Smith for the third receiver role.

Reed damaged the AC joint in his left shoulder in Sunday’s loss. Reed was having a huge game before going down, averaging 41.7 yards on three returns. Six weeks is a long time for a special teamer to potentially be inactive, but Reed is good enough for the Ravens to keep him off I.R. Rookie WRs LaQuan Williams and Torrey Smith are the most likely kick return fill-ins.

The same is true of KR David Reed, who lost his return job last season before tearing his ACL in Week 16. Coach John Harbaugh indicated in December that Kindle was making nice progress, but he still appeared in only two games after missing his entire rookie year with a fractured skull. Even if Kindle survives final cuts, 2012 will be a make-or-break year for the former second-round pick.

It’s where we suspected Jones would end up all along, despite his postseason flop at Baltimore to end Houston’s season. Carolina and Dallas were also interested. The Ravens had one of the least effective return games in the NFL last season, and Jones represents an immediate upgrade on David Reed and LaQuan Williams. Jones is also the favorite to take over as the No. 3 receiver, with Anquan Boldin moving inside in three-wide sets.

Reed is less than two months removed from his ACL tear, but says he "(feels) like I’m getting a lot of the motor control back.” He hopes to be ready for training camp, but is still a candidate to begin the year on PUP. Fumbles cost Reed his job in Week 10 last season, and he won’t be guaranteed a roster spot in 2012.

In last Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, Reed fumbled twice on kickoff returns and picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. “I think we’re looking for our kick returner,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. Lardarius Webb, Chris Carr, Torrey Smith and LaQuan Williams are all options.

He’ll be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Reed actually improved on his league-leading kick return average from his rookie year, going from 29.3 yards to 29.7 in 2011 with a long of 77. He still hasn’t caught a regular season pass, however. Reed will likely open next season on the PUP list.

Reed is done for the year. “I made a cut on the kickoff return, and it buckled,” he said. Reed averaged 29.7 yards on 18 kickoff returns this season.

Reed had knee surgery in December and has not been cleared to participate in contact drills. His status should be updated when the Ravens report for their mandatory June minicamp. He isn’t guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster.

Reed estimated last week that he was 90 percent, and expects to make up the remaining 10 percent between now and when the Ravens report to camp on July 24. He’ll need to be 100 percent to have any chance of keeping his roster spot.