Tom

Zbikowski

Zbikowski and Bernard Pollard were running neck-and-neck throughout the preseason, and the two will work in a timeshare. Pollard is a thumper in the running game, so he’ll see most of his action on early downs.

Zbikowski suffered the concussion on October 2. Bernard Pollard will continue to get all the reps at strong safety.

Beat writer Jeff Zrebiec believes both players will be able to find “decent contracts” and more playing time on the open market. Nakamura made just 12 tackles in a reserve role last season, while Zbikowski was benched in favor of Bernard Pollard and missed two games with a concussion. Zrebiec reports the Colts, Titans and Bengals could all have interest in Nakamura.

Zbikowski is following his former boss Chuck Pagano to the Colts. Zbikowski opened 2011 as the Ravens’ starting strong safety, but quickly lost his job to Bernard Pollard. He ended up playing just 228 snaps in 14 games. He’ll compete with Joe Lefeged for playing time in Indy.

It’s Zbikowski’s second concussion of the season. The first one cost him two games. If Zbikowski can’t go after the Ravens’ bye, Bernard Pollard figures to step in at strong safety. Rookie corner Jimmy Smith also sustained a concussion in Week 17.

They’d prefer to re-sign fellow free agent Haruki Nakamura. Zbikowski was bounced out of the starting lineup by Bernard Pollard in 2011, and the fact that he missed multiple games with a concussion won’t help his free agent stock. The Notre Dame alumnus has managed two career interceptions in 53 games.

Bernard Pollard will remain the starting strong safety after Zbikowski started the first four games of the season. Zbikowski’s snaps figure to be limited this weekend, but he should settle back into a timeshare with Pollard before long.

Anquan Boldin (knee) is also fine for this week’s game. The Ravens secondary will need the reinforcements of Smith and Zbikowski with Andre Johnson returning to provide a vertical threat.

Zbikowski missed practice all week and did not travel with the team for Sunday’s meeting with the Lions in Detroit. Backups Sergio Brown and Joe Lefeged will share the workload in Zbikowski’s absence.

Zbikowski intercepted a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass in the fourth quarter and fumbled it back to the Bills then left the contest. Sergio Brown is his back-up.