For Ravens wide receiver and kick returner David Reed, the clock nearly ran out on his attempt to come back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered last season.
If not for a shoulder injury sustained Sunday by reserve safety Anthony Levine that caused the team to place him on injured reserve, there likely wouldn't have been a roster spot available for Reed to occupy.
This was the final week for Reed to be activated from the reserve-physically unable to perform list.
"I would have been on injured reserve," Reed said. "It was right there down to the last minute."
Activated on Monday, Reed is grateful to be back after a long, grueling year of rehabilitation exercises.
Man, it's a blessing," Reed said. "I'm so grateful to be back out there again. I got a few games to go. Hopefully, I can do a little bit. I' a football player, I'm going to go out there and give it 110 percent."
Although the Ravens are well-stocked at receiver and at kick returner with Jacoby Jones having a Pro Bowl caliber season with three returns for touchdowns, Reed could potentially contribute on an occasional return and also in kick coverage.
"Jacoby's a beast," Reed said. "He taught me a lot. I've learned so much from him."
twitter.com/RavensInsider