Lewis Is Ready for First Test

It’s time for the Baltimore Ravens to find out if Jamal Lewis can effectively carry the football--and the team’s offense--in 2002.

Lewis hasn’t played since January 2001, when he capped a sensational rookie season by running for 102 yards and a touchdown to help the Ravens defeat the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Lewis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee early in training camp last year and missed the season after undergoing surgery. He ran well in mini-camp and at practice this summer but has been held out of high-contact drills.

Now Lewis will put his reconstructed knee to the test in tonight’s exhibition game against the New York Jets at Baltimore. He will appear in about six plays, which should be enough to provide him and the Ravens a progress report. As a rookie, Lewis had 1,364 yards rushing and 27 receptions for 296 yards.

Having Lewis in peak form is crucial for the Ravens, who have a new starting quarterback in Chris Redman, a retooled offensive line and a young receiving corps.

“I’m real excited about Jamal getting the opportunity to get after it,” Raven Coach Brian Billick said. “He needs to take the next step.”

Jet linebacker Sam Cowart is eager to show what he can do after missing all but one game last season because of a torn Achilles’ tendon. Cowart, who also sat out the final four games of 2000 because of an ankle injury, left Buffalo to sign a six-year contract with the Jets in March. He was slowed early in training camp by a sore hamstring, but has been impressive in practice recently.

Cowart, like Lewis, can’t wait to start mixing it up in a game situation.

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting back to some type of action,” he said. “If you put the hard work behind it, there definitely is a payoff, which is playing.”

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The Minnesota Vikings released backup quarterback Spergon Wynn and rookie wide receiver Devin Lewis. Wynn struggled in camp and fell behind rookie Shaun Hill on the depth chart.

Wynn, a third-year player who went to Minnesota in a trade with the Browns, started the final two games last season with Daunte Culpepper and Todd Bouman injured.

Lewis is a free agent from Southern.

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Donte Stallworth, the New Orleans Saints’ top draft pick, is in the middle of another long, lonely week.

While his teammates travel to Miami for the Saints’ second exhibition game, against the Dolphins, Stallworth will remain at training camp rehabilitating his injured hamstring.

Stallworth held out three days of camp until all terms of his contract were settled. Then, five practices later, he strained his right hamstring. He has been sidelined since.

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The San Francisco 49ers signed Chad Cota after they put rookie safety Kevin Curtis on injured reserve because of a knee injury. Cota, a starter for Indianapolis last season, was cut by the Colts in February to eliminate his $2-million salary from their payroll.

Curtis, a fourth-round draft pick from Texas Tech, is out for the season after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the 49ers’ exhibition loss to Kansas City on Saturday. After Curtis’ injury, the 49ers had only three healthy safeties--starters Zack Bronson and Tony Parrish, along with top reserve Ronnie Heard.

To make room on the roster, the 49ers waived punter Andrew Bayes, leaving incumbent Jason Baker as their only punter.

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Terrell Davis’ swollen left knee continues to keep him out of practice, and the Denver Broncos aren’t sure when he’ll return. Coach Mike Shanahan said that Davis’ condition had not changed.... Free-agent cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock signed with the New England Patriots. He is expected to compete for a job backing up Ty Law and Otis Smith.... St. Louis Ram defensive tackle Ryan Pickett will miss the next two to four weeks because of a broken left kneecap sustained last week during practice.... Buffalo Bill guard Ruben Brown and tackle Jonas Jennings, who anchor the left side of the offensive line, will miss Friday’s game against Minnesota. Brown, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, is out after bruising a left knee and Jennings has a sprained ankle. Former UCLA standout Kris Farris is expected to take Jennings’ spot.