Ravens: Outlook 'positive' for Jameel McClain's return to football

Ravens LB Jameel McClain believes he'll be ready for the 2013 season despite suffering a spinal contusion. (US Presswire)

Baltimore linebacker Jameel McClain missed the Ravens' Super Bowl run after suffering a spinal contusion against Washington in December. That's the bad news.

The good news? McClain has been consulting with doctors this offseason and he's been told the chances of him resuming his football career are "positive," according to the Baltimore Sun.

McClain, a starting inside linebacker for the Ravens, suffered the spinal injury in a Dec. 9 overtime loss to the Redskins. His season officially ended eight days after that when the Ravens placed him on injured reserve.

During his season-ending press conference, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that he was "very optimistic" about McClain's return.

McClain also sounded optimistic about a possible return when he talked about it before the Super Bowl. "It's a process," he said. "What we're focusing on is rest. Right now, we're just taking it slow and resting. The doctors talk about what they talk about, but the goal is to be playing next year."

Despite playing in only 13 of Baltimore's 16 regular season games last season, McClain managed to finish third on the team in total tackles with 79.

If McClain does make it back for 2013, he'll be in the second year of a three-year, $10.5 million contract that he signed last March.

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