NT Haloti Ngata was sidelined for the first time in his 55-game NFL career when he couldn't convince trainers that he could play before the game. Ngata tested his tender ankle in warm-ups and said he was "pretty close" to playing. "But the coaches decided they didn't want to risk making it worse," he said. "I could have been out longer if I hurt it again." He later said that he expected to play Monday night against the Browns. 1//9/2009

Ngata was inactive against the Bengals on Sunday, missing a game for the first time this season because of a sprained left ankle and leaving Baltimore without one of its main run stoppers.
11/08/2009