Ravens DB Rolle probably lost for season after undergoing neck surgery

Injured Ravens DB Rolle appears done for season

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens defensive back Samari Rolle almost certainly won’t play this season, and it’s likely his career is over because of a nagging neck injury.

The 33-year-old Rolle was placed on the physically unable to perform list in August with hopes he might return, but a recent operation did not correct the problem.

“I can’t speak for Samari, but I would say right now, based on what the medical people are saying, I’m not very optimistic at all that he will be able to play this year,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “You just don’t want to mess around with the neck. Samari is too important to us as a person to even think about that, but that’s not the advice we’re getting medically, either.”

Rolle was not made available to the media Monday as Baltimore began its bye week.

Rolle missed six games in 2008 with a neck injury. He underwent surgery last year, too, and has not practiced with the team this season.

The 12th-year veteran went to the Pro Bowl in 2000. After starting his career with the Tennessee Titans, he came to the Ravens in 2005 and started all 16 games during his first two seasons in Baltimore.

In 2007, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. That, along with a shoulder injury, limited him to six games that season.

Rolle was released this past offseason at his own request, then re-signed a four-year, $10 million contract. But Baltimore signed free agent Domonique Foxworth to start at cornerback along with Fabian Washington, who joined the Ravens last year.

Rolle hoped to return this season as a nickel back.