If Ravens coach John Harbaugh is to be believed, All-Pro safety Ed Reed will return to the field in 2010.
“I believe Reed will play next year,” Harbaugh said during the team’s season-ending press conference in Owings Mills, Md., according to WNST.
Reed considered retirement following the Ravens loss to the Colts in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” Reed after the Ravens loss to the Colts. “It kind of hit me on the sideline. It hit me now because I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to have going forward. It’ll be a long offseason just thinking about. It hurts just thinking about it.”
Losing Reed would be a huge blow to the Ravens vaunted defense. The star safety has returned seven interceptions for touchdowns and is the only player in NFL history to score off an interception, a recovered fumble, a blocked punt and a punt return.
Reed missed four games this season because of a strained groin and played last year despite a nerve impingement in his neck. He labeled his percentage on returning as “50-50” after the Ravens’ season-ending 20-3 loss to the Colts.