Tight end recovering offseason from shoulder surgery
By Jamison Hensley
Sun Staff
Originally published May 12, 2005, 7:38 PM EDT
Remnants of an injury-marred 2004 season will affect this upcoming one for Todd Heap.
Recent shoulder surgery is expected to sideline the two-time Pro Bowl tight end for a majority of training camp, Ravens coach Brian Billick confirmed Thursday. The tentative plan is to keep Heap away from any contact for at least the first two weeks of camp, which begins Aug. 1.
"I would not anticipate seeing him full-go until probably the second or third preseason game," Billick said.
Heap, the Ravens' leading receiver in 2002 and 2003, missed 10 games last season because of a severely sprained ankle.
The dilemma this offseason was not being able to repair the ankle and the shoulder at the same time. Because he couldn't support himself on crutches with a healing shoulder, Heap had to wait until his ankle was out of the protective boot before undergoing his second surgery.
Team officials estimated he had surgery on the shoulder about a month ago.
"It's kind of a double whammy," Billick said. "In a perfect world, he would have been able to get both done at the same time and he would be ready for the first day of training camp."
This season will be an important one for Heap.
He is in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Ravens officials said he is one of their priorities in getting a contract extension.
Considered one of the NFL's top tight ends, Heap creates mismatch problems because of his size, speed and athletic ability. He has been the one constant in a struggling passing attack, averaging 3.4 catches a game for his four-year career.
According to Billick, Heap could return to the Ravens as early as the Aug. 20 preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. If he can't suit up until the third one (Aug. 26 at the New Orleans Saints), he would miss all of training camp.
Billick said the Ravens are confident that Heap will be ready for the regular-season opener.
"We're more than comfortable with him doing that kind of rehab in camp," Billick said. "We've gone through this with any number of different players to make sure they're physically ready. In terms of knowing what to do in the offense and his relationship with Kyle [Boller, quarterback], that's pretty well developed.
"We know it's going to take a little while to get back into it once he's out there full-go. But Todd is veteran enough that I think we'll be able to minimize the effects of it."
NOTES: Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs' court case is scheduled to go to trial Monday. Suggs is charged with two counts of aggravated assault stemming from a fight in the parking lot of Phoenix Municipal Stadium after a basketball tournament in March 2003. ... Boller will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Preakness Celebration Parade on Saturday
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