There's a shot that injured Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith will play Sunday at San Francisco and miss only one game with four micro fractures in his back.
Coach John Harbaugh doesn't know whether Smith will practice this week, but he indicated that the Ravens' leading receiver has been training hard.
"I'm hopeful," Harbaugh said Monday. "Very hopeful."
Smith hasn't practiced since injuring his back in Pittsburgh on Oct. 1. He was listed as doubtful for this past Sunday's game, meaning he had a 25 percent chance of playing. After not participating in pregame warm-ups, he was declared out, ending his streak of 20 straight games played.
"There's always a chance with Steve Smith. Always," Harbaugh said. "Never rule Steve Smith out."
Without Smith on Sunday, Baltimore wide receivers totaled three catches for 6 yards after the first quarter. Smith still leads the Ravens with 29 catches, which are 13 more than any other player on the team.
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