Ray Rice Injury: Updates on Baltimore Ravens RB's Shoulder and Return

Updates from Monday, Aug. 18

Clifton Brown of CSN Mid-Atlantic reported on Ray Rice's status at Monday's practice:

Original Text

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice left Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys after apparently injuring his shoulder in the second quarter. 

The team's official Twitter account has the news:

The team did get some promising news from the X-rays, per The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson:

ESPN's Jamison Hensley has more:

Bernard Pierce was given the start and the Ravens featured him in their lone first-quarter drive, but Rice entered the game for the team's second drive. He broke free for an 18-yard gain down the left side on his first carry, only to gain three yards on his second and final carry one play later.

He came off the field after receiving a big hit on the carry, and soon after headed to the locker room. But CSN Ravens captured a quote from Rice to reassure Ravens fans that the injury isn't serious:

Rice has been a workhorse in the Ravens' backfield, missing only four games over the past five seasons and amassing four straight 1,000-yard campaigns. However, early injury troubles played a part in his regression last season, during which he finished with an unproductive 3.1 yards per carry. 

The 27-year-old is already suspended for the season's first two games, and the Ravens can ill-afford for Rice's 2014 campaign to start with an injury much like 2013 did. Pierce is a more-than-capable backup option, but his downhill running style is better deployed in a complementary role.