NDL Forum

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- There is a growing block of lockers at the Baltimore Ravens facility that not only represents the team's most significant injuries, but a potential curse, according to the players.

From left to right, there are the lockers of Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr., Breshad Perriman, Justin Forsett and Chris Canty. All of these players have been placed on season-ending injured reserve, and their placement in the locker room is the exact order each player has been placed on IR.

The next in line is rookie cornerback Tray Walker, whose unfavorable spot in the locker room hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Someone asked me if I wanted to move my locker," Walker said. "We're going to knock on all of this wood in here and pray and hope nothing happens."

Players started realizing this painful trend last month, and Canty was asked about it after Forsett broke his arm.

"I'm going to stay prayed up," Canty said at the time. On Sunday, Canty tore his pectoral muscle and is out for the season.

While looking at the five empty lockers beside him, Walker said he's not a superstitious person.

"You got to do what you got to do to take care of your body," Walker said. "You can't escape from injuries. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. If not, thank God."

Walker, a fourth-round pick, could see his most extensive playing time on defense Sunday as the Ravens look to their young cornerbacks in the final three games of the season. He has been described as raw in terms of technique and knowledge of the game because he is coming from a small-school program at Texas Southern.

“Tray has been up and down,” Harbaugh said. “There are moments you see his talent and he shines. There’s nobody more coachable than Tray. He’s a sponge; he wants to learn. Tray’s issue is he has a lot to learn."

This is a big game for Walker personally as well. His mother is flying to Baltimore, and she's never seen him play in an NFL game.

"They tell me to be ready because my name could be called at any time," Walker said. "I'm very excited. Just to show the crowd and the team what I can do on the field."