Mawae says in interview he could be out Saturday

Kevin Mawae likely will not play against the Ravens this weekend. File

While the Tennessee Titans’ party line regarding Kevin Mawae’s elbow injury is that he is day-to-day, the veteran center said Tuesday on Sirius NFL Radio that he will not play in Saturday’s AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Baltimore Ravens.

He then tempered those remarks by saying no final decision on his playing status had been made.

Hall of Fame running back John Riggins opened the interview by asking Mawae, “Will you be there this weekend?”

“No, I’m not going to play this week. It’s still questionable,” Mawae responded. “We’re day-to-day and hopefully things progress to where I’ll be able to play next week. But again, we’re day-to-day right now.”

When asked a second time if he would play against the Ravens, Mawae said, “Don’t know. We’re preparing like I’m not. Leroy Harris is taking the snaps right now and my job is just to get healthy and get stronger. But the final decision has not been made yet.”

Mawae was not available in the Titans' locker room Tuesday for post-practice interviews.

He has been sidelined since late in Tennessee’s victory over Pittsburgh on Dec. 21 and did not practice Tuesday.

Mawae did, however, do some snaps to quarterback Kerry Collins in seven-on-seven drills, snapping some left-handed and some while wearing a brace on his injured right elbow. Neither the Titans nor Mawae have revealed the exact nature of the injury, but with the supporting brace, speculation is that the injury could be a sprain.

“Well, any time a player is injured or hurt the player is the one that’s got to be honest and forthright with his injury to the coaching staff and the medical staff. How well do I feel I can go?” Mawae said. “If I can go can I help the team or am I just going to be a hindrance to the team? So that’s something that in my mind I’m thinking about, I’m communicating with Jeff Fisher about and the training staff about and with my offensive line coach. But the very real possibility that I might not go, I’ve got to make sure the guy behind me has to be prepared and knows the level of communication that the other guys on the offensive line are expecting and things like that.”

Harris got the start in the regular-season finale against Indianapolis and said that work was invaluable to him as he prepares this week with the possibility of getting the nod.

“I definitely feel like I’m ready to go,” Harris said. “Last week was big for me. I got a chance to take a lot of reps with the first group guys and just get a feel for them and learn how to communicate with them.”

The Ravens present a challenge to any offensive lineman, much less an inexperienced one who apparently will have to shoulder the line calls as the center.

“They have a good system, and they play it well. They’ve been one of the top defenses in the league for years. It’s going to be a good challenge,” Harris said.

BACK AT PRACTICE: The Titans did get defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch back at practice on Tuesday. Each player worked the first half of practice before shutting it down for the remainder of the workout.

“Half a practice is better than none, and I’ll be hopefully a full practice tomorrow,” Haynesworth said. “

Haynesworth, who has not played since Dec. 14 because of a sprained MCL in his left knee, said he knew he was on the road to recovery when he was able to run on the side during last week’s bye week.

“Once I ran the other day, I knew I was fine. I didn’t feel it or anything like that,” Haynesworth said. “I’m just happy I get to practice and knock some of the rust off in practice. That’s my big thing. By doing that, I feel like I can be almost back to where I was before I got hurt.”

Haynesworth, who has a photo of a bear taped atop his locker courtesy of rookie defensive tackle Jason Jones, said he is eager to get back and play.

“I’ve been in hibernation for a month now, and the grizzly is hungry, and he’s ready to eat,” Haynesworth said.

Vanden Bosch, coming back from surgery to fix a groin injury, was not available in the locker room Tuesday.

The Titans have another concern on the defensive line as well. Defensive end Dave Ball has not practiced or played in two weeks because of a back injury. He missed the season finale at Indianapolis and did not practice on Tuesday.

DO YOU KNOW ME?: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis referred to Titans wide receiver Justin Gage on the conference call with Tennessee media Tuesday as “Cage.”

Gage said he took no offense that the All-Pro linebacker didn’t know him by his correct name.

“I ain’t got no bad blood toward the man. I don’t expect him to know everybody in the league,” Gage said. “It is what it is.”

Perhaps Lewis doesn’t know Gage because Gage didn’t play in the October meeting because of a knee injury. Gage had a pair of 100-yard receiving games after he returned and averaged 19 yards per catch. Can he make a difference?

“I’d like to believe that. It won’t be the same game,” Gage said. “The intensity is going to be higher and the speed is going to be a lot faster. It being a playoff game, it’s something I’m definitely looking forward to.”

MOTIVATION: With several media analysts picking the Ravens to again come in and upset the Titans as a top seed, linebacker Keith Bulluck likes that scenario entering Saturday’s game.

“We’ve got them right where we want them,” Bulluck said. “On Saturday, we’ll lock the doors and we’ll see what happens.”