John Harbaugh has said that Jameel McClain could return to action with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013.
The linebacker has not played since sustaining a spinal cord contusion while appearing against the Washington Redskins last December.
The head coach told reporters: "We've got to take a look at the MRI and make a determination of if he's 150% and ready to go. There's a lot of people that think he probably could play. But I think we've had this conversation with Jameel and his family and we all feel like, let's be unanimous with this.
"The MRI will be clear. There's no question at some point in time it will be clear. It's just impossible, they say, to tell us the time frame.
"He's staying in phenomenal shape. If you see him, he's a fitness warrior. All he's going to have to do is get in football shape, which will take a week or two when he does come back. We'll just keep taking the MRIs and when the MRI is clear, then he'll go."
The 28-year-old made 79 tackles for the Ravens prior to his injury in 2012.