The Associated Press

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The losses and injuries continue to mount for the Baltimore Ravens, who will probably be without three defensive starters and quarterback Chris Redman against the Bengals on Sunday.

Linebacker Ray Lewis and defensive end Michael McCrary, who sat out Sunday's 20-17 defeat in Atlanta, are not expected to play. They could be joined on the sideline by cornerback Chris McAlister, who sprained his left ankle against the Falcons.

"It's a day-to-day thing," Ravens trainer Bill Tessendorf said Monday. "The problem with Chris is that he has to cut and change direction, and if he can't do that, it's a bad situation."

Lewis has missed four straight games with a partially separated left shoulder. Although he has lifted weights recently, the Ravens don't want to risk further injury to their Pro Bowl middle linebacker by rushing his return.

McCrary has missed two games with a knee injury. If McCrary, Lewis and McAlister can't go, then linebacker Peter Boulware will be the lone starter from a defense that two years ago helped Baltimore win the Super Bowl.

Redman, in his first season as a starter, is still bothered by back spasms. Even if he's healthy enough to play Sunday, he would almost certainly serve as a backup.

That means reserve Jeff Blake will probably make a third straight start at quarterback. The Ravens (3-5) have lost both his starts and tumbled into third place in the AFC North.

SAINTS: The NFL on Monday ended the suspension of cornerback Dale Carter, who had been prohibited from playing for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Carter, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who had to sit out the 2000 season for substance abuse, failed another test and was suspended indefinitely in July, only months after signing a seven-year, $28 million contract with the Saints.

The Saints said Carter was eligible to begin participating in team activities immediately.

RAIDERS: Defensive end Tony Bryant was released from the hospital Monday, a day after he was carted off the field with a spinal injury.

A CT scan turned up negative, but Bryant also underwent a precautionary MRI on Monday.

"He has feeling in his extremities," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said Monday. "He's a little sore."

RAMS: Quarterback Kurt Warner is scheduled to resume throwing this week after having pins taken out of his broken right pinky Monday.

Warner, the NFL's MVP in 1999 and 2001, should pass the ball in practice Wednesday and could return to the lineup Nov.18 against the Chicago Bears.

VIKINGS: Wide receiver Derrick Alexander has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and his status is uncertain for the rest of the season.

PANTHERS: Defensive tackle Brentson Buckner was suspended for four games Monday for violating the NFL's steroid policy. The suspension will cost him $250,000 to $300,000.

COLTS: Running backs Edgerrin James and Ricky Williams are listed as doubtful for next week's game at Philadelphia. James, the NFL's two-time rushing champion, partially tore his right hamstring in an Oct.27 loss at Washington.