Each Sunday, Bengals first-round draft pick Levi Jones talks about life as an NFL rookie.

Everybody talks about the rookie wall. It's when a rookie's body, at a point in the season, realizes the NFL season is almost twice as long as the college season.

I wasn't playing at the start of the season, so the length of the season isn't getting to me. I feel like I'm just getting started. I know we've got seven games to go, but I don't see fatigue as a problem. All my problems are the nagging injuries.

The severely sprained left big toe was the reason I didn't practice Wednesday. But my shoulder is probably more serious. I have a partial tear of the rotator cuff and a 40 percent tear in the labrum. I think rehab should take care of it after the season. I have torn cartilage in my right wrist.

I'm not going to sit out. I was sick to my stomach out there missing practice. That's probably the first practice I missed since I was a junior in college when I fractured my ankle. I sat out a running session the Sunday after an Arizona State game my sophomore year, but I haven't missed a padded practice.

I was trying to be in it mentally, but it's hard when you're not in it physically.

You try not to focus on the pain. You try to focus on the task at hand, which is blocking the guy in front of me. I injured my toe in the first quarter of the Baltimore game, but I didn't miss it. It's mind over matter.

It was a good experience to play the Ravens. But it wasn't like we were playing the real Baltimore Ravens. Ray Lewis wasn't in there. All their stars are gone. The guys that played did a good job, but what makes them the Baltimore Ravens wasn't there.

I saw Ray on the scoreboard screen a couple of times. How he can dominate a game is amazing. I would like to have had the opportunity to get my hands on him. You never know how good you are until you go against the best, and he is the best.

I'm going to finish the year. I have to finish. My mother and grandfather always stressed you finish what you start. I can't quit on my teammates. I'm going to give it everything I have.

As much as this is a team game, what you have to do is your individual job. You have to get your job right so you're not a part of why things are going bad. I take it on myself that Corey (Dillon) is running behind me and Jon (Kitna) is back there passing, and I can't let them get killed.

I'm with my fellow linemen. I got our position picture with all the guys in it. It's my first group picture in the NFL. It's the first unit I've been a part of in the NFL, and that's big. Your first group of guys will always stick with you. This picture will help me remember them. They've taught me a lot, and they continue to teach me. Willie (Anderson) teaches me something new every day, either telling me or me watching him.

--As told to Mark Curnutte

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