Ray Lewis could play again in 2012 as Terrell Suggs returns to practice.

Forget wondering out loud about if Ray Lewis will ever play again, the new question is ‘will he play against this year?’

Lewis is having surgery to repair his torn right triceps on Wednesday and the Baltimore Ravens are holding out hope that he will suit up again if the team makes the playoffs.

They have placed the reserve/injured – designated for return label on Lewis which in layman’s terms means that he will be able to return as early as December 15^th.

The likelihood of that happening is highly unlikely, but as he stated today on the team’s website, coach John Harbaugh is holding out for the possibility of a miracle.

“There’s an opportunity [for him to return] and we are going to keep the door open,” he said.

Regardless of what happens, Lewis will not be a distraction to his team by engaging in any type of retirement talk.

He told his former teammate and current analyst Shannon Sharpe that he won’t make a decision about potential retirement until after he completes his rehab process and even then he won’t speak publicly until the Ravens have concluded the 2012 season.

Sharpe told USA Today that Lewis stated ‘right now, I need to stay positive for my team.’

In what has to be a bit of good news, linebacker Terrell Suggs participated in practice for the first time this season as he came off the PUP list.

Suggs participated in stretches but the Ravens could deploy him at anytime between now and November 7.

“He’s worked really hard,” Harbaugh said. “He’s done a great job with the rehab.  He’s followed the protocol.  He had no setbacks throughout the course of the whole deal.  So, that’s a credit to him and a credit to the doctors and to our trainers.”