The Ravens continued to be without rookie linebacker Courtney Upshaw Thursday as the top draft pick recovers from a shoulder injury.

The 35th overall pick has missed four straight practices after sustaining a shoulder injury in Saturday’s workout. Upshaw appeared to suffer a stinger in a collision with rookie running back Bernard Pierece, but the 272-pound linebacker finished practice.

Though the Ravens want to see Upshaw return to action as he’s expected to be the starting strongside linebacker, they aren’t concerned as long as the 22-year-old is ready to play in preseason games, starting with the opener in Atlanta next Thursday.

“I’ll start getting worried if it’s halfway through the preseason,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “What we just need to do is get him out there, especially in some preseason games, and have him hit, get hit, and actually play. It’s one thing to go out and practice. There’s different situations here in practice that are just not the same as game-type tempo and game-type situations, and that’s why we need to get him out there. I’m not too concerned, yet, until if we get down the road and he’s not playing any games. Then I will be concerned.”

In Upshaw’s absence, Albert McClellan and Sergio Kindle have received more reps with the starting defense, and coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that McClellan is competing for the starting job. Upshaw has an impressive pedigree after playing in the vaunted Alabama defense, but he failed his first attempt at the team’s conditioning test at the start of training camp and the team would like to see him slim down a bit as he’ll be expected to drop into pass coverage more than he did in college.

While the Ravens labeled it a shoulder bruise, it’s appearing more likely the injury is more severe than that. Upshaw has walked out to the practice field during the latter portion of a few practices this week after receiving treatment on the shoulder.

“Courtney Upshaw got a bruise on his shoulder, so he is out for now,” Harbaugh said Monday afternoon after Upshaw missed his first practice. “It’s a bruise, and he’ll just take the time that it takes to get healed up. Jimmy Smith bruised his shoulder [Saturday], too, and he was able to get back [Monday]. So, it kind of gives you an indication.”

Unlike Smith, however, Upshaw’s recovery time has taken much longer.

Upon learning 2011 AP Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs had suffered a torn Achilles tendon in late April, Paul Kruger knew it would create the kind of opportunity he’s been waiting for, even if it didn’t come under the most desirable circumstances for the Ravens.

The 2009 second-round pick struggled to find his niche in the Baltimore defense in his first two seasons before finally seeing consistent time as a pass-rush specialist on third down last season. Kruger collected 5 1/2 sacks while providing a viable option on the opposite edge of Suggs, who posted a career-high 14 sacks.

Now being asked to play Suggs’ rush linebacker position, Kruger knows no single player will be able to replicate the star linebacker’s impact. Kruger is simply hoping to occupy the spot to the best of his ability in hopes that Suggs will be able to return to the field at some point during the second half of the season.

“You’re talking about the best defensive player in the league,” the fourth-year linebacker said. “It’s pretty much impossible to replace a guy like that. We just need to get him healthy and get him back, but for me, it’s about just me being the best player that I can be and filling that role.”

While most believe Kruger can make an impact rushing the passer, questions remain about his ability to be a three-down linebacker. Often overlooked by the sack totals and his ability to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, Suggs blossomed into a consistent run stopper over the last few seasons after entering the league as a one-dimensional player.

Setting the edge and showing he can play the run consistently are the keys to the Ravens feeling confident in Kruger as a starter.

“That is our No. 1 priority,” linebackers coach Ted Monachino said. “When we look at guys all the way from pro free agents to the draft to the guys on our current roster, the three things we ask them to do is set the edge, rush the passer, and then cover. So, we all have a great deal of improvement to make in that area.”

Kruger has plenty to prove, but he’s relishing the opportunity to finally show why the Ravens invested a high draft pick in him. After the coaching staff bounced Kruger back and forth between defensive end and linebacker in his first few seasons, the 26-year-old is finally able to focus on one position, knowing a golden opportunity is staring him right in the face.

“It’s a lot more positive when you’re out there and [your role is] much more clear,” Kruger said. “In the past, it’s been rough to kind of not be able to see exactly what you’re working towards or where you’re going or what position. So, it’s been a long road, but it’s paid off, and I’m still grinding. We’re not there yet, but I’m pretty happy about it.”

Camp highlights

Billy Cundiff and Justin Tucker had been deadlocked through the first week of their kicking competition, but the rookie gained the upper hand on Tuesday.

Tucker was 5-for-6 on field goals while Cundiff only went 4-for-7. Both players went 3-for-4 in a series of kicks as each missed from 55 yards and connected from 60 yards in an impressive showing. However, when they were called upon to make kicks in more authentic conditions you’d find in a game, the veteran misfired twice while Tucker made both of his tries.

“We put them in a lot of game-like situations where they had to run out, make a kick [at] the end of the game, during a game, those kinds of things,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They did a good job of that. We try to do that as much as we can, as opposed to just go out and kick five field goals in a row, because you don’t do that in a game.”

Unlike Monday when the offense had the better day, the defense extracted some revenge as Bernard Pollard and Ray Lewis each intercepted quarterback Joe Flacco in an 11-on-11 team period. The quarterback gained some redemption by tossing a touchdown to No. 1 receiver Anquan Boldin, but the starting defense appeared more confident in coverage after Harbaugh chastised the unit a day earlier.

It probably didn’t hurt that Lewis and fellow veteran Ed Reed were back on the field after receiving Monday off.

Rookie cornerback Asa Jackson had a sparkling day as he picked off two passes while playing with the second defense. His first theft came against backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor and he later secured an interception against Curtis Painter.

With rookie linebacker Courtney Upshaw still sidelined with a bruised shoulder, Albert McClellan received extensive time at the strongside linebacker position. His versatility will earn him more opportunities as defensive coordinator Dean Pees can line him up at defensive end or any of the linebacker positions if needed.

“The more you can do in our whole system, the better off you are going to be,” Harbaugh said. “Albert can play a lot of positions because he is so smart. He did the same thing in college; I think he played seven or eight positions in college. He is in competition. He is competition for the starting ‘Sam’ [linebacker] spot.”

And while it may not qualify as the first real “fight” of camp, defensive tackle Terrence Cody and rookie offensive lineman Gino Gradkowski mixed it up during Tuesday’s practice, but the altercation was quickly extinguished.

Training camp tunes

In addition to welcoming a limited number of selected fans to their Owings Mills facility, the Ravens have also begun playing music during the team portion of workouts in an effort to recreate the buzz once experienced when training camp was open to the public in Westminster.

Players and coaches alike have been given the opportunity to make song suggestions, but the most bizarre song played on Tuesday had to be “Renegade” by Styx. Of course, any diehard Ravens fan could tell you that’s the infamous tune played at Heinz Field to fire up the Pittsburgh Steelers and their home crowd.

Was it a motivational ploy to keep players hungry during an otherwise routine practice or simply an appreciation for a classic song?

“We had ‘Renegade’ today, yeah,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a good song; it’s a great song. We love that song.”

A more objectionable choice was heard over the weekend as Lil Wayne and Rick Ross blared over the speakers, which probably didn’t go over well as younger fans were in attendance.

It appears the Ravens have now refined the song selection process to eliminate profanity-laced songs.

“You heard that one? That one has been scratched from the list,” Harbaugh quipped. “Did you notice? We haven’t heard that one since. And I like some rap music. There are a few of them I like, but that’s not one of them. Keep it clean.”

With the Ravens beginning their first full week of training camp after Sunday’s day off, here are five early observations from the first few practices of the summer in Owings Mills.

1. Even if the Ravens are satisfied with Bryant McKinnie’s weight and conditioning, this story isn’t going to go away as quickly as the tackle would like.

His claim that he hurt his back in a fall may explain why his chiropractor contacted the team to let them know he wouldn’t be reporting to training camp on time, but coach John Harbaugh’s comments earlier this week suggest the Ravens are having a difficult time believing the explanation. While McKinnie may have felt embarrassed — especially knowing how closely his conditioning is being scrutinized — failing to talk to the organization himself makes it look like he’s hiding more than a minor back injury.

Plenty of speculation exists regarding McKinnie’s financial problems and how he mysteriously went silent on Twitter a week ago, but you have to wonder how much the Ravens are willing to put up with considering they were already uneasy about his conditioning earlier this offseason. Harbaugh’s hardline stance about Michael Oher being the left tackle until further notice is a loud message that McKinnie is on shaky footing with the organization.

Unlike the way in which Ed Reed’s arrival at camp immediately squashed the discussion that buzzed around the All-Pro safety for weeks, McKinnie won’t just waltz back into camp with all essentially being forgotten. What will help the 32-year-old, however, is the lack of a known commodity at the right tackle position when Oher is on the left side.

Even so, McKinnie has plenty to prove before the Ravens can entrust him with the left tackle job for the second year in a row.

2. It’s remarkable how much better the cornerback situation is from a year ago at this time.

More attention has been paid to outside linebacker and the battles at defensive end and on the offensive line, but the most entertaining competition of the preseason will be between Cary Williams and Jimmy Smith for the starting cornerback job opposite Lardarius Webb. Unlike most competitions where you’re typically desperate to see one player emerge as a viable starter, this is a win-win situation where both players are capable of holding down starting jobs in the NFL.

Smith may have gained a slight upper hand during organized team activities as Williams continued to recovery from offseason hip surgery, but the 2011 first-round pick was dinged up during Saturday’s practice to potentially even the playing field once again. It’s also important to remember Williams played with a torn labrum last season, which is remarkable to think about when you consider how critical hip movement is to the back pedal and changing directions.

While the Ravens certainly envisioned Smith as a starter when they made him their top selection two Aprils ago, they really cannot go wrong with either player as the starter, and the other will still receive plenty of playing time. Williams and Smith will again line up at the cornerback spots with Webb sliding inside to the nickel position to match up with slot receivers in passing situations.

Special teams ace Corey Graham has also been very impressive in coverage and looks like a solid bet to be the team’s dime back, which would push Danny Gorrer down the depth chart after he looked solid in limited opportunities last season. It’s quite a difference from a year ago when the Ravens were depending on banged-up veterans such as Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr to play significant roles before Webb and Williams emerged as starters out of training camp.

3. Don’t sleep on Albert McClellan as the Ravens sort out their outside linebacker situation.

While it’s assumed that Paul Kruger and Courtney Upshaw will line up as the starting outside backers against the Cincinnati Bengals to open the regular season, McClellan has received plenty of reps with the defense over the first few days of practice. His versatility to line up as a defensive end as well as play multiple linebacker positions makes him a valuable asset, and that’s not even taking into account that the 26-year-old led the team in special teams tackles last season.

The start to McClellan’s career hasn’t been dramatically different from that of inside linebacker Jameel McClain, though the former spent his first professional season on the practice squad. McClain also went undrafted and shined on special teams before eventually carving out a bigger defensive role for himself.

Upshaw clearly possesses more upside, but the rookie’s inexperience and need to get leaner may open the door for more opportunities for McClellan, who surprised everyone with his strong play filling in at inside linebacker when Ray Lewis and Dannell Ellerbe were sidelined against the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night.

4. There isn’t a wide receiver with better hands on the team than Tandon Doss.

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