Although Ravens OLB Courtney Upshaw is still easing his way back into fully participating in practice, he believes he could be ready to play against the Lions in Friday's preseason game.

"I'm confident but it depends on how my shoulder reacts to these next few days of practice," Upshaw said following Baltimore's open practice at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. "I got to wait on the OK to go out there."

Upshaw has been a limited participant since returning to the field on Aug. 7. His shoulder is wrapped and he hasn't participated in much contact. While he was out, he increased his cardio work to where he now weighs 275 pounds -- with five more pounds to lose to reach his target playing weight of 270.

But with Upshaw missing a lot of practice time, the first team reps have been going to Sergio Kindle and Albert McClellan.

McClellan's play has impressed coach John Harbaugh enough to where he said McClellan was in the thick of the race for being a starter. Upshaw was asked if he had any concern that his time away from practice could allow someone like McClellan to jump him on the depth chart.

"I'm not feeling any pressure," Upshaw said. "It's just that all these guys here are fighting. I knew that coming in after they drafted me. It's on me, that when I get better to come back in and fight with them."

Second string still for McKinnie: Bryant McKinnie is primarily working with the second team on offense, which has kept Michael Oher as Baltimore's first-team LT.

Harbaugh has repeatedly stated there's a competition for the starting LT spot, although McKinnie believes he'll have his position back by the beginning of the season.

"Just for me, I need to get in there and get reps period, whether it's with the first or second team," McKinnie said.

WR Smith's ankle fine:  Torrey Smith said the ankle he tweaked against Atlanta on Thursday isn't too bothersome and something minor he'll have to temporarily deal with.

"I felt all right. Any time I'm walking, I'm not hurt, so you all aren't going to get that out of me," Smith said. "It's a little nick. It's football. You have to deal with it. You have to learn to play with it. I'm fine."

Kemoeatu a starter? It was assumed NT Terrence Cody had a lock on his job this season.

But over the past couple of practices, Ma'ake Kemoeatu has received a lot of first-team reps. This is a position that will be watched even closer leading into Friday's preseason game against the Lions, to see if Kemoeatu, who didn't play in 2011 due to a lingering Achilles injury, can continue pressuring Cody.

"I'd say Kemo's pushing for a starting job," Harbaugh said. "He's done (well), really since training camp started. He's in great shape and playing extremely well."

Dickson injury 'freak accident': TE Ed Dickson called his sprained shoulder injury against Atlanta a "freak accident."

"It was a routine catch in the end zone," Dickson said. "I knew something was up because it started to burn. ... I'm just happy the MRI showed up negative."

Dickson and TE Dennis Pitta (hand) will miss the majority of the preseason but are on schedule to return for the Week 1 opener against Cincinnati.

Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS.