Pryce was hurt in the third quarter of the Ravens' 20-13 win over the New York Jets yesterday. The four-time Pro Bowl lineman set career highs last year with 73 tackles and 13 sacks, and also led Baltimore with 73 quarterback hits.

Now there's a chance the Ravens will play the next five games without him.

"It could be anywhere from three to four weeks, depending upon the rehab, how he feels when it's casted up, playing with the club (on his arm)," coach Brian Billick said today.

If all goes well, Pryce will miss three games before returning on Oct. 14. But the 11-year veteran could also be lost until after the bye on Oct. 28, Billick said.

McNair, meanwhile, sat out the Jets game with a strained groin but will practice Wednesday when the Ravens begin on-field preparations for a home matchup against the Cardinals (1-1).

"Steve felt pretty good on Sunday. He felt like if he really had to go, he could have," Billick said. "It's encouraging. He should be able to go on Wednesday."

Asked if he expected McNair to play against the Cardinals, Billick replied, "That would be my expectation now, based on he felt Sunday. Now it's the same old story: Let's see how he feels Thursday after going on Wednesday. But he felt pretty good Sunday, so that bodes well for us."

McNair was replaced against the Jets by Kyle Boller, who went 23-for-35 for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Best of all, Boller and the Ravens did not commit a turnover, a vast improvement over the six giveaways Baltimore had in a season-opening 27-20 loss to Cincinnati.

The Ravens also played Sunday without left offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, who has toe and foot injuries. Billick said there's a chance Ogden could be back against the Cardinals, but the final decision won't come until later in the week.

"When Jonathan feels like he can go, he'll go," Billick said.

With Pryce out, the Ravens will have to depend on fourth-year player Dwan Edwards and rookie Antwan Barnes. After Pryce left yesterday, Edwards played on first and second downs and Barnes entered as part of the nickel package.

"We'll have to tag team it, do it in tandem," Billick said.

Edwards, Baltimore's second-round draft pick in 2004, played in only 24 games over his first three seasons and started only once. But he had an excellent training camp and appears ready to make a solid contribution.