Without saying that Lewis would practice Thursday — the first day he is eligible to do so — coach John Harbaugh said the 37-year-old linebacker is on pace to return earlier than anticipated.

Lewis has missed the Ravens last five games after tearing his right triceps in the team’s 31-29 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. It was an injury that could have potentially sidelined Lewis for the remainder of the season, but the veteran’s rehab has been going extremely well and he’s poised to return for the end of the regular season.

If Lewis is able to return to practice this week, the first game he would be eligible to play in would be on Dec. 16 against the Denver Broncos. Harbaugh told reporters the team would take things slow with Lewis and test his injured arm to make sure “it can hold up.”

Lewis has been using a hyperbaric chamber and platelet-rich plasma therapy to help him recover and return sooner.