OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Ray Lewis wants to play this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His ailing left shoulder -- and the Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff -- probably won't allow that to happen.

	Lewis

Lewis did not practice Wednesday and was listed as questionable in the team's injury report. The five-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker hasn't played since Oct. 6, when he partially dislocated his shoulder diving for a fumble against the Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens (3-3) would love to have him for Sunday's AFC North showdown against the Steelers (3-3). But Lewis won't play if there's a chance he could aggravate the injury.

"I don't want him to make the mistake of pushing himself back before he's ready, simply because of the circumstances,'' Baltimore coach Brian Billick said.

Lewis shrugged his shoulders when asked if he expected to end his two-week absence.

"Brian has kind of made it clear that it isn't up to me, because if they left it up to me I'm playing,'' he said. "That's just my mentality. I still have one good shoulder and two good legs.''

But the Ravens have performed well defensively without him, and Lewis realizes he won't do the team any good by returning before he's healthy.

Lewis also has no desire to play hurt and with a restrictive harness.

"I can't go out there as a one-armed bandit playing on all these pain killers and all that. That won't help me get done what I want to get done,'' he said.

If Lewis can't play, he will assume the role he's taken on game day in each of the past two weeks: stalking the sidelines while shouting encouragement and dispensing advice to the rest of the defense.

If Lewis can't play, he will be again be replaced by Bernardo Harris, who had nine tackles and an interception in last week's 17-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his seven-year run with the Green Bay Packers, Harris never once tried to imitate Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke. He's not trying to be Ray Lewis, either.

"Ray is one of a kind. No one can replace Ray. He's one of the most dominant players ever,'' Harris said Wednesday. "If I try to do too much, I'll make mistakes and be back on the bench. I'm going to use my experience, do what I know and just play football.''