Tavares Gooden held out of contact after neck injury

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens Inside linebacker Tavares Gooden injured his neck and back against the Carolina Panthers last week and practiced Monday in a red jersey, meaning he’s off-limits to contact.

“Tavares has had a little bit of a bad back a couple days ago,” defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. “He rested it yesterday, and today we wanted to get him back in there. He got hurt. He came out of the game. He got hit from the side and he twisted his neck, which carried on down into his back.”

Gooden recorded a sack against the Panthers. He's competing with Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe for the starting inside linebacker job next to All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis.

"Tavares has had a very good camp," Mattison said. "He’s been really, really important in our sub package, being the dime linebacker. He's got the ability to cover people, be able to run, and he’s also done a good job as a backup inside linebacker."

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