MKRob Sports

The Ravens are not expecting Samari Rolle to play for the remainder of the season.

The veteran cornerback has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a neck injury since the preseason, and there was some hope that Rolle, 33, would be activated off the list and return as either the defense’s nickel back or even a starting cornerback.

But coach John Harbaugh said during his weekly media briefing Monday that the hope had dimmed.

“I can’t speak for Samari in that sense, but I would say right now based on what the medical people are saying, I’m not very optimistic at all that he’ll be able to play this year,” Harbaugh said. “He had the surgery, and you just don’t want to mess around with the neck. Samari’s too important to us as a person to even think about that. That’s not the advice we’re getting medically. So that’s probably where that stands.”

Rolle, who hasn’t played since the AFC Divisional playoff win against the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 10, underwent surgery in the offseason to repair a bulging disc in his neck. He had another procedure on the neck several weeks ago.

Rolle could have reinvigorated a pass defense that currently ranks 22nd in the NFL in average yards allowed (241.5) and is tied for 22nd in passing touchdowns surrendered (nine).