Trevor Pryce is the star of the day: The defensive end appeared ready to play Tuesday as the 12-year veteran tries to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2007. Pryce appeared in just five games last season after he broke his wrist and later tore a pectoral muscle. The 6-foot-5, 286-pound Pryce even stepped in and played some defensive back as just rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans participated in practice.

PLAY OF THE DAY

During the red zone drills, safety Haruki Nakamura tipped a Troy Smith pass in the end zone that was picked off by rookie fellow safety Tom Zbikowski. Nakamura, a sixth-round pick from Cincinnati, and Zbikowski, a third-round pick were forced to play cornerback because there weren’t any at the first practice.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN

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Quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, along with fullback Jake Nordin, linebacker Dan Cody, offensive tackle Mike Kracalik and running back P.J. Daniels each had an “Arm and Hammer” patch on their jerseys. Head coach John Harbaugh said those patches are in recognition of participating in at least 85 percent of the offseason workouts.

“That’s something we want them to be proud of,” Harbaugh said.

QUARTERBACK BATTLE

Troy Smith took the first snaps during the morning drills, but also had the most struggles. He completed just 1-of-5 passes and threw three interceptions. During the same drills, Kyle Boller was 4-for-4 on pass attempts, and rookie Joe Flacco went 1-for-3.

“They’re doing a nice job, all three of them,” Harbaugh said. “They look fluid. The fact that they’re friends and the fact that they’re good guys taking the attitude that they want to be as good as they can be and help the other guys be as good as they can be, that’s just them being good guys. Make no mistake about it, every one of those three guys wants the job. It’s not really a nice guy contest. We’re all nice guys, but it’s a quarterbacks contest.”

rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com