The Ravens’ first full-team training camp practice on Friday represented a homecoming for receiver Darnerien McCants, who grew up in Odenton and starred at Arundel High.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder signed as a free agent after spending last season with the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. McCants, who was drafted by the Redskins in the fifth round of the 2001 draft, spent four seasons in Washington before playing mainly on special teams for the Eagles in 2005 and 2006.

In 41 NFL games, McCants has 58 receptions for 774 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season in Hamilton, he played in one game, where he made one catch for seven yards.

The Ravens also signed cornerback Anwar Phillips, who attended Northwest High in Germantown. Phillips, who spent time the past two seasons on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, played college football at Penn State.

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EARLY INJURIES » The Ravens secondary dealt with its share of injuries last season, and the trend has carried over to training camp. Safety Ed Reed and cornerback David Pittman were placed on the physically unable to perform list, and cornerback Chris McAlister and Fabian Washington were placed on the non-football injury list.

Other players absent from the first day of practice included receiver Demetrius Williams, tight end Daniel Wilcox, who were also placed on the physically unable to perform list.

Fullback Le’Ron McClain was placed on the non-football injury list. Terrell Suggs was not at camp because he’s unhappy about receiving a one-year contract as the team’s franchise player, and Samari Rolle was excused to deal with the death of his father, Harry.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh was not concerned with the injuries.

“The guys on [injured reserve] are the only guys that won’t be back,” said Harbaugh, referring to tight ends Scott Kuhn (knee) and Quinn Sypniewski (knee).

FANS FLOCK TO CAMP » A crowd of 6,625 attended Friday’s morning practice, Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said. The attendance marked the team’s second-largest crowd for a non-scrimmage, falling just short of the record of 6,900, which was set on Aug. 10, 2006.

Last year, 3,008 fans attended the Ravens’ first training camp practice, which was held during the same weekend Cal Ripken was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com