OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- When he tore his right Achillies tendon in April, Terrell Suggs spoke optimistically about returning to the Baltimore Ravens as soon as November.

The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker had surgery May 8 and recently discarded his crutches, yet the slow pace of his rehabilitation has made him realize that he will almost certainly be sidelined longer than originally anticipated.

"We're just going to see where we land," Suggs said Thursday after the team's final minicamp session. "Maybe we were shooting too far. We'll see."

Suggs had 14 sacks last season in helping the Ravens reach the AFC title game. He was voted The Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and invited to the Pro Bowl.

Suggs has played in all 16 games in eight of his nine NFL seasons, missing three games in 2009 with a knee injury. But this year will be decided different.

Suggs, 29, knows he's going to miss several months, and that a November return would be the absolute best scenario.

"When we did the timetable, you kind of look at the month and I was like, 'Oh, I could be back by then.' But I'm not a doctor," he said. "It feels good now, I guess. I will be in a Baltimore Ravens uniform in 2012. The only question is when."

Suggs said initially that he sustained the injury during an offseason conditioning drill, but there were reports that he hurt himself playing basketball in Arizona. Even though the Ravens say he will get his full salary in 2012 regardless of how the injury occurred, Suggs insists the torn tendon did not happen while he was on a basketball court.

"You all that know me know when I said what happened, that's exactly what happened," he said. "It was kind of upsetting and frustrating. But we're talking about two different incidents. I didn't get hurt" playing basketball.

Walking in a protective boot and watching his teammates practice was agonizing for Suggs.