Patriots QB Tom Brady is pressured by Baltimore Ravens defensive end Pernell McPhee during Week 3. Despite McPhee's comments, coach John Harbaugh said the Pittsburgh game was not a possibility for him. (US Presswire)

Last week, Ravens starting DE Pernell McPhee said he was close to 100 percent, indicating he was preparing for a return to return to the football field.

Then McPhee missed Friday’s practice and was inactive for Sunday night's game against Pittsburgh. When Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked if McPhee had had a setback, Harbaugh said McPhee might not have been completely truthful.

“I never made any comment about Pernell McPhee, so anything that you hear otherwise, I certainly wouldn’t take that very seriously,” Harbaugh said. “Basically, your question -- which is a fair question -- is pre-supposing some things that were said by someone other than me. I really wouldn’t have to answer that question. In my mind, he’s been on the same course all the way through.”

After Harbaugh said the media would have to ask McPhee what was going on, Harbaugh was asked if McPhee's statement was simply a case of gamesmanship.

“Perhaps,” Harbaugh said, smiling. “That would be a good question for him. I did ask him that question last week, but I’m not going to share the answer with you. He’s a good guy and he’s working hard. There was no setback and he’s on schedule -- very soon. This week [against San Diego] is a possibility. Last week, in all fairness, was not a possibility.”

Other injuries: TE Dennis Pitta, who suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Baltimore's 13-10 win over Pittsburgh, was not feeling any ill effects after the game, Harbaugh said.

Pitta will have to pass the mandatory concussion test before being cleared to play Sunday against San Diego.

DT Terrence Cody was held out of the Pittsburgh game due to an elbow injury sustained in practice last week. The Ravens didn’t think it was a serious injury but the swelling had failed to subside by pregame warmups.

CB Chris Johnson hurt his hamstring and S James Ihedigbo tweaked his neck, though neither injury was deemed serious.

Third-down woes reappeared: Against the Steelers, the Ravens were an abysmal 3 for 14 on third down. This included a third-and-2 in the fourth quarter that the Ravens elected to pass out of, which resulted in a sack and gave the Steelers one last chance to possibly tie the game.

“We aren’t as good on third-and-short as we should be, without question,” Harbaugh said. “That’s a concern. Third down is a concern.”

For the season, the Ravens have converted just 34.4 percent of their third-down tries, which ranks 23rd in the NFL.

"That’s something that we really have to get better at," Harbaugh said. "We’ve known that. That’s something that we’ve been working really hard on.”

Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSRavens and @JasonButtCBS.