The Associated Press

BEREA — Jake Delhomme still can’t trade his walking boot for cleats.

Cleveland’s starting quarterback, who injured his right ankle in his Week 1 debut with the Browns, has not been cleared to practice and it appears he will be sidelined for this Sunday’s game in Baltimore and possibly next week as well.

Browns coach Eric Mangini has been intentionally vague about Delhomme’s status, and the team has given no specifics about the severity of the ankle injury, which the 35-year-old sustained while throwing a costly interception in the first half of the opener at Tampa Bay.

If Delhomme can’t play, and that appears the case, backup Seneca Wallace will make his second straight start Sunday against the Ravens.

Last week, the Browns didn’t announce Wallace would start the home opener and that Delhomme was inactive until an hour before kickoff.

Delhomme hasn’t practiced and has not been available to the media this week. A team spokesman said Delhomme was undergoing treatment and will meet with reporters on Friday.

Mangini maintains that Delhomme is getting better. Before Thursday’s practice, he was asked if Delhomme’s injury could carry into next week.

“Could it?” he asked. “I think there is potential. He’s been progressively better each day. I thought he was moving around pretty good today when I saw him. With injuries, I don’t really know. Sometimes they … I don’t know.”

Delhomme could be dealing with the dreaded high ankle sprain, an injury that can take as long as month to recover from. Mangini said Delhomme is still wearing a protective walking boot, but it’s common for players to wear one with similar injuries.

Running back Jerome Harrison (thigh), nose tackle Shaun Rogers, wide receiver Brian Robiskie (ankle) and linebacker Marcus Benard (ankle) also missed practice.

Mangini is optimistic he’ll get a few players back for Friday’s practice.