Bobby Rainey knew that making it in the NFL wouldn't be easy, but the undrafted rookie running back still was in for a major surprise.

He'd made the cut for the Ravens' 53-man roster just before the season as the No. 3 running back behind Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, but just before the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals he received bad news.

Rainey was cut to make room for Anthony Allen, who he initially beat out. Allen, however, is a valuable special teams player who came back into the picture after the Ravens lost Emmanuel Cook to a broken leg late in the preseason. Allen proved his value in a 31-29 win vs. the Dallas Cowboys last week, making a key block to spring Jacoby Jones for an NFL record-tying 108-yard kickoff return.

"I basically come back in with a chip on my shoulder again. Once I was up I felt great about that, then I went down. That was a terrible feeling," Rainey said as he recalled that conversation with coach John Harbaugh. "It was a whole different perspective of how this league is. Even though I've heard it a lot coming into the league it's different when you have to experience it."

Rainey cleared waivers and was signed to Baltimore's practice squad. After cornerback Lardarius Webb (knee) was put on injured reserve earlier this week, Rainey is on the 53-man roster for the first time this season.

He had interest from other teams, but Rainey wanted to remain in Baltimore. The feeling was mutual as Harbaugh convinced him to stick around.

"He told me after that had happened to stick it out, continue what you doing," said Rainey, who would play special teams and as a third-down back if he's activated for Sunday's game at the Houston Texans. "I told him I didn't want to go nowhere but its hard when you go through the process though and then coming out knowing you have options to go somewhere else. It was just a difficult situation for me."