OWINGS MILLS, MD. — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his fourth straight practice on Dec. 13, and backup Tyler Huntley was on the practice field for the walkthrough workout, but head coach John Harbaugh said he remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, leaving the Ravens’ quarterback situation highly uncertain with an AFC North battle at Cleveland looming in five days.
Jackson, who missed the Ravens 16-14 win at Pittsburgh on Dec. 10 with a knee injury, seems unlikely to play. Huntley would be in line to make his second straight start, but Harbaugh said Huntley remains in the concussion protocol and was limited during the team’s light indoor workout that amounted to a walkthrough.
“He’s in the protocol, and he was allowed to do walkthrough,” Harbaugh said.
Asked whether it was too early to know whether Huntley could play at Cleveland on Dec. 17, Harbaugh said, “Yes. He’s still in the [concussion] protocol.”
The Ravens (9-4) remain tied with the surging Cincinnati Bengals atop the AFC North. The Browns (5-8) will be playing their third game with quarterback Deshaun Watson after he served an 11-game suspension imposed by the league for a violation of its personal-conduct policy.
The Ravens beat Cleveland, 23-20, at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 23.
If the Ravens are without their top two quarterbacks, undrafted rookie Anthony Brown could ascend to the starting job after replacing Huntley in the third quarter of the Ravens’ win at Pittsburgh. Veteran Brett Hundley, who was with the Ravens during training camp, was signed to the practice squad last week and could be in uniform as a backup.
Harbaugh said earlier this week that, given the rash of quarterback injuries in Baltimore and elsewhere, he has given consideration to having three quarterbacks in uniform on game day.
Brown, who has been on the practice squad all season, had not been in uniform at all in the regular season before the Steelers game, then was thrust into action after Huntley took a shot from safety Minkah Fitzpatrick trying to run for a first down.
Brown’s first regular-season NFL snap came at the Ravens’ 1-yard line after an interception by Marcus Williams, and he coolly completed a 3-yard pass to Demarcus Robinson to get the Ravens off the goal line.
The next day, Harbaugh called it a “gutsy” call by offensive coordinator Greg Roman well executed by Brown.
The Steelers, Harbaugh explained “were packed in there. We could have run it. We could have snuck it, but it wasn’t going to go very far. Then, we would have been second-and-9 or -10 from the 1 or 2. To have the courage to do that … pretty gutsy.”
Brown finished the game 3-for-5 for 16 yards, including a key 7-yard completion to Mark Andrews that converted a third down in the fourth quarter.
Brown’s only rushes in the game were three kneel-downs in the victory formation, but if the rookie is thrust into a starting role against the Browns, Harbaugh said the Ravens’ playbook is fully available.
“[Brown] runs all the plays that we have,” Harbaugh said. “So if he’s out there, the team has to defend the full array of whatever the offense is, just like they do with Tyler or with Lamar.”
NOTEBOOK
ZEITLER RETURNS TO PRACTICE: Offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, who had not missed an offensive snap all season before missing the Steelers game with a knee injury, took part in the Ravens’ walkthrough in a limited capacity, according to the team’s official injury report. That marked just the second game in the past eight years that Zeitler has missed.
Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (illness) missed the light workout, while tackle Morgan Moses and punter Jordan Stout were each limited by a knee injury. Veterans Calais Campbell, Ronnie Stanley and Marcus Peters had a rest day.
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