OWINGS MILLS, MD. — A horde of cameras focused on Ravens quarterbacks in black jerseys throwing on a far field, but No. 8 was not among them. Quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice again on Jan. 11, adding to the growing concern that he will not be available for the Ravens’ opening-round playoff game at Cincinnati on Jan. 15.
In addition, backup Tyler Huntley was limited in practice by shoulder and elbow injuries that kept him out of the regular-season finale at Cincinnati.
Speaking after practice, head coach John Harbaugh offered no updates on Jackson’s status, saying, “I don’t have anything really to add on that. No updates at this time.”
The Ravens have been hoping Jackson can return to the field this week for the first time since sustaining a sprained knee against Denver on Dec. 4. What was originally estimated to be a one-to-three week injury has lingered into a second month, and the Ravens’ offense has scuffled greatly without Jackson.
Asked about outside perception that Jackson’s extended absence could be related to his unresolved contract status, Harbaugh implied that such talk bothers him, but he added that he is “kind of ignoring all of that” to focus on the playoff game.
“All that other stuff just becomes kind of noise,” he said, “and you just try to put it out of your mind.”
In six games since Jackson got hurt, the Ravens have failed to score more than one touchdown in any game and have not topped 17 points. Huntley started four of those games, going 2-2, and also led the Ravens to a 10-9 win against Denver on the day Jackson got hurt. With Huntley also out of the lineup last week, undrafted rookie Anthony Brown made his first start in a 27-16 loss to the Bengals in the regular-season finale.
That loss locked the Ravens (10-7) into the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs, and they will make a trip right back to Cincinnati to face the Bengals (12-4) in a Sunday prime-time showdown at 8:15 p.m.
Although he had no update on Jackson, Harbaugh said Huntley was “on schedule.”
“He’s doing a lot better,” Harbaugh added. “He was out there at practice today and took a bunch of plays.”
The idea of Huntley or the undrafted rookie Brown starting a postseason game on the road would appear to be daunting, but players have publicly expressed confidence in both backups.
“Obviously, Lamar is one of one,” tight end Mark Andrews said, “but you look at the other two guys, ‘Snoop’ [Tyler Huntley] and Anthony Brown, there’s so much trust in both of them, and that’s with everybody on the team. So we know with whoever we put out there … we’re going to be all right. We’re going to be ready to go.”
NOTEBOOK
STEPHENS ‘IN GOOD SPIRITS’ AFTER HOSPITALIZATION: The Ravens announced that cornerback Brandon Stephens was hospitalized in Cincinnati last weekend after becoming “acutely ill” at the team hotel. Stephens has since returned to Baltimore where “he is feeling better and is in good spirits,” according to a statement from the team. He did not practice Jan. 11.
Stephens had missed practice last Friday because of an illness, according to the team’s injury report, and then was a game day inactive two days later. Stephens would have been in line to start in place of Marcus Peters, who missed his third straight game with a calf injury. Daryl Worley started instead.
A third-round pick in 2021 out of SMU, Stephens appeared in 15 games with four starts this season, finishing with 37 tackles, including one on special teams, 0.5 sacks and seven passes defensed.
EDWARDS REMAINS SIDELINED: Running back Gus Edwards missed practice with the head injury he sustained in Week 18 at Cincinnati. Edwards played just five snaps before leaving after he appeared to hit his head on the ground while being tackled. If Edwards is unavailable, Kenyan Drake figures to have a larger role against the Bengals this week. With starting running back J.K. Dobbins resting last week, Drake led the Ravens with 16 carries for 60 yards in the 27-16 Week 18 loss at Cincinnati.
POWERS GETS RARE REST DAY: Ben Powers didn’t practice Jan. 11, the first workout he’s missed all season, but Harbaugh said the starting left guard was getting a much-needed rest day. “I wanted him to get some rest today,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been going hard. … I wouldn’t call it a vet day because he’s not that old, but it was a rest day.”
Several veterans also sat out the practice, including tackle Ronnie Stanley, defensive end Calais Campbell and linebackers Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston. Long snapper Nick Moore missed practice with an illness.
In addition to Huntley, cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (shoulder) and Marcus Peters (calf) were listed as limited.
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