OWINGS MILLS, MD. — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his second straight practice on Oct. 31, indicating there is more to Jackson’s physical status than simply the “rest” that head coach John Harbaugh had alluded to when asked about Jackson’s absence a day earlier.
Harbaugh did not meet with the media after the Oct. 31 workout, as the coordinators held their weekly Thursday news conferences instead. Harbaugh’s next session with the media will be after the team’s Nov. 1 workout.
It’s not uncommon for veteran players to take a rest day during the practice week, though it is more unusual for the starting quarterback to do so. Asked after practice Oct. 30 about Jackson’s absence that day, Harbaugh called it “a rest day.”
“He’s been playing great, and we have a lot of football in front of us,” he said. “We have a game, a quick game and another big game coming up, so that was warranted today.”
Jackson, though, appeared on the injury report later that day with back and knee injuries listed as reasons for his absence. (The team will usually designate a veteran rest day on the injury report as NIR — not injury related.)
Then when the team took the field for the workout the next day, backup Josh Johnson and practice squadder Devin Leary were the only quarterbacks on the field.
Jackson has carried 81 times for 501 yards and two touchdowns this season, and he has been sacked 12 times. By nature of his running style, he is subject to more hits than other quarterbacks, but Jackson didn’t miss a snap against Cleveland and had not been listed on the injury report last week.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken doesn’t comment on injuries or personnel decision-making, but when asked about the challenge of practicing without the starting quarterback, he said, “It is what it is. Josh could use the work. … Like any other position, you go to work. Guys have to still function around him. What the calls are, the calls are up front and our skill guys … We have to have high levels of execution no matter who is at what position.”
Through the first half of the season, Jackson has developed into a front-runner to win his third NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Entering Week 9, Jackson leads the NFL in passer rating (115.4) and has thrown 17 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. He also leads all quarterbacks in rushing with 501 yards, which ranks tied for 14th overall.
Jackson was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for October after throwing for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushing for 193 yards as well. It’s the fourth such honor for Jackson.
The Ravens (5-3), coming off a 29-24 upset loss at Cleveland, host the Denver Broncos (5-3) this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium. Then they face a pair of big AFC North games, hosting the Cincinnati Bengals on “Thursday Night Football” on Nov. 7 before traveling to Pittsburgh to face the first-place Steelers (6-2) on Nov. 17.
NOTEBOOK
THREE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN MISS PRACTICE: The Ravens’ defensive line appears to be strikingly thin in advance of the game against the Broncos, as Michael Pierce (calf) was placed on injured reserve this week and three other defensive linemen — Travis Jones (ankle), Brent Urban (concussion) and Broderick Washington (knee) missed practice Oct. 31. Nnamdi Madubuike was the only defensive lineman on the 53-man roster who took part in practice that day.
Asked about missing so many defensive linemen, defensive coordinator Zach Orr said, “Those guys are very important players for us, but the guys we have behind them, I’m excited about. They’ve been getting some good work in practice. Here in Baltimore, the interior D-Line is something we take seriously, and we always have a contingency plan for that. … We’ve got big guys, from the starters and from the depth pieces, big, strong, physical guys who know how to play, square it and get after it.”
The Ravens signed veteran defensive lineman Josh Tupou to the practice squad earlier this week, and he should acclimate quickly since he was with the team throughout training camp before being released in the final roster cutdown. Chris Wormley, who spent his first three seasons in Baltimore before moving on to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, is also on the practice squad and could be a candidate to be a gameday elevation.
The Ravens also have Adedayo Odeleye on the practice squad. The defensive end from Kent, England, came to the Ravens via the league’s International Player Pathways Program. He also spent two seasons with the Houston Texans’ practice squad as an IPPP player and has yet to appear in an NFL game.
MARCUS WILLIAMS ‘LOOKING FORWARD’ AFTER BENCHING: Ravens safety Marcus Williams said he is “looking forward” after his benching last week and said he will be ready whenever he is next called upon.
“I’m just looking forward,” Williams said. “I’ve faced adversity all my life. It’s nothing new to me. Adversity makes you or breaks you, and it’s how you react and how you come out, act like a pro and do all you have to do to move on and get to the next week.”
Orr, like head coach John Harbaugh a couple of days earlier, would not get into details about what led to Williams’ benching, saying the matter was “kept in house.”
But he praised Williams for his approach, saying, “He’s been a pro since he’s been here.”
“The way [Williams] handled what went down is great,” Orr added. “He’s just a great teammate. He’s been a pro since he’s been here. He handled last week like a pro, so I’m excited to see how we move, and how he moves going forward. Like I said … last week, I’ve got all the confidence in Marcus Williams.”
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox