OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson did not practice on Oct. 1 because of the hamstring injury he suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs, and he was one of eight players who were sidelined by injury during the team’s Wednesday workout.
The hobbling Ravens (1-3) host the Houston Texans (1-3) at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 5, as they try to endure a staggering run of injuries and hold their teetering season together.
Head coach John Harbaugh had no update on Jackson or other injured players when he met with the media after practice, saying only, “We’re just kind of taking it day-by-day through the week. … You’ll see who practices and who doesn’t. And we will be working our way through the week with guys.”
Multiple media outlets have reported that Jackson is unlikely to play against Houston. Backup Cooper Rush would start in his place, with practice squad quarterback Tyler Huntley also in uniform.
The Ravens had the makings of a Pro Bowl lineup on the injury report, with eight players named to the Pro Bowl listed as either absent or limited. And that didn’t even count Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who is on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending neck injury two weeks ago.
In addition to Jackson, the Ravens were without Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) and Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf). All three of those players left with injuries during the Ravens’ 37-20 loss to Kansas City four days earlier.
In fact, the Ravens were missing all three cornerbacks who have started all four games this season. In addition to Humphrey, Nate Wiggins missed practice with an elbow injury and Chidobe Awuzie was out with a hamstring injury. That could lead to another look at Jaire Alexander, the cornerback signed in June who has played just one game this season and has been a healthy scratch in the past three.
Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard remained sidelined, and wide receiver Devontez Walker missed practice with an oblique injury.
The lengthy injury list included five other players who were limited in practice, including Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton (groin), Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum (calf) and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. Defensive tackle Travis Jones (knee), who missed the Chiefs game, and defensive end Brent Urban (finger) were also limited.
Tight end Mark Andrews acknowledged that playing without Jackson would be “a challenge, obviously, with the type of player and leader that Lamar is,” but he added that the Ravens are “a deep organization with a ton of players that are going to step up and make plays. I just have a lot of faith and trust in the guys.”
“Everybody here in this organization, we’re all fighters,” Andrews added. “We’ve been through adversity. We know what that looks like, and there’s no quit in this group, and we’re excited to show the world that.”
Asked about Rush, who went 4-4 with the Dallas Cowboys last year and has made 14 starts in eight NFL seasons, Andrews called him “a pro’s pro. … There’s a reason why he’s been in the league for nine years, I think it is, now. He’s a really good player.”
NOTEBOOK
EMERY JONES BEGINS PRACTICING: Rookie third-round draft pick Emery Jones practiced for the first time on Oct. 1. The former LSU offensive lineman has been sidelined since the spring after undergoing surgery on his shoulder. He is on the Ravens’ Non-Football Injury list, and by returning to practice, he begins a 21-day ramp-up period after which he must be added to the active roster.
Jones, who was a tackle at LSU, is considered a candidate at both tackle and guard with the Ravens. Harbaugh said there isn’t a specific positional plan for him, but they were excited to finally get him on the field.
“He looked healthy, he looked strong, looked like he’s been training,” Harbaugh said. “It was his first day back into football for quite a while for him, but I thought he looked good.”
RAVENS ADD PRACTICE SQUAD CORNERBACK: With injuries piling up in the secondary, the Ravens signed defensive back Amani Oruwariye. He is a six-year veteran who was with the Tennessee Titans in training camp but was released. Oruwariye was a fifth-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2019 out of Penn State and spent four seasons with the Lions. He also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys. He started four games for the Cowboys last season and has started 40 games in six NFL seasons.
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