The Ravens will be without Lamar Jackson again on Sunday, a blow that became official almost exactly a day after he was listed as questionable for the game against Cincinnati.
Baltimore downgraded the two-time MVP quarterback to out, extending his absence to a third straight week as he continues working back from a left ankle injury suffered in the Oct. 4 win over Tennessee. Jackson said Friday that the injury was a high ankle sprain and admitted he was still dealing with a lot of discomfort while trying to get ready for the Bengals. Even after three straight limited practices, he was not moving freely at times during the portion of practice open to reporters.
“I don’t feel like I have to be 100%. If I can just be out there and tolerate the pain in my ankle, that’s it,” Jackson said Friday afternoon.
“If I can just go out there and feel the pain a little bit, I can play. But [if] I’m restricted and I can’t do what I do, I’m not helping.
If I can just go out there and just be a statue and be hit, that’s not helping my team at all. That’s just me.
I feel like I’m being selfish because it’s about me at that point for me to go out there and be hurt.”
Tyler Huntley will step in for a third consecutive start at quarterback as Baltimore tries to avoid back-to-back division losses after last Sunday’s defeat to Cleveland.
Jackson’s week had a familiar feel. It resembled the stretch before last season’s Chicago game, when he returned from a hamstring injury, practiced three straight days on a limited basis and still ended up sitting out for a third game in a row.
He was not seen on the field when Friday’s practice wrapped up, another sign that he was never truly close to playing Sunday. Still, the fact that he was able to practice all week could set him up better for Week 8, when Baltimore travels to Buffalo.
The Ravens also made a roster move on Friday, placing outside linebacker Tavius Robinson on injured reserve after head coach Jesse Minter said he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 6. To fill the roster spot, Baltimore signed reserve guard Kyle Hergel from the practice squad.
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