OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Star quarterback Lamar Jackson missed a second straight practice dealing with a back issue as the Ravens move closer to a Week 4 trip to Denver to take on the undefeated Broncos.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman called it “a little back flareup” and downplayed its severity with the Ravens having one more full practice to go before traveling to Empower Field at Mile High to conclude a stretch of three out of four games on the road to begin the season. Jackson appeared fine when talking to reporters during his usual Wednesday media session, which occurred less than two hours before that day’s practice.
“I don’t think it’s anything serious, but we’re just going to have to kind of wait and see,” Roman said. “I think he’s going to be in good shape, but we’ll wait and see.”
This marks the second straight week Jackson has missed practice time after he sat out last Thursday’s workout with a stomach bug. It’s also the second time in his career that the 24-year-old has missed back-to-back regular-season practices because of an injury. Jackson missed consecutive practices with a knee issue and an illness in Week 5 last year before practicing fully on that Friday and playing all but the final offensive snap in the 27-3 home win over Cincinnati.
After making it clear that he’d “definitely” prefer having Jackson and any other player at practice, Roman downplayed concerns about his fourth-year quarterback not being able to log much on-field work ahead of the meeting with the Broncos.
“When they’re not, you adjust accordingly. Thankfully, we’ve been in this system going into three years now,” Roman said. “With Lamar, it’s a little bit different than a guy who just got here and that kind of thing.”
Jackson wasn’t the only Ravens player on the 53-man roster absent as safety DeShon Elliott (quad), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), and defensive end Derek Wolfe (back/hip) remained sidelined. Elliott is in danger of missing Sunday’s game after injuring his quad in last Sunday’s win at Detroit while Stanley and Wolfe appear all but certain to be declared out once again when the final injury report is released Friday. Stanley hasn’t played since the season opener while Wolfe has been out with a back injury since an Aug. 23 training camp practice.
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The Ravens added starting cornerback Anthony Averett (ankle) and reserve safety Geno Stone (thigh) to Thursday’s injury report as limited participants, making their Friday status worth monitoring.
Denver was without starting guards Dalton Risner (ankle) and Graham Glasgow (knee) for the second straight day as both are in danger of sitting out against the Ravens.
Below is Thursday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: S DeShon Elliott (quad), QB Lamar Jackson (back), OT Ronnie Stanley (ankle), DT Brandon Williams (non-injury), DE Derek Wolfe (back/hip)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Anthony Averett (ankle), OLB Pernell McPhee (shoulder), S Geno Stone (thigh), OT Alejandro Villanueva (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION: CB Tavon Young (knee)
DENVER
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: G Graham Glasgow (knee), G Dalton Risner (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: RB Melvin Gordon (ribs), OLB Andre Mintze (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION: DE Shelby Harris (wrist), DL Mike Purcell (knee), OLB Malik Reed (ankle/thumb), ILB Justin Strnad (hand)
