OWINGS MILLS, Md. — All signs continue to point to Lamar Jackson missing Sunday’s game against Green Bay after he sat out the entire practice week with a sprained ankle, but the Ravens aren’t giving up hope — at least officially.
Despite Jackson not participating in Friday’s walk-through as backup Tyler Huntley took the starter reps for the third straight day, Baltimore listed its star quarterback as questionable on the final injury report. The Ravens have described Jackson as “day to day” throughout the week after he injured his right ankle on the opening play of the second quarter in last Sunday’s 24-22 loss at Cleveland.
“I’d say he has a chance. It’s just one of those things where it’s an ankle sprain,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “If he starts feeling good and everything is alright, we’ll check him out probably pregame [Sunday morning]. He’s in all the preparations and all of that. We’ll see where we’re at. But if not, we have Tyler, and he’ll be ready to go also.”
Huntley would be in line to make his second NFL start against the Packers and said the offense remains “on a good track” for Sunday’s game. The second-year quarterback threw for 270 yards and a touchdown in relief of Jackson against the Browns, nearly bringing the Ravens all the way back from a 24-3 deficit.
Should Jackson be inactive for Week 15, Baltimore would need to decide between veteran newcomer Josh Johnson and practice-squad quarterback Chris Streveler as Huntley’s backup. Signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad earlier this week, the 35-year-old Johnson spent the 2016 preseason with Baltimore and has been working around the clock to learn the offensive system if pressed into duty on Sunday.
“It feels good just to have a ‘veteran’ veteran in the room. He’ll tell you a little bit different,” Huntley said. “He’s back learning another playbook, so it’s cool to see how fast he can learn it. I think he learned it pretty good today. He was answering a lot of questions.”
Tyler Huntley on the poise he’s shown being thrown into these situations as the backup: “Football is football. That’s the only answer I can give you.” #Ravens pic.twitter.com/RXQ8xQ2u3t
— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) December 17, 2021
The Ravens designated six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell as doubtful after he missed the entire week with a thigh injury sustained in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the Browns. Starting left guard Ben Powers (foot) was ruled out with a foot injury, putting rookie third-round pick Ben Cleveland in line to start in his place.
Seven other players were listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with all but left tackle Alejandro Villanueva (knee) being listed as limited participants on Friday’s injury report. For what it’s worth, neither right tackle Patrick Mekari (hand) nor cornerback Chris Westry (knee) appeared to be doing very much with their respective position groups during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Wide receiver Marquise Brown (illness), fullback Patrick Ricard (back/knee), tight end Nick Boyle (knee), and offensive lineman Tyre Phillips (illness) all returned as limited participants after missing Thursday’s practice.
Harbaugh confirmed starting safety Chuck Clark still has a path to clear the revamped return-to-play protocols in time for Sunday’s tilt despite testing positive for the virus and being placed on the reserve-COVID-19 list on Thursday afternoon.
“They can test out really up until tomorrow,” Harbaugh said. “My understanding is that you can’t test out on Sunday — is what I was told — but you can test out on Saturday with the new protocol. So, if he tests negative tomorrow, then he’ll play.”
The Ravens placed wide receiver Jaylon Moore on the practice squad COVID-19 list on Friday.
As expected, the Packers didn’t give quarterback Aaron Rodgers a game status despite him missing the entire practice week resting his fractured pinkie toe. Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was listed as questionable after being limited with a back injury all week. Standout nose tackle Kenny Clark was placed on the COVID-19 list on Thursday, leaving his availability in great doubt as the Packers travel to Baltimore on Saturday.
Green Bay left tackle Davide Bakhtiari (knee) was ruled out after practicing this week for the first time since undergoing a cleanup procedure on his surgically-repaired knee last month. Bakhtiari has yet to play this season.
Below is the official game status injury report for Week 15:
BALTIMORE
OUT: G Ben Powers (foot)
DOUBTFUL: DE Calais Campbell (thigh)
QUESTIONABLE: TE Nick Boyle (knee), WR Marquise Brown (illness), QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), OL Patrick Mekari (hand), OL Tyre Phillips (illness), FB Patrick Ricard (back/knee), OT Alejandro Villanueva (knee), CB Chris Westry (knee)
GREEN BAY
OUT: OT David Bakhtiari (knee), TE Dominique Dafney (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: WR Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Malik Taylor (abdomen), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back)
