OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The reeling Ravens will be without star quarterback Lamar Jackson for a second straight game, but three other Pro Bowl players are set to return for Sunday’s tilt with the Los Angeles Rams.
Still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the Week 4 loss at Kansas City, Jackson was officially ruled out for Week 6 on Friday, meaning backup Cooper Rush will make his second straight start. With a much-needed bye looming next week, Baltimore hopes to avoid a fourth straight loss and its first 1-5 start since the 2015 season.
“Lamar is doing everything he can,” said Rush, who threw three interceptions in last Sunday’s 44-10 defeat to Houston. “He’s around, still keeping engaged in the meetings and things like that. Trying to get that body right and get it going. He is in here every day doing all he can.”
While Jackson and three-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) remain sidelined, safety Kyle Hamilton (groin), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) did not carry game status designations on the final injury report and are expected to play against Los Angeles after sitting out the Texans game. That’s an encouraging development for a team that struggled mightily on both sides of the ball in Week 5.
The Ravens also ruled out cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique), and rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. (shoulder) for Sunday’s game. Wide receiver Zay Flowers was officially listed as questionable because of a shoulder injury, but he was able to log limited practices throughout the week, which should bode well for his status.
The return of Hamilton and Humphrey coupled with this week’s trade that sent outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman will create plenty of intrigue about the look of the secondary against the explosive Rams offense. Head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that he fully expects Gilman to be ready to play, which should afford defensive coordinator Zach Orr more flexibility to deploy three-safety sub packages and play Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage as either the nickel or dime back. Humphrey has primarily played at the nickel this season, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Ravens try to defend a Los Angeles passing attack led by two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Matthew Stafford and Pro Bowl wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
The Rams officially listed right tackle Rob Havenstein and inside linebacker Omar Speights as doubtful with ankle injuries, but starting tight end Tyler Higbee (hip) is expected to return to action after sitting out last week. Los Angeles designated wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) and tight end Colby Parkinson (concussion) as questionable after they were limited in practices this week.
Below is the final injury report for Week 6:
BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring), FB Patrick Ricard (calf), ILB Roquan Smith (hamstring), WR Devontez Walker (oblique)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Zay Flowers (shoulder)
LOS ANGELES
DOUBTFUL: RT Rob Havenstein (ankle), ILB Omar Speights (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Tutu Atwell (hamstring), TE Colby Parkinson (concussion)
