OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With the Ravens receiving a final chance to win the AFC North and qualify for the postseason, star quarterback Lamar Jackson has deemed himself ready to play in Sunday night’s winner-take-all clash in Pittsburgh.
After participating fully for a second straight practice Thursday, the two-time NFL MVP said he’s “100%” set to return from the back contusion that kept him out of last Saturday’s win in Green Bay. Jackson confirmed his plan to wear extra protection for his back and estimated that he felt healthy enough to return to the field after working out on Monday.
“I’ve been doing a lot of treatment, trying to get that contusion out of there much as possible,” said Jackson, who offered praise for backup Tyler Huntley for his strong performance in the 41-24 win over the Packers. “I feel great right now.”
Dealing with an array of lower-body injuries throughout the season prior to hurting his back late in the first half of the Week 16 loss to New England, Jackson is now on the verge of completing his first full week of practice since the days leading up to the Week 10 win at Minnesota in early November. The timing couldn’t be better after the Ravens were gifted one last opportunity to win their third straight division title when Cleveland upset the first-place Steelers last Sunday.
Asked about the recent outside speculation about his work ethic and desire to remain with the Ravens, Jackson took exception to any suggestion that he could have played in Week 17 and said he “absolutely” wants to stay in Baltimore. The 28-year-old also disputed the notion that he doesn’t have a strong relationship with head coach John Harbaugh, saying he didn’t know “where the noise came from.”
“I was really hurt. I don’t know why I have to get questioned about or I hear things about, ‘Oh, I don’t know if he’s really hurt,'” Jackson said. “I’ve never quit on my team before. I’ve never quit anything to be honest with you all. I don’t know where that noise came from, but I already knew my brother was going to pull it off [in Green Bay] if I couldn’t get it done.”
Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) and wide receiver Rashod Bateman (illness) were the only members of Baltimore’s 53-man roster not to practice on Thursday.
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The biggest health question for Pittsburgh remains the status of eight-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who has logged limited practices this week and is hoping to return from having surgery for a partially collapsed lung suffered last month. Watt has missed the Steelers’ last three games, but Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has expressed optimism about the star edge rusher’s Week 18 status.
Below is Thursday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Rashod Bateman (illness), OLB Kyle Van Noy (quad)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR DeAndre Hopkins (non-injury/rest), ILB Roquan Smith (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION: DT Taven Bryan (knee), QB Lamar Jackson (back), TE Charlie Kolar (nose), FB Patrick Ricard (ankle), OT Ronnie Stanley (knee), G Andrew Vorhees (foot)
PITTSBURGH
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB James Pierre (calf/illness)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Calvin Austin (hamstring), CB Brandin Echols (groin), LB Malik Harrison (knee), DT Cam Heyward (non-injury/rest), OLB T.J. Watt (lung)
FULL PARTICIPATION: LS Christian Kuntz (knee), QB Aaron Rodgers (left wrist), G Isaac Seumalo (triceps), WR Ben Skowronek (hand)
