OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson continued his pattern of sitting out the first practice of the week Wednesday, but this absence was for a new reason.
After receiving a rest day last Wednesday and being listed with various leg ailments in the weeks prior to that, Jackson was recovering from a “flu” illness as the Ravens ramped up preparations for Sunday night’s clash with New England. John Harbaugh said Baltimore’s training staff instructed Jackson to stay away from the team’s training facility Wednesday, but the head coach wouldn’t answer whether the two-time MVP would have received a rest day otherwise.
Jackson wasn’t the only starter missing from practice as left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle), inside linebacker Roquan Smith (knee), and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) were also dealing with minor injuries coming out of this past Sunday’s shutout win in Cincinnati.
“It’s kind of a rest thing. The guys are dealing with different things from the game,” Harbaugh said. “Ronnie [and] those guys were held back today. I expect those guys out there tomorrow. We’ll see, but we should have those guys tomorrow.”
After missing the Bengals game with a lingering ankle injury, wide receiver Rashod Bateman returned to practice as a full participant, a good sign for his availability against the Patriots. The Ravens also designated rookie inside linebacker Jay Higgins (knee) to return from injured reserve, which opened his 21-day practice window.
Meanwhile, New England practiced without five defensive starters. That list was headlined by inside linebacker and leading tackler Robert Spillane (ankle), who didn’t play in last Sunday’s loss to Buffalo and was spotted wearing a walking boot in the Patriots’ locker room Wednesday. Outside linebacker Harold Landry (knee) — who leads New England with 8 1/2 sacks this season — was hampered by the same injury last week before ultimately playing against the Bills. The Patriots are already playing without star defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle), who is currently on IR and not eligible to return until Week 17.
It’s unclear whether cornerbacks Carlton Davis (hip) and Marcus Jones (knee) are in danger of missing Sunday’s game.
8Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot), ILB Teddye Buchanan (knee), QB Lamar Jackson (illness), ILB Roquan Smith (knee), OT Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle), OLB Kyle Van Noy (quad)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: ILB Jay Higgins (knee), S Keondre Jackson (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Rashod Bateman (ankle), DT C.J. Okoye (quad)
NEW ENGLAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: CB Carlton Davis (hip), LB Christian Elliss (illness), CB Marcus Jones (knee), OLB Harold Landry (knee), LB Robert Spillane (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DT Christian Barmore (non-injury)
