OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With the Ravens hoping to become the fifth team in NFL history to recover from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs, Lamar Jackson’s anticipated return from injury was cited as the biggest reason for optimism during the bye week.
But the two-time MVP quarterback remained sidelined Monday as Baltimore returned to the practice field, casting more doubt about his Week 8 status than anticipated. And while it’s too early to say whether that means Jackson will miss a third straight game with the hamstring strain suffered in the Sept. 28 loss at Kansas City, head coach John Harbaugh was noncommittal about the previously stated expectation that Jackson would practice this week and return to play against Chicago on Sunday.
The Ravens have scored a total of just 13 points and been outscored by 48 over their last two losses without Jackson. Since the start of the 2019 season, they’re 4-12 in games Jackson has missed.
“I think all the guys are working really hard to get back — I can tell you that,” said Harbaugh when asked about Jackson’s status after Monday’s practice. “We’ll see who’s back and who practices on Wednesday. I don’t really want to comment on any individual guys per se, and I’m looking forward to it.”
While Jackson and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson — who’s expected to go on injured reserve with a fractured foot — were absent from Monday’s practice, inside linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), and wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique) were all present and working after missing the Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley also practiced after exiting in the first half of that defeat with the problematic ankle injury that’s now cost him significant action in three straight contests.
After sitting out the last two games with a hamstring injury sustained against the Chiefs, Smith “absolutely” expects to play against the Bears, the team that selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2018 draft and traded him to Baltimore midway through the 2022 season.
“The bye week was awesome. It came at a right time for us as a team [and] for myself as well,” Smith said. “Getting back healthy and then just redialing our focus and just knowing the plan on where we want to go and doing that and getting back healthy. It’s major for us for sure.”
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Harbaugh said Ricard increased his participation level Monday after logging two limited practices before the Rams game. The five-time Pro Bowl fullback has yet to play this season after injuring his calf in mid-August and suffering a setback last month.
Still on the non-football injury list and about to conclude his 21-day practice window, rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. (shoulder) is expected to move to the 53-man roster, but Harbaugh said the 2025 third-round pick out of LSU has yet to be cleared by the medical staff to play in games. Considering the overall struggles of the offensive line, many have pointed to the possibility of Jones moving into the starting lineup, but Harbaugh and offensive line coach George Warhop have made clear that the 21-year-old isn’t close to being an option after missing the entire spring and summer while recovering from shoulder surgery.
“He’s shown a lot of good things, but he also has a lot to learn — just being honest about it,” Harbaugh said. “There’s a lot that goes into it, and he hasn’t had all through training camp really to work the finer points out of the pass protection or the calls and things like that. But I do think he has a chance to be a factor this year. He’s looking good. He’s talented and he’s tough, and he wants to do well. He works really hard, so he’s definitely working himself into that conversation.”
