The Ravens’ health picture took a turn for the worse less than 24 hours prior to Sunday’s kickoff in Chicago with quarterback Lamar Jackson returning to the injury report and wide receiver Marquise Brown being downgraded to out.
Missing two practices with a non-COVID illness described to be “like a cold” before practicing fully on Friday, Jackson hadn’t carried a game-status label and said he was “feeling great,” but the Ravens announced a day later that he was being added back to the injury report with a questionable designation due to illness. Creating even more concern was Baltimore’s decision to elevate quarterback Trace McSorley from the practice squad in case Jackson doesn’t play and would-be starter Tyler Huntley needs a backup against the Bears.
Jackson has missed only one game for a health-related reason in his career, the Week 12 loss at Pittsburgh last season after he contracted COVID-19. The 24-year-old sat out the 2019 regular-season finale after the Ravens had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC the previous week.
Brown had been listed as questionable with a thigh injury after returning to practice on a limited basis on Friday. Baltimore downgrading the third-year wide receiver on Saturday afternoon likely meant he didn’t make the trip to Chicago. The Ravens ruled out Miles Boykin (finger) and listed Devin Duvernay (knee) as questionable on Friday’s injury report, meaning they could be very light at wide receiver against the Bears.
The Ravens also placed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee) on injured reserve and reinstated rookie guard Ben Cleveland (knee) to the 53-man roster on Saturday. McPhee, 32, had already been ruled out for Week 11 on Friday and now must miss a minimum of three games. Meanwhile, Cleveland had been practicing since being designated to return from IR on Nov. 8 and is expected to be active for the first time since injuring his knee in the Week 5 win over Indianapolis.
Defensive tackle/guard Kahlil McKenzie was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, which gives the Ravens more depth on the defensive line with nose tackle Brandon Williams missing his third straight game due to a shoulder injury. McKenzie was out of elevations from the practice squad after being moved up to play in each of the last two games.
Baltimore elevated linebacker Joe Thomas from the practice squad, which may not bode well for the availability of special-teams contributor Kristian Welch after he injured his foot in Thursday’s practice. Welch was officially listed as questionable after sitting out Friday’s workout.
The Ravens released veteran guard James Carpenter from their practice squad.
