OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is “good to go” for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati despite missing two practices for two different reasons this week.
After sitting out Wednesday with a minor knee injury and then missing Thursday’s session due to an illness, the 23-year-old practiced fully on Friday and is expected to play despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Head coach John Harbaugh deemed Jackson “100 percent” after the workout, the same sentiment Jackson expressed upon hitting the practice field Friday morning.
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“It just felt sore. He just felt like he needed to try to rest it a little bit,” said Harbaugh about Jackson’s knee. “We just felt that was the best course. That was what happened Wednesday. Then Thursday, he was ready to go, but he got sick. His stomach was really bothering him, so he had to go home. I don’t know if he ate something bad or what it was, but we all get something like that periodically. So, that’s what that was. It was just kind of strange timing on that whole deal, but that’s what happened.”
Jackson was one of 12 Baltimore players to be listed as questionable to play against the Bengals, but Harbaugh indicated the Ravens are in “pretty good shape” and could have all or at least most of those players available to play. The list included left tackle Ronnie Stanley (shoulder/hip), tight ends Mark Andrews (thigh) and Nick Boyle (thigh), cornerbacks Marcus Peters (thigh) and Jimmy Smith (knee), wide receiver Marquise Brown (knee), and defensive end Derek Wolfe (elbow).
Stanley, Boyle, and Brown practiced fully on Friday while Andrews, Peters, and Smith were limited participants and Wolfe received a veteran day off.
Starting right guard Tyre Phillips (shoulder) was designated as doubtful after being the only player to miss Friday’s practice due to injury, his third straight absence. Candidates to replace the rookie third-round pick on the starting line include veteran D.J. Fluker and second-year interior lineman Patrick Mekari.
Harbaugh revealed Wolfe’s absence in Week 4 was due to the veteran defensive lineman and his wife being sick and the organization needing to rule out the illness being COVID-19. Wolfe had been listed on the injury report with an elbow ailment.
“It was Saturday when he had the symptoms before the Washington game,” Harbaugh said. “Nobody really thought that it was COVID-19-related. It was just an abundance of precaution I would say. I respect our doctors for doing that. That’s what we need to do. There are going to be times this year when guys are just going to be kind of a little sick. If it comes up late like that, you don’t have the chance to [adjust].”
On Sunday, the Bengals will welcome back eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who will make his season debut after missing the first four games with a shoulder injury. Atkins was a full participant on Friday and didn’t carry a game status designation, meaning he’ll play against the Ravens.
Cincinnati is likely to be without slot cornerback CB Mackensie Alexander, who is doubtful with a hamstring injury. Starting running back Joe Mixon was officially listed as questionable after being limited with a shin injury late in the week.
On Friday afternoon, the Ravens promoted rookie cornerback Khalil Dorsey to the 53-man roster as he takes the spot of rookie safety Geno Stone, who was waived Thursday. Dorsey had been elevated from the practice squad to play in the last two games, the maximum number of elevations allowed for any member of the practice squad.
Stone, a seventh-round pick out of Iowa, remains in the organization’s plans, but he was a healthy scratch for each of the first four games.
“We need corners. Geno definitely is going to play. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll play,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see if he clears waivers today. Hopefully, he will. He wants to be back on our practice squad, and this is a unique year that way. We continue to prepare Geno to play.”
According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast in Baltimore calls for rain showers and temperatures in the low 70s with winds five to 10 miles per hour.
Below is the final injury report for Week 5:
BALTIMORE
DOUBTFUL: G Tyre Phillips (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE: TE Mark Andrews (thigh), TE Nick Boyle (thigh), WR Marquise Brown (knee), QB Lamar Jackson (knee/illness), DB Anthony Levine (abdomen), DT Justin Madubuike (knee), WR Chris Moore (finger/thigh), CB Marcus Peters (thigh), CB Jimmy Smith (knee), OT Ronnie Stanley (shoulder/hip), DT Broderick Washington (illness), DE Derek Wolfe (elbow)
CINCINNATI
DOUBTFUL: CB Mackensie Alexander (hamstring), WR John Ross (illness)
QUESTIONABLE: HB Joe Mixon (shin)
