The Ravens aren’t expecting to have Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson for their critical Week 16 meeting with Cincinnati, but backup Tyler Huntley also landed on Friday’s injury report to raise some concern.
Huntley missed practice with a non-COVID illness while Jackson remained sidelined, prompting Baltimore to list both as officially questionable for Sunday’s game. While Huntley should be OK to play against the Bengals barring something unforeseen leading up to kickoff, Jackson hasn’t practiced for two full weeks while nursing a right ankle injury sustained in the Dec. 12 loss at Cleveland. In other words, there probably isn’t all that much “question” about where he stands in reality, but the Ravens weren’t about to officially rule out their franchise quarterback.
“I think it does become a concern for any player when they miss time,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Thursday. “You really want them out there working on their craft, but these things happen. You have to work through them. Before the Denver game in [Week 4], he missed Wednesday and Thursday, and I thought he played a great game. He has the capability to do that. We have all the confidence in him and Tyler.”
Baltimore is also expected to be without Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Duvernay, who was listed as doubtful with an ankle injury suffered in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to Green Bay. Second-year wide receiver James Proche would handle the return responsibilities in place of Duvernay.
The Ravens also listed defensive end Calais Campbell (hamstring), outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (illness), safety Brandon Stephens (illness), and Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard (knee) as questionable. Oweh and Ricard didn’t practice on Friday while Campbell and Stephens were limited participants.
In more encouraging news, right tackle Patrick Mekari was a full practice participant on Thursday and Friday and could make his return after a two-game absence with a hand injury. The third-year lineman was designated as questionable on the final injury report. His return would be significant with backup right tackle Tyre Phillips (knee) listed as doubtful and practice-squad offensive tackle David Sharpe going on the COVID-19 list earlier this week.
“If we can get Pat Mekari back, that would be huge,” Roman said Thursday. “Pat is a great communicator. Pat has played center, guard, tackle, and tight end for us. He’s a big Swiss Army knife. I don’t know if there’s a term for that, but he can do it all. We’re really excited to get him back.”
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Left guard Ben Powers (foot) was declared out and will miss his second straight game, meaning rookie Ben Cleveland is expected to again start in his place.
After placing at least one player on the reserve-COVID-19 list for eight straight days and 10 of the previous 11, the Ravens did receive good news on the virus-related front Friday with starting safety Chuck Clark, backup center Trystan Colon, and practice-squad running back Nate McCrary being activated, leaving all three eligible to play in Sunday’s game. Including the practice squad, a total of 14 Baltimore players remained on the COVID-19 list as of Friday evening, but additional vaccinated — and asymptomatic — players could be reinstated by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Bengals ruled out starting linebacker Logan Wilson with a shoulder injury, but Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon (ankle) wasn’t given a game status designation after practicing fully all week. Cincinnati placed wide receiver Mike Thomas on the COVID-19 list on Friday.
Below is the final injury report for Sunday’s game:
BALTIMORE
OUT: G Ben Powers (foot)
DOUBTFUL: WR Devin Duvernay (ankle), OL Tyre Phillips (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: DE Calais Campbell (thigh), QB Tyler Huntley (illness), QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), OL Patrick Mekari (hand), OLB Odafe Oweh (illness), FB Patrick Ricard (knee), S Brandon Stephens (illness)
CINCINNATI
OUT: LB Logan Wilson (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE: G Hakeem Adeniji (ankle), OT Fred Johnson (illness), DE Khalid Kareem (concussion)
