On the same day Lamar Jackson celebrated his 25th birthday, we learned the next time we’ll see the Ravens quarterback on the football field will likely be next season.
Jackson was officially ruled out for the fourth straight game with a right ankle injury with head coach John Harbaugh announcing backup Tyler Huntley would again start in his place for Sunday’s regular-season finale against Pittsburgh. Jackson sat out the entire week and logged only a single limited practice over the last four weeks of the regular season. Huntley will be making his fourth start of the season as the Ravens aim to snap their five-game losing streak to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
Huntley will start on the opposite side of what’s likely to be the final game of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fame career.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity, and it’s a great accomplishment just to be considered in the game of Ravens versus the Steelers,” Huntley said. “You just grow up seeing that on TV — just the legendary games that went on. It’s so crazy and a blessing that I get to meet such great quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger.”
The Ravens also ruled out cornerback Anthony Averett (ribs/chest) and listed outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (foot) as doubtful after neither practiced all week. Both players sat out last Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Duvernay (ankle/knee) and guards Ben Powers (foot) and Ben Cleveland (head) were officially listed as questionable on the final injury report. Powers and Cleveland have combined to start the last 15 games at left guard, so the Ravens could be faced with some offensive line shuffling if both are inactive. Powers has missed each of the last three games, but he was able to practice on a limited basis all week.
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Pittsburgh received good news on the COVID-19 front by activating top wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Friday afternoon. Johnson had been placed on the list only a day earlier.
The Steelers listed starting left tackle Dan Moore Jr. as doubtful with an ankle injury, but right guard Trai Turner will play despite missing two practices with a knee injury earlier in the week. They also ruled out defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (illness) and linebacker Buddy Johnson (foot) for Sunday’s game with the latter landing on injured reserve on Friday afternoon.
Below is the final injury report for Week 18:
BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Anthony Averett (ribs/chest), QB Lamar Jackson (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: OLB Odafe Oweh (foot)
QUESTIONABLE: G Ben Cleveland (head), WR Devin Duvernay (ankle/knee), G Ben Powers (foot)
PITTSBURGH
OUT: DE Isaiah Buggs (illness), LB Buddy Johnson (foot)
DOUBTFUL: OT Dan Moore Jr. (ankle)
