Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury, per the team’s official injury report. Six other starters were listed as non-participants, along with undrafted rookie cornerback Keyon Martin, who has made a number of key plays in the last two games.
Jackson was sidelined for the Ravens’ first practice of Week 11 and quickly returned to full participation in the next two days. After practice, head coach John Harbaugh said that this week was the “same type of situation,” implying that the two-time MVP will return to practice on Thursday. However, Harbaugh declined to confirm that would be the case and had this to say about the team’s current injuries:
I really don’t have any information on that… – public information – that I want to share on any of those guys. It is Week 12, guys play, it’s the physical nature of the sport. Some guys don’t practice on Wednesday. We’ll try to get everybody available for Sunday that we can, and we’ll see as the week goes on, who becomes available.
Longer lists of Wednesday absences are common around the NFL at this time of year. Players are often playing through injuries on Sunday, so they get extra rest days during the week. There are two reasons to be optimistic: no Raven was documented leaving the game due to injury, and Harbaugh indicated on Monday that the team avoided any significant injuries.
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Still, Jackson’s absence is always a concern. Harbaugh acknowledged as much on Wednesday and added, “It wasn’t in his best interest to practice today. And we’ll see where we’re at tomorrow.”
Here is the Ravens’ full Wednesday injury report:
Full participation
Limited participation
CB Marlon Humphrey (finger)
Did not participate
WR Rashod Bateman (ankle)
S Kyle Hamilton (shoulder/groin)
LB Roquan Smith (hamstring)
OT Ronnie Stanley (illness)
Hill missed last Sunday’s game but seems likely to return in Week 12 after a full practice on Wednesday.
Humphrey was a limited participant after missing all of last week. That puts him on track to play on Sunday against the Jets, but he will have to see how his finger responds. Humphrey suffered a dislocated finger during practice two weeks ago. He played through the injury with a hefty cast in Minnesota but missed the Browns game after having a minor procedure to address it.
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Martin has filled Humphrey’s role in the slot during both of his absences this season. The undrafted rookie held up in Weeks 4 and 5 but has been an impact player in the last two weeks. He made a few key tackles to close out the game in Minnesota and recorded his first career sack and pass defended against the Browns.
Martin played the entire game on Sunday but had to remain at a Cleveland-area to be evaluated for a chest injury. Harbaugh revealed that doctors had concerns about “putting [Martin] on a plane,” but they were abated by further testing and he flew home on Tuesday.
If both Humphrey and Martin are sidelined against the Jets, defensive coordinator Zach Orr will have to find another nickel. Kyle Hamilton has been playing just under 40% over his snaps in the slot over the last three games (via Pro Football Focus) and could be a full-time nickel, but the Ravens would rather keep him in his hyper-versatile role. He has been making just as many plays, if not more, as an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher.
This story will be updated with more information.