Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was absent from follow once more Wednesday, dampening hopes that he may return to start out the workforce’s playoff opener Sunday towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
As the Ravens put together to play with out their celebrity, hypothesis round Jackson’s future with the workforce will rev up. He’s about to turn into a free agent, and followers from different cities are already choking social media with commerce proposals for the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player.
Jackson has not practiced or performed since he suffered a knee damage within the first quarter of the Ravens’ 10-9 victory over the Denver Broncos on the primary weekend of December. Though Ravens coach John Harbaugh initially stated the damage was not season-ending and expressed optimism that Jackson could be again for the playoffs as not too long ago as two weeks in the past, he by no means put a particular timeline on his franchise quarterback’s restoration.
“I don’t really have anything to add on that,” Harbaugh stated Wednesday when requested if Jackson will miss the wild-card spherical.
On Monday, he stated: “Lamar has been in great spirits. He’s been working super hard. He was out there again today. I mean, I don’t watch the workouts. He’s with the trainers. And hopefully, it’s progressing to the point where he can get to practice sometime soon. That’s what we’re all hoping for, for sure.”
With Jackson’s availability for the playoff sport doubtful, questions will flip to backup Tyler Huntley, who missed Sunday’s regular-season finale in Cincinnati after he was restricted in follow by shoulder and wrist accidents. Huntley practiced Wednesday, once more as a restricted participant.
“He’s doing a lot better,” Harbaugh stated. “He was out there at practice today and took a bunch of plays, so he had a good day. I’d say he’s on schedule.”
At the tip of final week, Huntley stated he had a “good chance to play,” so maybe Harbaugh merely held him out for precautionary causes. He additionally didn’t use working again J.Ok. Dobbins, tight finish Mark Andrews or proper guard Kevin Zeitler towards the Bengals. Undrafted rookie Anthony Brown began at quarterback and turned the ball over 3 times within the first half to assist Cincinnati construct a 24-7 lead on the best way to a 27-16 victory.
Hearts sank throughout M&T Bank Stadium when Jackson limped to the locker room on the afternoon of Dec. 4. Had he suffered a extreme knee damage? Given the uncertainty round his impending free company, had the house followers simply watched probably the most dazzling star in franchise historical past play his final sport as a Raven?
Harbaugh appeared to allay these fears after the sport when he referred to as the damage “not a season-ending-type of knee.”
“We’ll see; we’ll see if he can go back this week,” he added. “If not, it’ll be some time after that shortly.”
Optimism pervaded for a number of weeks, with periodic stories, some on nationwide sport broadcasts, suggesting Jackson was close to a return. But with every follow, 16 of them counting Wednesday, hopes rose after which fell when No. 8 didn’t seem.
Now, the Ravens face the prospect of a do-or-die sport towards an ascendant AFC North rival with out their most essential participant. They plummeted out of the playoff image final season with Jackson lacking the final 4 video games due to a bone bruise in his ankle.
Their offense, which has not scored a couple of landing in a sport because the final weekend in November, shouldn’t be the identical with out him. No one disputes that. “Our offense is built for Lamar, around Lamar, and to play with Lamar’s talents and abilities — that’s what we’re built for,” Harbaugh stated final week.
At the identical time, teammates have grown used to taking part in high-stakes video games with out the 2019 MVP.
Andrews was requested if it’s tough to ponder going right into a playoff sport with out Jackson, whom he’s referred to as the most effective participant he has ever performed with. “That’s a tough question,” the Pro Bowl tight finish stated. “Obviously, Lamar is one of one, but you look at the other two guys, [Tyler Huntley] and Anthony Brown; there’s so much trust in both of them. That’s with everybody on the team. We know whoever we put out there … we’re going to be all right. We’re going to be ready to go.”
Defensive finish Calais Campbell stated he’s unsure “anybody’s going to believe in us outside [the team],” however he’s assured the Ravens are primed to compete with or with out Jackson.
“Of course, Lamar, if he’s able to go, that gives us the best chance to win,” Campbell stated. “I’m rooting for that and hoping it happens, but at the same time, it’s football. It’s no different. … So, whoever we put out there, we’re going to give it our best shot.”
With the rising chance that Jackson won’t play once more this season, discuss will flip sharply to his future with the Ravens. Will they signal him to a mammoth extension? Will they use the franchise tag, projected to be about $45 million, to maintain him in Baltimore for 2023? Will they commerce him?
When linebacker Roquan Smith agreed to a five-year, $100 million extension on Tuesday, the query instantly arose: How would this new dedication have an effect on the workforce’s accessible funds for Jackson?
Smith’s contract doesn’t make it any simpler for the Ravens to maintain Jackson, however it doesn’t rule that chance out, stated Eric Eager, vp of analysis and improvement at Sumer Sports, a startup that advises NFL entrance workplaces.
“I think, after they do some restructuring and things like that, they can still franchise tag Lamar,” he stated.
Eager predicted that’s extra seemingly than an extension, although he cautioned towards utilizing the franchise tag on a quarterback.
“I think you either have to long-term deal him or you have to let him go or trade him,” he stated. “The franchise tag to me just delays the inevitable.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Hayes Gardner contributed to this text.
Wild-card spherical
Ravens at Bengals
Sunday, 8:15 p.m.
TV: Chs. 11, 4
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Bengals by 8 1/2
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Source: www.bostonherald.com