Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s absence prolonged into Thursday, however there was some encouraging information with quarterback Tyler Huntley resuming throwing and working again Gus Edwards returning to follow.
With the Ravens poised to satisfy the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday evening’s AFC wild-card playoff spherical, it’s wanting more and more seemingly that they are going to be with out their beginning quarterback, who sat out his seventeenth consecutive follow.
Jackson has not made an look since struggling an harm to the posterior collateral ligament in his left knee on the ultimate play within the first quarter of an eventual 10-9 win in opposition to the Denver Broncos on Dec. 4. He’s missed the previous 5 video games.
Huntley, Jackson’s backup, was restricted for the second straight day, however not like Wednesday, he threw and was energetic throughout drills. Tendonitis in his proper throwing shoulder and points along with his proper wrist had restricted him in final week’s practices and through Wednesday’s session, and people illnesses performed an element within the staff’s determination to maintain him out of Sunday’s 27-16 loss in Cincinnati and as an alternative flip to undrafted rookie Anthony Brown.
In his first profession begin, Brown accomplished 19 of 44 passes for 286 yards, however was sacked 4 instances, intercepted twice, and misplaced a fumble that defensive finish Joseph Ossai recovered ultimately zone to provide the Bengals an insurmountable 24-7 benefit simply earlier than halftime.
Edwards practiced on a restricted foundation Thursday after being held out of Wednesday’s session. He was faraway from Sunday’s recreation after carrying the ball on the ultimate play of the primary quarter and didn’t return after being positioned within the league’s concussion protocol.
On Thursday, he wore a crimson non-contact jersey and a Guardian cap on his helmet. He declined to remark after follow, saying he nonetheless has not been cleared from the protocol.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens (sickness) and long-snapper Nick Moore (sickness) had been absent Thursday after lacking Wednesday’s session. Joining their absence was inside offensive lineman Trystan Colon. Wide receiver Tylan Wallace was restricted by a hamstring ailment.
Starting cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (shoulder) and Marcus Peters (calf) participated Thursday after being restricted Wednesday. Peters sat out the ultimate three video games of the common season.
Five starters — exterior linebackers Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive finish Calais Campbell, left guard Ben Powers and left sort out Ronnie Stanley — returned Thursday and didn’t seem on the harm report after getting relaxation days on Wednesday.
Banner week for Roquan Smith
This has been fairly the week for Roquan Smith.
On Tuesday, the within linebacker agreed to a contract extension with the Ravens value a reported $100 million over 5 years. On Wednesday, Smith, who was acquired on Oct. 31 from the Chicago Bears for inside linebacker A.J. Klein and second- and fifth-round picks within the 2023 NFL draft, was named the staff’s Most Valuable Player by native media regardless of enjoying in solely 9 video games.
On Thursday, Smith was introduced by the NFL because the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month for December.
In 4 video games in December and two in January, the 25-year-old racked up 66 tackles (together with six tackles for loss), one sack, one interception and two cross deflections. Smith has amassed 169 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and three interceptions this season and was voted to his first Pro Bowl final month.
Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald commented Thursday on Smith’s extension, quipping that Smith’s continued relationship with the protection helped him get “a lot smarter.”
“I’m obviously happy for him, proud of him, how he’s come in and his relationship with the guys, with the rest of the coaches, everybody in the building,” he stated. “It’s a big blessing to be able know we’re going to have him here for the long haul and we expect big things out of him [and] it’s going to be a fun journey that we’ll hopefully have together for a long time.”
Justice Hill not happy
Justice Hill’s 56-yard kick return in a 16-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 1 was one of many Ravens’ few highlights in that recreation. That was of little comfort to Hill.
“I wish it was a touchdown,” he stated. “It needs to be 100 yards. I just envision that. Every time I get a ball that I can return, I’m envisioning the end zone. Every opportunity I get, I’m trying to get into the end zone. Anything short is still kind of like a failure. Even though it can be a big play, you still want to get into the end zone.”
High requirements apart, Hill has stuffed in admirably for Devin Duvernay, a two-time Pro Bowl return specialist who was positioned on injured reserve on Dec. 20 with a foot harm. Hill’s 24.7-yard common on kick returns is barely lower than Duvernay’s 25.5-yard common this season, however Duvernay did return a kick 103 yards for a landing in a 42-38 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 18.
Special groups coordinator Chris Horton stated Hill has grown into the function.
“He comes out here, he practices,” Horton stated. “We’ve worked him out back when he first got here. We had him back there, and so again, I think whoever we put back there, we feel pretty good about those guys. He has all the skill that we need in order to hit big returns.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com