BALTIMORE — The NFL will investigate how the Baltimore Ravens handled quarterback Lamar Jackson’s participation in practice, leading to the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player being ruled out with a hamstring injury for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
The Ravens could face disciplinary action from the NFL for violating the league’s injury reporting policy, as the team initially listed Jackson as a full participant in Friday’s practice. Baltimore then changed Jackson’s practice participation to limited a day later.
“The league will look into this matter,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Saturday. “The league reviews any matter involving a change in a player’s status.”
In a statement released Saturday, the Ravens wrote: “Lamar Jackson was present and fully participated in our entire Friday practice. … After further evaluation today and after speaking with the league office, because Lamar did not take any starting reps in practice, we have updated our report to reflect his participation in practice.”
According to a source, Jackson fully participated in Friday’s practice, but he was leading the scout team. According to the injury reporting policy, Jackson should have been listed as limited on Friday.
The NFL’s injury reporting policy states: “A player who participates in individual drills but, for medical reasons, does not complete his normal reps during the team practice portion and is assigned to the scout team shall be listed as ‘limited participation.’ Participation on the scout team, however extensive, of a player whose normal reps would be with the starter absent his medical condition, would not change the player’s appropriate designation as “limited participation.”
Changing Jackson’s status to “limited” on Saturday, the Ravens announced that Jackson, who is dealing with a right hamstring injury, would not play Sunday. Less than an hour after Jackson was ruled out, Baltimore went from a 6.5-point favorite to a 1.5-point favorite against Chicago, according to ESPN BET.
Tyler Huntley will replace Jackson on Sunday, getting the nod for backup Cooper Rush. Jackson is now expected to return for Thursday night’s game in Miami, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In his five seasons with Baltimore, Huntley was 3-7, including the playoffs, as the backup starter for Jackson, throwing seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The Ravens are a different team without Jackson’s playmaking ability. Since 2018, Baltimore is 74-32 (.698), including the playoffs, with Jackson as the starting quarterback. Without Jackson during that span, the Ravens are 4-12 (.250), losing six straight games.
It was one of the most tumultuous debuts in the franchise’s 30-year history. The Ravens have lost their last four games to fall to 1-5, putting them in sole possession of last place in the AFC North for the first time in a decade.
