Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice Wednesday as he continues to recover from an ankle sprain ahead of Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
“It’s day-to-day,” coach John Harbaugh said before practice. “We are going to see how it responds. He’s not going to practice today, but we’ll see going forward.”
Jackson injured his ankle during the Ravens’ 24-22 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Jackson limped off the field and was eventually carted into the locker room after being tackled from behind by Browns rookie inside linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second quarter.
Still, Harbaugh remained hopeful that the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player would be available Sunday. He said the Ravens’ Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a potentially decisive matchup in the AFC North race, would not affect how they prepared for Green Bay.
“I would say it factors in 0%, because we’re trying to win this game,” Harbaugh said. “You want to try to get every win you can.”
If Jackson can’t play — he’s never missed a game because of injury in his career — Tyler Huntley would make his second career start. The second-year player from Utah went 27-for-38 for 270 yards and a touchdown Sunday, and added six carries for 45 yards.
“[Huntley’s] going to get the reps today. That’s what we know right now,” Harbaugh said. “So him getting the reps today, if he has to play on Sunday, will be a benefit. We’ll see where it goes from there. He may play or he may not be playing, depending on Lamar’s situation.”
As a potential insurance policy, the Ravens also signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson off the New York Jets’ practice squad Wednesday, though he was not at the team’s afternoon practice. Johnson, 35, has played in 35 career games (eight starts), completing 177 of 313 passes (56.5%) with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. A fifth-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, Johnson has played for six teams, including a brief stint with the Ravens during training camp in 2016.
Along with Jackson, nine other Ravens were missing at the team’s Wednesday workout: left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, left guard Ben Powers, right tackle Tyre Phillips, fullback Patrick Ricard (knee), wide receiver Tylan Wallace (concussion), defensive lineman Calais Campbell (thigh), outside linebacker Justin Houston, and cornerbacks Chris Westry and Tavon Young.
Right tackle Patrick Mekari, who missed the last week of practice and Sunday’s game with a hand injury, was back at practice. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who had limited snaps Sunday because of knee discomfort, and tight end Nick Boyle (knee), who was inactive Sunday after a limited week of practice, also returned.
