John Harbaugh is preaching caution about the injury status of Lamar Jackson, with the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens explaining why the franchise quarterback didn’t practice on Wednesday, November 19.
This is the second week in a row Jackson missed a Wednesday practice, and Harbaugh confirmed the Ravens are keeping a close eye on the two-time NFL MVP’s injured ankle. Harbaugh told reporters, including ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, “I know it’s Lamar, it’s our quarterback. I understand how important it is and it wasn’t his best interest of practice today. And we’ll see where we’re at [Thursday].”
“I know it’s Lamar, it’s our quarterback,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I understand how important it is and it wasn’t his best interest of practice today. And we’ll see where we’re at [Thursday].”
The use of the phrase “best interest” is likely to fuel more speculation about Jackson’s health. Particularly when Harbaugh identifying an ankle problem only added another ailment to an expanding list of reasons to worry about the Ravens’ most important player.
Those causes of concern were spelled out by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, who pointed out, “So now, it’s been hamstring, knee last week and ankle this week.”
Jackson facing this many issues means Harbaugh and his staff will have to continue easing the workload on their QB1 between games. Any unnecessary risks would surely jeopardize the momentum of Baltimore’s streak of four victories in a row.
Jackson has played his part, but his impact has been more tangential than direct. Fortunately, Harbaugh delivered more promising news about another member of the offense.
Ravens Right to Play It Safe With Lamar Jackson
A weekly dose of uncertainty about Jackson’s status will soon become hugely frustrating for Ravens fans, but Harbaugh is right to play things safe. Jackson is the chief catalyst for the Ravens being a winning team, so his health is paramount for their championship chances.
Winning when it matters most has continued to elude Jackson, but he and the Ravens will just be happy to be winning any games again. A 1-5 start made the playoffs seem like nothing more than a pipe dream, but the narrative has flipped in recent weeks, with momentum accelerating once Jackson returned to the lineup.
He’s led wins over the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, albeit with more than a little help from his teammates. Specifically, the Ravens have been enjoying a transformation on defense, with a recharged unit creating more pressure and generating takeaways.
The contributions of the defense have compensated for Jackson looking far from his best. No. 8 threw for under 200 yards and posted a QB rating of just 47.6 against the Browns in Week 11.
He could feel let down by an offensive line that surrendered five sacks, including four by Cleveland All-Pro edge-rusher Myles Garrett. Jackson needs better protection moving forward, and it might come from a rookie finally ready to suit up in the trenches.
Ravens Finally Ready to Deploy Rookie Blocker
Harbaugh’s other notable injury news concerned 2025 NFL draft third-round pick Emery Jones Jr. The versatile offensive lineman has yet to play a down because of a shoulder injury, but Harbaugh credited Jones with “excellent progress” and for “getting close to being ready to play,” per Hensley.
Jones is “getting close to being ready to play,” Harbaugh said.
Hensley’s description of Jones as a guard is telling, but the former LSU standout can also play tackle. He may be more valuable on the edges after the way Garrett toyed with right tackle Roger Rosengarten.
At the very least, a fully healthy Jones will give the Ravens a flexible athlete they can plug in at multiple spots along an O-line that’s been far from stellar through 10 games. This group must get stronger if the Ravens are going to continue keeping Jackson out of harm’s way.
Ravens HC Offers Cautious Update About Lamar Jackson Injury