Did Lamar Jackson practice today? Latest update on Ravens QB ahead of playoffs
Lamar Jackson's availability for the Baltimore Ravens playoff game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals is becoming more and more of a concern for the team.
The quarterback missed yet another practice, his 17th since injuring his knee against the Denver Broncos. His chances of playing against the Bengals in the Wild Card Round are low.
Lamar's knee swelling has not diminished and his mobility remains limited. With two missed practices during the week, it feels impossible for him to dress up to play on Sunday - and if he does, he's not going to be close to 100%.
A positive sign for the Ravens was backup Tyler Huntley throwing during the open portion of practice. He also missed Wednesday's practice and all last week because of an injury. If he's healthy, he'll be the starter for Baltimore in the Wild Card Round.
In Week 18, rookie Anthony Brown played in relief of Jackson and Huntley, who were both out.
Lamar Jackson injury: What happened to Ravens QB?
He suffered a knee injury in the game against the Denver Broncos in Week 13. Doctors thought he would be back in three weeks, but he missed the remaining five contests of the regular season and now appears to be missing the Wild Card Round as well, doubling the initial expectations.
Lamar's mobility will be affected by a knee injury and he won't be as effective if he plays less than 100%. He has a sprained PCL and doctors are concerned because his knee remains swollen. While there's no expectation that he'll need surgery to fix the problem, certainly his recovery is far from the Ravens' hopes.
It's worth remembering that Jackson has no point in playing unless he's 100%. Even though he's the franchise quarterback of the Ravens, he does not have a long-term contract signed yet, as the two sides couldn't come to an agreement during the offseason. If he plays hurt and his knee situation gets worse, he's going to lose a lot of money.
Even if Lamar was healthy, the Ravens would still be underdogs. If Huntley or Brown start on Sunday, Baltimore's chances will be slim.