Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson will not practice for the Baltimore Ravens on Friday as he continues to deal with an illness.
Jackson had already missed three days of Ravens training camp; he practiced for roughly an hour on Wednesday before departing.
Why Did Lamar Jackson Miss Practice on Friday?
Jackson had previously practiced for several days before the Ravens’ complete roster arrived at camp. Baltimore’s quarterbacks joined the club’s rookies in reporting for camp on July 15.
However, the Ravens sent Jackson home from practice on Sunday because of his illness. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that “no one” in the Baltimore organization knows when Lamar will return to the field.
On Friday, the Ravens offered an update on Jackson’s condition on “X” (formerly Twitter).
“QB Lamar Jackson remains sidelined with an illness and will not practice today. He continues to undergo further evaluation and receive care from our medical team.”
Baltimore won’t practice again until Monday. However, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spoke to the media on Friday and addressed Jackson’s status.
Coach Harbaugh provides a status update on Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/nsNIf3CLiM
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens)
“He’s fighting through an illness, working with our doctors,” Harbaugh said. “Doing all the tests, even more tests, to make sure we’ve got everything covered. I’m confident he’ll be back pretty soon.
“It’s just an unpredictable deal. I mean, you guys have been sick before. Sometimes, it’s not easy. So, that’s what we’re dealing with.”
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Jackson has suffered from various illnesses since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. In October of that season, he missed a practice while feeling sick. Another mysterious illness knocked him out of a 2021 game against the Chicago Bears, while Jackson fought through another bout of sickness to face the Panthers in November 2022
Baltimore will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 of the preseason, with the club’s first game scheduled for two weeks from Friday. However, Jackson hasn’t played during the exhibition season since 2021.
Who Is the Ravens’ Backup Quarterback?
Josh Johnson is on his third stint as a Ravens’ backup quarterback. The 38-year-old QB signed with Baltimore last May but did not make an appearance during the regular season or playoffs.
The Ravens allowed longtime Lamar backup Tyler Huntley to sign with the Cleveland Browns this offseason. Baltimore re-upped Johnson in May and installed him as its QB2.
Johnson isn’t the highest-upside QB2 in the NFL, but he’s a reliable veteran who can operate an offense when needed.
Having played for 14 NFL teams, Johnson has seen just about everything the league has to offer. He finished 24th in Pro Football Network’s backup quarterback rankings.
While he’ll probably face competition from fellow Ravens quarterback Malik Cunningham this summer, Johnson seems to have more career inertia than any player in the league.
Baltimore also rosters 2024 sixth-round pick Devin Leary and undrafted rookie free agent Emory Jones under center.
Veteran Ryan Tannehill is far and away the Ravens’ best unsigned option if the team wants to add more competition with Jackson ailing.
