The New York Jets have already announced a quarterback change for their visit to Baltimore on Sunday.
The Ravens may have to make a quarterback switch they would prefer not to make.
Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson didn’t practice on Wednesday, hitting the injury report with an ankle injury. It’s the second straight week the superstar didn’t practice on Wednesday of a game week.
Knee soreness kept him out of practice last Wednesday before Jackson practiced on Thursday and Friday and then started and played all the way in a 23-16 road win over the Cleveland Browns. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 193 yards and two interceptions but helped the Ravens (5-5) rally for their fourth straight win with 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said after practice on Wednesday that Jackson’s situation is similar to the one he faced last week.
“I know it’s Lamar, it’s our quarterback,” the coach said. “I understand how important it is, and it wasn’t (in) his best interest to practice today.”
It’s been an injury-plagued year for Jackson, who missed three games earlier this season due to a hamstring ailment. Baltimore lost two of the games and dropped to 1-5 before a win over the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears kicked off the Ravens’ current winning streak.
While Jackson absorbed five sacks last week and logged a passer rating of 47.6, Harbaugh believes he did the job he is paid to do.
“Lamar is winning games,” Harbaugh said. “Finding ways to win the game — that’s what counts. I think Lamar did a great job of playing that kind of winning football.”
Helping Jackson survive subpar numbers were Derrick Henry (103 yards, TD) and a defense that pitched a second-half shutout. The Ravens, who have allowed only 14.3 points per game over their winning streak, limited Cleveland to 187 total yards.
On paper, the Ravens appear to have another favorable matchup this week. New York (2-8) owns the worst passing offense in the league at just 139.9 yards per game and ranks 29th in total yards per game at 281.5.
That’s probably why first-year coach Aaron Glenn opted to bench Justin Fields in favor of veteran backup Tyrod Taylor. While Fields has been effective as a runner with 383 yards and four scores, he has failed to provide a consistent downfield threat as a passer, throwing for only 1,259 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games.
Taylor is in one sense a veteran version of Fields, although he tossed 51 touchdown passes in a three-season stint as a starter for the Buffalo Bills. The 36-year-old is playing for his seventh NFL team.
“I felt like it was the time to do it,” Glenn said of changing quarterbacks. “These situations are not always easy, but as the head coach, you have to do what’s best for the team.”
In the Jets’ 27-14 loss at New England on Nov. 13, Fields connected on 15 of 26 passes for 116 yards and a third-quarter touchdown. He also ran for 67 yards and a TD to cap the team’s first drive.
Taylor said starting in Baltimore, where his NFL career began, is a “full-circle moment” for him.
Baltimore owns a 10-2 lead in the series, including a 24-9 victory in the most recent meeting, the teams’ 2022 season opener at East Rutherford, N.J.
In addition to Jackson, several other Ravens did not practice Wednesday, including wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), safety Kyle Hamilton (shoulder/groin), tight end Isaiah Likely (calf) and linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring).
For the Jets, edge rusher Will McDonald IV (quad) and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (foot) sat out the Wednesday practice.
