OWINGS MILLS, Md. — There was a fresh energy on the practice field this week as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lamar Jackson practiced again Thursday while recovering from a right hamstring injury.
When asked about the two-time NFL MVP's return after missing 14 straight practices over three weeks, running back Derrick Henry showed off his pearly whites. “Hell yes,” he was happy Jackson was here. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he, too, is excited.
Jackson practiced on a limited basis for the second day in a row, a positive sign of his potential availability. Sunday game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. He hasn't played since being injured in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28.
But nothing is final. Coach John Harbaugh declined to provide a possible date for Jackson's return after Wednesday's practice and doesn't plan to talk to reporters again until Friday, when the status of the game will be announced.
“It’s hard to give a number,” he said. “I do not have any injury information to share at this time.”
Monken added: “He's a player who really has to feel comfortable going out there and putting himself in a position to play. If he says he's ready to go, I'm ready to go.”
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey also returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday with an illness. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (illness) was the only absence for a team that desperately needs to be at full strength for Sunday's must-win game. The loss would drop the Ravens to 1-6, a hole so deep that no team in the modern NFL era has climbed out of it and made the playoffs.
The Ravens are also expected to have fullback Patrick Ricard make his season debut after a calf injury in mid-August kept him out of practice until two weeks ago.
“A big, big reason why we had so much success last year,” Henry said of Ricard. “Glad he's back healthy.”
The Ravens have had a tough time with Jackson going 4-12 in those contests since he became the starting quarterback in 2018. He missed the last two games, and the Ravens lost both, 44-10 to the Houston Texans and then 17-3 to the Los Angeles Rams before last week's bye.
Backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley filled in during Jackson's absence. Rush came off the bench against the Chiefs and started the final two games, passing for a total of 303 yards and no touchdowns with four interceptions. Huntley came off the bench against the Rams and completed 10 of 15 passes for 68 yards and also ran three times for 39 yards.
The Ravens practiced this week with as healthy a team as they have had since the start of the season. But this must-win game hinges heavily on Jackson's availability.
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