Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice on Wednesday, giving his team a scare ahead of Sunday’s game against Denver Broncos.
Josh Johnson led the team in practice on Wednesday and the Ravens later listed Jackson with back and knee injuries.
There were reports of a groin problem hindering him in last weekend’s surprise 29-24 loss to Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens are 5-3 after that defeat to their divisional rivals but have been underlined by many as contenders for the Super Bowl, thanks in no small part to Jackson’s form this season.
He has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,099 yards with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions so far this season. He has also rushed for 501 yards with two TDs.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice for the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday
Jackson played the full game Sunday in his team’s surprising loss to the Cleveland Browns
Coach John Harbaugh moved to cool concerns at his Wednesday press conference, saying Jackson was resting: ‘He’s been playing great and we have a lot of football in front of us.’
It’s the best passing season of his career to date for Jackson, a two-time MVP.
Last season, the Ravens lost the AFC Championship game to eventual Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs.
But this season, with Jackson boosted by the arrival of running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens have been many people’s pick to go all the way this time around.
Speaking after Sundays loss, Jackson said: ‘This is the NFL. Any given Sunday a team can be good. We just got to play better all around.
‘We didn’t make the plays. We didn’t make the calls to win the game, left a lot of opportunities out there.’
In other more encouraging news for the Ravens, it was a first practice for new wide receiver Diontae Johnson after Baltimore traded for him from Carolina Panthers.
The Ravens acquired Johnson and a sixth-round pick in 2025 on Tuesday from the Carolina Panthers for a 2025 fifth-rounder. Now, coach Harbaugh just needs him to be able to practice with his No 1 quarterback.
