OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The struggling Baltimore Ravens got a dose of good news this week with the return to the practice field of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. But how much progress their star quarterback has made from a hamstring injury remains unclear as the Ravens host the surprising Chicago Bears Sunday.
“He’ll continue to get better and better,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We’ll be happy to have him out on the field whenever that is.”
Jackson missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, and then the Ravens had an open date last week. He was listed as limited in practice Wednesday, having taken the field a few minutes after the other quarterbacks but during a portion still open to reporters. He did have a helmet on and did make some throws, and he received some hugs from teammates.
Still nobody should jump to any certain conclusions about his availability Sunday.
“It’s hard to put a number on it. I think it’s just part of the process right now,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I really don’t have any shareable injury intelligence for you guys at this point.”
The Ravens (1-5) have been holding out hope that Jackson’s return can help save their season after four straight losses. After the Bears on Sunday, the Ravens face a quick turnaround to play at Miami four days later.
Harbaugh said the short time between games won’t be a factor in when they bring Jackson back.
“I don’t think we’re thinking about it that way,” he said. “We’re focused and locked in on Sunday’s game, and that’s it right now.”
Baltimore didn’t do anything drastic during its week off. The Ravens haven’t announced any coaching changes, and the other two quarterbacks — Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley — are still on the roster, although Harbaugh wouldn’t say who would start if Jackson has to miss another game this week.
“Every game for us is a playoff game. That’s how it feels and how it’s going to have to be from here on out,” Hamilton said. “We dug ourselves into a deep hole, but in order to get in the dance, we got to really be locked in from here on out, so we’re trying to do that.”
Harbaugh was asked about recent reports that games and recreational items had been removed from Baltimore’s locker room. He said that wasn’t his doing.
“The stuff was taken out of the locker room. I was informed of it after it was gone by the equipment guy, and that the players, the veteran players, a couple of veteran players got together and decided they wanted to take that stuff out,” Harbaugh said. “So, my pinball machine that I gifted the guys two years ago at Christmas, I don’t know where it’s at right now. I don’t know where it’s at. It’s in the storage room somewhere, I guess. I’ll take it home. I’ll take it back home. I like pinball.”
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