Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is now questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the team announced Saturday, as he deals with an illness that sidelined him for two days of practice.
Jackson, who was a full participant in practice Friday after a two-day absence unrelated to the coronavirus, was not listed with an injury designation in Friday’s injury report. But he was added to the injury report Saturday afternoon, as the team boarded its flight to Chicago.
Practice squad quarterback Trace McSorley was activated after Jackson was downgraded Saturday. If Jackson is unavailable Sunday, backup Tyler Huntley would make his first career start.
Jackson said Friday that he was feeling “great” and “way better than I was a couple of days ago,” when he said he might’ve had a cold. Asked whether he would play Sunday, Jackson said, “If Coach [John Harbaugh] lets me play, I’m playing. Yes.”
When Harbaugh was asked after Friday’s practice whether he expected Jackson to play Sunday, he said Jackson “looked good,” but would not commit to Jackson’s availability.
Jackson last missed a game about a year ago, when he tested positive for the coronavirus and sat out the Ravens’ Week 12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed just one start in 2019, when he sat out the regular-season finale against the Steelers.
In other roster moves, the Ravens elevated inside linebacker Joe Thomas from the practice squad for Sunday’s game for the first time this season. Khalil McKenzie, who can play along the offensive and defensive line, was signed to the 53-man roster after playing in three games for the Ravens as a call-up. Guard James Carpenter, meanwhile, was released from the practice squad.
