Ravens coach John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson ‘felt good’ Monday after missing Bears game with illness

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Lamar Jackson “felt good” Monday after he was too sick to play in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears.

Jackson expected to play after he practiced without issue Friday, but his illness flared up Saturday before the team flew to Chicago. He woke up the next morning in no shape to perform, though he did travel to the stadium. His backup, Tyler Huntley, led the Ravens to a 16-13 comeback victory, and Jackson was first to offer congratulations in the postgame locker room.

Harbaugh described a “frantic” pregame as the Ravens tried to determine which injured starters could play, noting that “it’s been that way all year.”

He did not see his starting quarterback Monday but hopes Jackson will participate in the team’s walk-through Tuesday. “I don’t want to say expectation,” he said. “Because you know, who knows?”

Harbaugh also provided an update on starting cornerback Anthony Averett, who appeared on the team’s injury report Friday and was listed as questionable for the Bears game before sitting out. “I do not expect him to be out long,” he said. “It’s not a serious hamstring quote-unquote injury. He just got to the game. I actually thought he would play in the game. He went out there and tested it and just didn’t feel like he could go.”

Harbaugh said outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who went on injured reserve Saturday, is expected to return this season after a minor knee surgery. “It’s kind of a cleanup scope,” he said.

Inside linebacker Malik Harrison, meanwhile, was designated Monday to return to practice. Harrison, who was struck in the calf by a stray bullet after leaving a club last month in Cleveland, has sat out the past three weeks on the NFL’s nonfootball injury list, as league rules require. In seven games and five starts this season, Harrison has 22 tackles, including two for loss.

The Ravens also released two-way lineman Kahlil McKenzie from the 53-man roster. McKenzie, who had been cross-training as an offensive lineman in Baltimore, was active for four Ravens games this season but played in just one.