CHICAGO -- Lamar Jackson was inactive for the Baltimore Ravens' 16-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday because of an illness that is not related to COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Jackson had been considered \"50-50\" for the game after being added to the injury report Saturday, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. This came after Jackson said he was \"feeling great\" upon returning to full participation in Friday's practice after missing two days.<\/p>\n
Tyler Huntley, who went undrafted out of Utah in 2020, made his first NFL start and helped the Ravens rally for victory with a 30-yard pass to Sammy Watkins in the final minute that set up Devonta Freeman's game-winning 3-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n
Huntley finished the game 26-of-36 passing for 219 yards and an interception. He also rushed for 40 yards on seven attempts.<\/p>\n
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The loss of Jackson was the latest challenge for the NFL's No. 2-ranked offense. The Ravens' top two running backs (J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards) and Pro Bowl left tackle (Ronnie Stanley) suffered season-ending injuries, and top wide receiver Marquise \"Hollywood\" Brown was ruled out Saturday with a thigh injury.<\/p>\n
The Ravens organization was hit this week by an illness that is not COVID-19. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman and center Bradley Bozeman each missed one practice with illness, but neither was listed on the injury report by the end of the week.<\/p>\n
Jackson was hit the hardest by illness. When he arrived at Soldier Field, Jackson was wearing a mask and walked sluggishly to the locker room.<\/p>\n
One of the top NFL MVP contenders, Jackson has accounted for 82.8% of Baltimore's offense (3,086 of 3,727 yards) this season. He is ninth in the NFL in passing (2,447 yards) and seventh in rushing (639).<\/p>\n
The AFC North-leading Ravens (6-3) couldn't afford to slip to the Bears (3-6) because their schedule gets increasingly tougher. After playing Chicago, Baltimore doesn't have another game against a team with a losing record.<\/p>\n
This marks the third time Jackson has missed a game in his four-year career. He sat out the 2019 season finale because Baltimore had already secured the AFC's No. 1 seed, and he was held out of the Week 12 game in 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Jackson, who had his No. 8 jersey retired at Louisville last weekend, did not practice Wednesday or Thursday because he was sick. Three illnesses this year have led him to miss practice time.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Jackson said he thought he got a cold from the weather change.<\/p>\n
\"I usually don't get sick, for real,\" Jackson said after Friday's practice. \"I used to eat my Flintstone vitamins when I was a kid. My immunity system should be good.\"<\/p>\n
The Ravens are now 2-1 when Jackson has missed a start, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 and falling at Pittsburgh in 2020 after the team suffered one of the bigger COVID-19 outbreaks in sports.<\/p>\n
Baltimore was coming off a 22-10 loss at the Miami Dolphins, scoring its fewest points with Jackson as its starting quarterback.<\/p>\n
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Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson inactive because of illness not related to COVID-19 - ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CHICAGO -- Lamar Jackson was inactive for the Baltimore Ravens' 16-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday because of an illness that is not related to COVID-19. Jackson had been considered \"50-50\" for the game after being added to the injury report Saturday, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. This came after Jackson said he was \"feeling great\" upon returning to full participation in Friday's practice after missing two days. Continue reading