Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was not at practice for a second straight day Thursday in Owings Mills, but he was in the building.

Jackson was in the locker room after practice chatting with teammates and appeared in good spirits. He was not made available to speak with reporters, however.

On Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said that Jackson was given a rest day from that afternoon’s practice. Later, though, he showed up on Baltimore’s injury report with back and knee injuries.

Whether he’s available to play Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium against the Denver Broncos remains to be seen, but his appearance is a good sign.

“It is what it is,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday when asked about preparing for Denver without the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player the past two days. “Like any other position, you go to work and guys still have to function around him. What the calls are, the calls are up front. There are still guys who’ve got to have a high level of execution no matter who’s at what position.”

Given Denver’s stout defense, the Ravens (5-3) will likely need Jackson. The Broncos (5-3) are first in yards per play allowed (4.4), third in yards (282.6) and points per game (15) allowed, first in yards per pass allowed (5.9) and fifth in yards per rush allowed (4).

The Ravens are coming off an embarrassing 29-24 defeat to the Cleveland Browns amid a busy stretch with a key game four days later against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore on “Thursday Night Football.”

In that loss to Cleveland, Jackson completed 23 of 38 passes for 289 and two touchdowns but was also sacked a season-high three times and took more hits while rushing for 46 yards on eight carries.

This marks the third practice Jackson has missed this season after also being absent from the team’s first practice following its season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5.

Jackson hasn’t missed a game because of injury since 2022 when he suffered a sprained PCL in a Week 13 win over the Broncos. He ended up missing the final five games of the regular season and a wild-card playoff game against the Bengals that the Ravens lost with backup Tyler Huntley under center.

Veteran Josh Johnson, 38, is the Ravens’ backup quarterback and hasn’t started a game since Week 16 of 2021 when he was also with Baltimore. In that game, a 41-21 loss at Cincinnati, he completed 28 of 40 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Elsewhere on the Ravens’ injury report, there were not many changes.

Defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle) and defensive end Brent Urban (concussion) did not practice for a second day in a row, while defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee) also did not practice after being limited a day earlier. That leaves Baltimore with Nnamdi Madubuike as its only healthy defensive lineman after Michael Pierce was put on injured reserve earlier in the week, which likely means at least one player will be called up from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (knee) was limited again, but Nate Wiggins (shoulder/illness) and Arthur Maulet (neck) fully practiced for the first time this week. Running back Rasheen Ali (ankle) was also a full participant after not practicing Wednesday, as was Keaton Mitchell (knee) for a second straight day as he continues to work his way back from the physically unable to perform list.

For the Broncos, safety P.J. Locke (thumb) did not practice for the second day in a row, while right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) was limited after not practicing Wednesday and defensive end Zach Allen (rest) was a full participant. Tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle), cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) were all full participants, while fullback Mike Burton (foot) was limited again.

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