Ravens coach John Harbaugh declined to specify why quarterback Lamar Jackson was absent from practice Monday afternoon, their first since Thursday night’s season-opening loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.
“We had a number of guys who weren’t out there,” Harbaugh said following a 90-minute practice in Owings Mills. “Some personal, some more physical. Injury report comes out Wednesday afternoon, so you’ll be better advised on that day regarding all those guys.”
No absence was more notable than Jackson’s, however.
In the Ravens’ 27-20 loss to Kansas City, the two-time and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player completed 26 of 41 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown and led the team in rushing with 122 yards on 16 carries. He was also strip-sacked and took several hits, though he did not appear to be injured while speaking to reporters following the game.
“This guy wants to win, he wants to make plays, he wants to lead his team; that’s what I saw on Thursday night,” Harbaugh said Monday. “And all the football stuff, we just keep coaching, and he’s the leader in that. But I’m proud of him. I have nothing but admiration for Lamar Jackson.”
Jackson’s absence marks the first time he has not been at practice since the start of training camp, when he missed the first week with an undisclosed illness.
It was also his first missed practice during the regular season since early December when he was out for one day, also because of an illness. He was, however, present at Baltimore’s team picture day earlier Thursday, according to a social media post from the team.
He was active on X as well, responding to a post about 30 minutes after practice had concluded.
As for Jackson’s activity against the Chiefs, he was all over the field, accounting for 395 of Baltimore’s 452 total yards. That included a dozen scrambles — or on 19.5% of his dropbacks for his third-highest rate in the past four seasons, according to Next Gen Stats.
He also drove the Ravens 77 yards in the final 1:50 and on the game’s final play hit Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone from 10 yards out for what was initially ruled a touchdown before the call was overturned following a replay that showed the tight end’s toe coming down out of bounds on the catch.
“Our offense has a lot of new additions, and we’re just getting adjusted,” Jackson said following the game. “I don’t want to say [not playing in] preseason was the reason because it wasn’t; we battled. You can see it; we put points on the board. We just have to do what we have to do to win those games. [It’s] simple.
“I believe everyone in our locker room hates losing, point-blank, period — coaches, trainers, equipment guys, cafeteria women and men, and definitely the players — because we’re out there putting it on the line, blood, sweat and tears. And for us to lose to those guys, and the way we lost, even though I don’t want to lose, but I can’t be mad at my guys because we battled.”
Meanwhile, cornerback Nate Wiggins, wide receiver-returner Deonte Harty, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac (hamstring) and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who suffered a fractured orbital bone in the loss, according to NFL Network, were also absent from practice. Harbaugh declined to confirm Van Noy’s injury and instead deferred to the injury report that will come out on Wednesday.
Baltimore will play its home opener Sunday afternoon against the Las Vegas Raiders.