The NFL is looking into the Baltimore Ravens’ handling of injured quarterback Lamar Jackson’s practice participation after the two-time MVP was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
The Ravens ruled Jackson out Saturday, while also saying he was not, in fact, a full participant in practice the previous day.
‘Lamar Jackson was present for and participated fully in our entire Friday practice ahead of Sunday’s game against the Bears,’ the Ravens said in a statement. ‘Upon further evaluation today and after conferring with the league office, because Lamar didn’t take starter reps in practice, we updated our report to reflect his practice participation.’
A league spokesman said the NFL would look into the matter, which it does whenever there’s a change in a player’s status.
According to league policy, full participation means 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions. For example, a player who participates with the scout team during the team portion of practice would still be considered limited if his normal reps would have been with the starters were it not for his injury.
Baltimore (1-5) has little margin for error after a poor start to the season. The Ravens lost to Houston and the Los Angeles Rams without Jackson, and even an open date last weekend wasn’t enough for them to get the two-time MVP back.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson looks on during an October 12 game
Tyler Huntley is expected to start Sunday in Jackson’s place after Cooper Rush was the starter against the Texans and Rams.
Shortly after Jackson was ruled out, BetMGM Sportsbook had Baltimore as a 1 1/2-point favorite over the Bears. The Ravens were favored by about a touchdown earlier in the week.
‘The Ravens’ handling of the injury reporting on Lamar Jackson, I’m fully confident, wasn’t related to gambling in any way, shape or form,’ Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer wrote online.
‘But it does highlight the trouble with the league doing business with gambling outlets.’
