NFL examining Ravens’ classification of Lamar Jackson’s injury

Ravens to Play Without Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens will not have Lamar Jackson available for their game against the Chicago Bears this Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

A loss in this matchup would leave the Ravens with a record of 1-6 this season. However, how they manage Jackson’s hamstring injury may have implications for their standing in the NFL.

Jackson, a two-time MVP, has been out since he suffered a hamstring injury during Baltimore’s Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended in a 37-20 defeat for the Ravens. There was some optimism that he might play against the Bears, especially since he participated fully in practice on Friday. But then, things changed.

It turns out that the Ravens later classified Jackson as a “limited” participant during Friday’s practice because he had been working with the scout team. According to NFL rules, if a player practices in this way due to a medical condition, they must be designated as “limited” in the injury report. The league’s policy states:

Players who participate in individual practices but do not practice regularly during team practices due to medical reasons and are assigned to the scout team should be listed as “limited participation.” The participation of a player who would normally be a starter on the scout team due to a medical condition, no matter how extensive, does not change the player’s proper designation as “limited participation.”

Interestingly, despite this setup, the Ravens originally reported Jackson as a full participant. In a statement on Saturday, the team noted, “Lamar Jackson attended and fully participated in the entirety of Friday’s practice. After further evaluation today and in consultation with league officials, Lamar did not start in practice and we have updated our report to reflect his practice participation.”

This discrepancy could lead to disciplinary measures from the NFL since the league closely scrutinizes alterations in player injury statuses. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy commented on Saturday, stating, “the league will consider this.” He added that all changes regarding player conditions will be reviewed.

As for the game against Chicago, Tyler Huntley is set to take over as starting quarterback. Jackson is anticipated to return for the Ravens’ Week 9 matchup or possibly for their game against the Miami Dolphins the following Thursday.