When Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to action after missing a month with a hamstring injury, he threw four touchdown passes in a 28-6 win over the Dolphins. In the five games since then, Jackson has thrown a total of two: one, none, none, none, and one.
Per NBC Sports research, Jackson’s five-game stretch without multiple touchdown passes is the longest of his career.
Regardless of that statistical reality, Jackson looked more like his normal self last Sunday against the Steelers, from the standpoint of his speed and acceleration. And he would have had a second touchdown pass against the Steelers, if the touchdown catch by tight end Isaiah Likely hadn’t been overturned by replay review (erroneously, in our view).
The larger problem for the Ravens is that they’ve now lost two games in a row, with their record ping-ponging from 1-5 to 6-5 to now 6-7. They face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday, where game-time temperatures could be close to single digits.
Another loss to Cincinnati will make it much harder for the Ravens to win the AFC North — especially since they finish with games against the Patriots, Packers, and Steelers.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews are off the final injury report for the Ravens.
Jackson sat out Wednesday’s practice for a rest day, but he has no injury designation after a pair of full practices to close out the week. Andrews was added to the report as a limited participant on Thursday due to a glute injury and also has no designation.
Running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) and cornerback Nate Wiggins (foot) are also good to go for the Ravens.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), linebacker Tavius Robinson (foot), and safety Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles) are all listed as questionable. Robinson and Washington remain on injured reserve and will need to be activated by Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to play against the Bengals on Sunday.
The Bengals activated linebacker Shaka Heyward back to the active roster from injured reserve, the team announced Friday.
He returned to practice Dec. 3 and was a full participate all three days this week.
Heyward, a second-year player, landed on injured reserve on Oct. 28 with a fibula injury.
He has 10 tackles in eight games this season, seeing action on seven defensive snaps and 130 on special teams.
Heyward appeared in six games last season, playing 12 defensive snaps and 102 on special teams.
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will not play against the Ravens this weekend.
Higgins suffered a concussion in last Sunday’s loss to the Bills and he was out of practice on Friday after returning for a limited practice on Thursday. Head coach Zac Taylor announced that he’s been ruled out during his Friday press conference. It’s the second time in the last three weeks that Higgins has been ruled out due to a concussion.
Higgins was evaluated for a concussion twice during the loss to Buffalo after hitting his head on the turf, but he was cleared to return to the game both times. Taylor announced Higgins was in the concussion protocol on Monday because he reported symptoms after the game.
Taylor also told reporters on Friday that defensive end Shemar Stewart (knee) is doubtful to be activated from injured reserve.
Tee Higgins may have suffered a setback.
According to Ben Baby of ESPN, Higgins is not on the field for practice on Friday.
Higgins is in concussion protocol for the second time in recent weeks. He missed the Week 13 win over the Ravens before returning for Sunday’s loss to the Bills. There were multiple instances in Week 14 when Higgins appeared to hit his head on cold turf.
Higgins was listed as limited on Wednesday and Thursday’s injury reports.
In 12 games this year, Higgins has recorded 46 receptions for 667 yards with nine touchdowns.
