Jamal

Lewis

The Baltimore Sun reports Lewis will miss a Oct. 24 game against the Bills and a Oct. 31 game at Philadelphia. Expect the announcement today. It looks like Chester Taylor owners will have to wait until after Baltimore’s bye week.

He’ll need to return for a sentencing date and will likely be called as a witness in the case against his childhood friend Alonzo Jackson. It’s possible the court dates could affect playing time, but most observers expect Lewis to be suspended by the league by then.

Lewis has reportedly agreed to a plea bargain agreement that will put in him jail or a half way house for four-to-six months next offseason. But the NFL could suspend Lewis, who has already violated the league’s substance abuse agreement, before that time. Chester Taylor, his backup, should be owned in all leagues to see how this shakes out.

All signs point to Lewis missing Baltimore’s Oct. 24th game against the Bills and probably a few more.

In this scenario, he’d miss October 24th vs. Buffalo and October 31st vs. Philadelphia if he was suspended two games. If the suspension is four games, he’d also likely miss Cleveland on November 7th and the Jets on the 14th. Chester Taylor will start in his absence.

Sources have told ESPN’s Chris Mortenson that Lewis is likely to receive a 2-4 game suspension from the league shortly thereafter. It looks like the suspension will come smack in the middle of the fantasy season. Chester Taylor should take over as Baltimore’s starter. Lewis gained 73 yards and scored a TD Monday night, by the way.

The current plan is for Lewis to get 2/3 of Baltimore’s snaps this weekend. But coach Brian Billick intimated that he could play the whole game if necessary. Considering they are playing the Colts, the Ravens aren’t likely to be winning in a rout.

The idea was to get Lewis fully ready to carry the load this week against the Colts. If he reports no soreness today, the plan will have worked, making Lewis a solid play again next week.

We assume that includes Jamal Lewis. Lewis is perhaps the biggest question mark of the fantay weekend, a boom-or-bust pick who has to prove he’s healthy.

He should return to practice by Friday and receive at least 40 carries Sunday night.