Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey isn’t happy with the manner in which Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is treated. And Humphrey said so on Thursday.
“It seems like Lamar’s the only quarterback [who] kind of gets the slander that he gets for anytime anything is going on,” Humphrey told reporters, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “I feel like you just don’t see these same articles. I’m in the hot tub and it’s this, that, and the third. Unfair treatment.”
Humphrey didn’t specify any recent examples during Jackson’s absence due to an ankle injury.
“I just feel like sometimes it seems like it gets away from . . . I don’t know if it’s because of lack of agent or what, that no one can kind of defend him,” Humphrey said. “But I do know this, if Lamar Jackson can play, if he’s healthy enough to play, he will play, and that’s kind of all I can say for that.”
It is one of the practical consequences of not having an agent who can contact reporters, broadcasters, or anyone else in the media who is saying anything negative about Jackson. During the weeks preceding the 2018 draft, for example, there was no one to push back on the likes of former G.M. Bill Polian, who was arguing that Jackson should switch to a different position. With no established agent to defend him and advocate for him, it’s possibly one of the reasons the two-time MVP was available at the bottom of round one, where he was selected 22 spots after Josh Rosen.
Ultimately, Lamar Jackson is the only one who speaks on his behalf. And Lamar doesn’t seem to ever be bothered by any noise that may emerge.
Humphrey may have realized after saying what he said that Jackson may not be thrilled that Humphrey said anything.
“I think anything relating to Lamar is the thing that I don’t talk about,” Humphrey said. “I think the only one that really does talk about [Lamar] is Lamar. I think if Lamar can play, it’d be great. If he doesn’t, we got Snoop [Huntley].”
While there have been questions in past years regarding whether Jackson chose not to play while less than 100 percent at a time when he lacked the financial security of a new contract (which is smart), there hasn’t been much if any criticism of Jackson during his latest absence. He obviously has an ankle injury and, although some reports described him as day-to-day, we reported on the day it happened that he’s week-to-week.
Based on his participation in practice over the past two days, this could be the week Jackson returns. And Baltimore could use him; the 4-2 Ravens host the 3-2 Bengals on Sunday.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has covered Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase many times. Maybe more times than he’d like.
Humphrey and Chase have faced off eight times in the regular season and once in the playoffs. In those nine games, Chase has torched the Ravens for 77 catches for 1,245 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Ravens and Bengals will meet again on Sunday, and Humphrey said today that covering Chase and fellow Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is a big challenge, and one of the toughest assignments an NFL cornerback can draw.
“It would be cool if I didn’t match up with him so much,” Humphrey said. “He’s obviously one of the best in the game. Tee is right up there with him, in the Top 10, I think, in this league. There will be plays made, I think the biggest thing going into this matchup is to try to win more than they win and try to limit the explosives. That’s the biggest thing when you’re guarding those Top 10, Top 5 guys. It’s an all-hands-on-deck game. We look forward to the challenge. I think it’ll be a great opportunity.”
Despite the success Chase has had against him, Humphrey said he’s eager for a big game on Sunday between the 4-2 Ravens and 3-2 Bengals.
“I’m very confident. I think we’ve had some tests this year, but this will be by far the biggest test yet,” Humphrey said.
If Chase’s past is any indication, it’s going to be a very big test for Humphrey and the Ravens’ secondary.
Lamar Jackson got an earlier jump on practice than he did on Wednesday, but his participation level remained the same.
Reporters at Ravens practice noted that the quarterback was on the field during the portion open to the media after missing that segment on Wednesday. They also noted that he was moving well while on the field, but the Ravens listed him as limited for the second day in a row.
Jackson has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but the back-to-back practice days would seem to be a good sign that he’ll be able to play against the Bengals on Sunday.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (shoulder) is also trending in the right direction after going from limited to full participation. Center Cam Jurgens (concussion), tight end Mark Andrews (hand), tight end Matthew Hibner (hand), guard Vega Ioane (ankle), linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger), guard John Simpson (groin), tackle Ronnie Stanley (rest, toe, ankle), and guard Andrew Vorhees (foot) were also full participants.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins (knee) was downgraded to out while cornerback T.J. Tampa (knee) and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (ankle) remained limited participants.
If Trey Hendrickson is drawing any extra motivation from facing the Bengals, he’s keeping it close to the vest.
Hendrickson spent the last five seasons in Cincinnati and the end of his tenure was acrimonious due to contract squabbles, but he said in March that facing the Bengals twice a year wasn’t part of why he signed with the Ravens and the linebacker wasn’t making things about himself when he spoke to reporters on Thursday either.
“We’re a team. This isn’t an individual sport,” Hendrickson said, via the team’s website. “It’s about the team and what I can bring and what they can bring, and what we can collectively do as a unit. I think that’s what makes football special, and I’m looking forward to it Sunday.”
Hendrickson returned last weekend after missing two games with a finger injury and recorded his second sack of the season. It was also the 83rd sack of his career and getting his first-ever sack of Joe Burrow would be a plus to the Ravens’ bid to beat their divisional rivals.
It looks like Lamar Jackson is on track to return from his ankle injury this weekend when the Ravens play the Bengals.
According to multiple reporters on the scene, Jackson was present and participating at the start of Thursday’s practice.
While Jackson was not spotted for the beginning of Wednesday’s session, he did come to the field and was listed as limited on the team’s injury report.
With him participating at the start of the session, there’s a chance Jackson will be listed as full for Thursday.
Jamison Hensley of ESPN noted Jackson was moving around well during the portion of practice open to media, and wasn’t favoring his sprained left ankle at all. Jackson also made some deep throws to Rashod Bateman and LaJohntay Wester.
Baltimore’s Thursday injury report will be released later in the day.
The Ravens listed Cam Jurgens as a full participant in practice on Wednesday, which suggests that the center will be making his debut for the team when they face the Bengals on Sunday.
Jurgens was traded to the Ravens a couple of weeks ago, but has missed both of the team’s games because of a concussion he suffered at the end of his time with the Eagles. On Wednesday, Jurgens said that acclimating himself to a new team while working through the concussion protocol has been an interesting process that he’s looking forward to leaving in the past.
“It’s been a wild process,” Jurgens said, via the team’s website. “Has anybody been traded while they’re in the concussion protocol? It just feels so good to be out of this protocol and start to feel a little bit like myself again. I love it here, enjoying it. Anytime you get traded it’s such a crazy, whirlwind experience. But this is such a good organization. I’m happy, excited to be here.”
Jurgens played guard at the end of his time with the Eagles, but is moving back to center for a Ravens team that’s lost three of them to major injuries already this year. Rookie Vega Ioane had moved inside, but he’ll return to right guard and the Ravens will hope that the rejiggered line gels quickly in a big game for the AFC North playoff race.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman was forced out of last Sunday’s loss to the Browns with a shoulder injury, but he was able to get on the practice field Wednesday.
The Ravens listed Bateman as a limited participant in practice, which suggests that he’ll have a chance to play against the Bengals if all goes well the next couple of days.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) was also listed as a limited participant. Jackson was missing at the open portion of practice on Wednesday, but head coach Jesse Minter said he was able to do some work later in the session.
Center Cam Jurgens was a full participant in practice for the first time since joining the team. Jurgens has been in the concussion protocol and appears to be on track to make his debut for the Ravens.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins (knee), tight end Matthew Hibner (hand), guard Vega Ioane (ankle), guard John Simpson (groin), tackle Ronnie Stanley (not injury related), cornerback T.J. Tampa (rest, toe, ankle), guard Andrew Vorhees (knee), and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (foot) were listed as limited.
Tight end Mark Andrews (hand) and linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger) were full participants. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell (rest) and linebacker Tavius Robinson (pectoral) did not practice.
Lamar Jackson was not dressed for Wednesday’s practice at the portion open to the media. Ravens coach Jesse Minter, though, said the quarterback got “a little bit” of limited work.
The Ravens have not yet released their injury report, so it’s possible he’s still officially listed as did not practice.
“Lamar was actually able to get a little bit of limited work in today in preparation, so that’s where that’s at,” Minter said, via video from Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “Again, it’s a day-by-day thing. But he was able to get a little bit of work in and be involved in the preparation.”
Jackson has missed the last two games while recovering from an ankle injury.
Minter said Monday that Jackson could “potentially” return to practice this week, while classifying Jackson as still day-to-day.
Tyler Huntley has started the past two games for Baltimore.
As the practice week begins, Lamar Jackson is still not ready to practice.
According to multiple reporters on the scene, Jackson was not on the field for Wednesday’s session as the Ravens begin preparing to play the Bengals on Sunday.
Jackson has missed the last two games while recovering from an ankle injury.
Head coach Jesse Minter mentioned on Monday that Jackson could “potentially” return to practice this week, while classifying Jackson as still day-to-day.
Tyler Huntley has started the last two games for Baltimore.
Minter is slated to speak with reporters after practice. The Ravens’ first injury report of the week is due out later on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bengals filled an open spot on their 53-man roster on Tuesday.
They announced that they have signed safety Russ Yeast off of their practice squad. They opened up the slot by placing tight end Tanner Hudson on injured reserve Monday.
Yeast spent last season on the Bengals’ practice squad and he has been elevated to play in two games this season. He has four tackles while seeing time on defense and special teams.
Yeast also had 82 tackles in 36 games for the Texans, Panthers and Rams earlier in his career.
The Bengals announced that they have signed tight end Josh Kattus and linebacker Emany Johnson to the practice squad. They also released safety Isaiah Nwokobia from that roster.
