Ravens HC John Harbaugh speaks out on Lamar Jackson injury controversy

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said they weren't trying to deceive anyone when suddenly changing quarterback Lamar Jackson's practice status before Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. 

On Saturday, the Ravens changed Jackson's practice status from full participant to limited and confirmed he would miss a third straight game due to a hamstring injury. Backup QB Tyler Huntley started in place of Jackson against Chicago.

The QB ran the scout-team offense during Friday's practice. Players who do so are considered limited and should be listed as such on the team's injury report. The NFL is now investigating the Ravens for violating the league's policy. 

John Harbaugh explains why Lamar Jackson's status was changed 

"I'm not involved in those rules," Harbaugh told the media after Sunday's 30-16 win over Chicago. "I don't know those particular rules. That was probably — I think in their defense, you know, he practiced a full practice. I think they felt like, because he did the same number of reps, it was a full practice. But when you dig in and read the rule, at the end of the day, it wasn't right. So that's what it was. That's why as soon as we found out, we changed it." 

Harbaugh said "they" was referring to the training staff. He insisted the coaching staff had no say in listing Jackson as limited.

"That's not on the football side. [It's in] the medical side," Harbaugh said. "But it's an honest mistake. I mean, it really is an honest mistake. I can tell you this. Nobody's trying to hide anything. I mean, there's no advantage — no advantage to be gained." 

What happens next? 

Harbaugh's answer might be genuine. The Ravens may not have known the rule word-for-word. But the team should've double-checked the rule book. 

And it's not up to the Ravens to decide whether they violated the rules; it's up to the league, which seems to be doing its due diligence. While it may have been a simple oversight for Baltimore, it may prove costly. If punished, the team could be fined and lose draft picks.