Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens' Lamar Jackson misses practice again due to ankle injury

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 1/6/22

The Baltimore Ravens must defeat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday and receive plenty of help in the form of three other favorable results to sneak into the playoffs.

Thus, it's understandable head coach John Harbaugh and company may be playing it safe as it pertains to the long-term health of quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson didn't practice Wednesday because of a lingering ankle injury that first sidelined him during a loss at the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 12, and Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons notes the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player was also absent from Thursday's session.

Jackson participated in on-the-field work last week but carried a noticeable limp before he was ruled out of what became a home loss to the Los Angeles Rams:

Lamar Jackson (right ankle injury) returned to practice Wednesday but moved with a pronounced limp pic.twitter.com/KRWeGm6GCg
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 29, 2021

Backup Tyler Huntley has impressed throughout appearances in Jackson's absence but was on the injury report Thursday with an illness:

Lamar Jackson once again did not practice today pic.twitter.com/ANmptWyMCC
— Kyle Phoenix Barber (@KylePBarber) January 6, 2022

Journeyman Josh Johnson started at quarterback for Baltimore against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 when Huntley was on the reserve/COVID-19 list and could be called into action this weekend if both Huntley and Jackson are unavailable.

While there's still time for the situation to change and even improve, it feels as if it's a matter of when, not if, the Ravens shut Jackson down through at least Week 18.

More must-reads: