OWINGS MILLS — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP who has played in 86 regular-season games over his six-year career.
As a result, Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson will watch from the sideline when the team plays the Atlanta Falcons in the second preseason game. Jackson also did not play last week in a 16-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Harbaugh is smart because if Jackson were injured in a preseason game, the Ravens would be in trouble.
Harbaugh learned a hard lesson in 2021 when starting running back J.K. Dobbins suffered a knee injury on the Ravens’ first drive of the third preseason game in Washington and was lost for the season. Dobbins was never able to find his footing with the Ravens and now will try to resurrect his career with the Los Angeles Chargers.
In addition to Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, safety Kyle Hamilton, tight end Mark Andrews, inside linebacker Roquan Smith, and several other indispensable players will not play this week against Atlanta. Those players must be ready and healthy when the Ravens open the regular season against the defending Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs, on September 5th.
Other than Jackson, however, Harbaugh did not confirm which players would not see action on Saturday. None of the team’s top players was active against Philadelphia.
“It’s going to be [a] case-by-case [basis], for sure, but it will be in the same direction as last time,” Harbaugh said about who will play against the Falcons.
Some fans have clamored for Jackson to play some snaps in the preseason game. They point to other star quarterbacks like the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Bills’ Josh Allen, who played a few snaps in their respective team’s games.
However, Harbaugh has weighed the pros and cons of Jackson playing and decided it was better for him to sit. In addition, Jackson will get the opportunity to compete against another team’s defense when the Ravens travel to Green Bay next week for a joint practice before their preseason game.
Harbaugh is confident that Jackson and the rest of his playmakers will be ready when the games count.
Jackson did not play in the 2023 preseason games and won the NFL MVP for the second time.
Harbaugh is hoping for an encore performance.