The top candidate for NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson has been absent for the second day in a row of practice.
Jackson did not show up for Thursday’s session due to back and knee injury. Todd Monken confirmed this.
“I mean, it is what it is,” Monken told reporters. “Josh (Johnson) can use the work. That’s what you do. You get prepared for it, like any other position.”
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh trivialized the issue on Wednesday, saying Jackson was taking a rest day.
“He’s been playing great, and we have a lot of football in front of us,” Harbaugh said. “We have a game, a quick game and another big game coming up, so that was warranted today.”
After losing 29-24 to the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore began a weeklong schedule between matches. But, after their game with the Denver Broncos, they’ll host division rivals Cincinnati Bengals. This means they will play two matches in five days.
If Jackson is in pain, then the Ravens know that the best thing to do would be to give him enough time to recover. There is no reason to bring him out to the practice field when he is most useful on matchday.
Additionally, if Jackson cannot play in the match, journeyman Johnson is on standby as a substitute.
