Lamar Jackson was not on the sidelines for Baltimore’s playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Just before kickoff, NBC’s Melissa Stark reported that Jackson did not travel to Cincinnati with the team.
Jackson’s absence from the active roster was expected. The Ravens quarterback all but ruled himself out Thursday with his ongoing knee injury before Baltimore made it official on Friday. His injury didn’t stop the franchise quarterback from joining his team for a playoff game.
Lamar Jackson traveled injured with the Ravens to an away game against the Steelers. He wasn’t in Cincinnati on Sunday. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jackson’s absence is glaring amid a contract impasse that lasted through the regular season and was exacerbated when he was sidelined with his knee injury. Jackson injured his left knee on December 4 against the Denver Broncos. Head coach John Harbaugh initially described Jackson on December 6 as having a PCL strain week in and week out. It was expected that he would return during the regular season.
Jackson remained sidelined for the remainder of the regular season as the Ravens went 2-3 in his absence while battling for playoff placement. Then came Jackson’s announcement Thursday that his injured knee remains “unstable,” meaning he would miss Sunday’s playoff game, which Baltimore lost 24-17.
Jackson made the announcement independently of the Ravens, who have yet to comment on his game status.
When the Ravens shut him out the next day, Harbaugh continued to hope Jackson could return this season if the Ravens progressed through the wild card round.
“Lamar works as hard as he can,” Harbaugh told reporters. “The coaches are working as hard as they can. That’s where we are. I can’t wait for him to come back, just like everyone else. That’s where we’re at with that. He won’t play in this game, and we are hopeful for next week. We’ll see where we are then.”
Tyler Huntley started against the Bengals after missing the season finale last week with shoulder and wrist injuries. Jackson was probably watching from somewhere.
Jackson was on the Ravens touchline when he was injured on December 11 during an away game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He wasn’t on Sunday as his future with the franchise remains bleak. He will go into the offseason without a contract while the Ravens have the option to use the franchise tag to stay in control of his services.