Ravens coach John Harbaugh remained confident that two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson will play Sunday against the visiting Bears, even as Jackson didn’t practice Monday.
He suffered a hamstring injury in the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 28, resulting in them using Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley in losses to the Texans and Rams the next two weeks. Those two combined for a 42.4 passer rating.
The Ravens (1-5) were off last week. Ahead of their bye, Harbaugh said he anticipated Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith returning from hamstring injuries in time for the Bears’ visit. Asked again about Jackson’s status after he missed practice Monday, Harbaugh said, “Same answer.”
Smith practiced Monday.
Jackson, who was runner-up for MVP last season, was off to a tremendous start despite the Ravens’ losses. In four games, he completed 71.6% of his passes, averaged 217.3 yards and threw 10 touchdown passes and one interception for a 130.5 passer rating. He also rushed for 41.5 yards per game.
Bears coach Ben Johnson said Monday afternoon that he hadn’t begun his preparation for the Ravens and planned to start scouting them that evening after finishing his review of the Bears’ 26-14 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Jackson is in his eighth NFL season but has never faced the Bears. In the only Bears-Ravens matchup that occurred during his career, a 2021 game at Soldier Field, he was a late scratch because of an illness. Huntley led the Ravens to a 16-13 victory in that game.
If Smith plays Sunday, it also will be his first time facing the Bears since general manager Ryan Poles traded him to the Ravens for a second-round pick in 2022. The Ravens quickly signed Smith to the five-year, $100 million contract extension the Bears refused to give him; he has been an All-Pro selection every season in Baltimore.
Kmet, Stevenson uncertain
Bears tight end Cole Kmet left the Saints game with a back injury, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson exited after hurting his shoulder. Johnson said early indications were that neither injury is severe enough to necessitate time on injured reserve, but he was unsure about both players’ availability for practice Wednesday or the Ravens game.
Kmet had one catch for 16 yards against the Saints, while rookie tight end Colston Loveland caught three passes for 24 yards. Kmet hasn’t missed a game in his six seasons.
Stevenson, who is the Bears’ best outside cornerback with Jaylon Johnson on IR, had three tackles and a pass breakup against the Saints. He has played four good games in a row after a rough start to the season.
A stop to the slump
The Bears’ win ended an eight-game losing streak against the Saints, including playoffs, since they last beat them in 2008. Their next-longest drought is against the Eagles, who have won six in a row since the Bears beat them in 2011. The Bears get a chance to end that streak when they visit Philadelphia on Nov. 28.
The Bears also have three-game losing streaks against the Lions, Vikings, Dolphins and Colts.
Notes
Johnson wasn’t pleased with Theo Benedet’s second career start at left tackle, echoing comments from Benedet himself. He had two false starts, made mistakes in the running game and lost his matchup with Saints defensive end Chase Young. Johnson called the performance “inconsistent, to say the least.”
• Johnson seemed optimistic that defensive end Austin Booker would be activated soon after missing time with a knee injury. The Bears must add him to the active roster by next Tuesday or shut him down for the season.
• Former Bears offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter, their seventh-round pick in 2022, had a visit with the Panthers on Monday. Carter played in 13 games over two seasons with the Bears and has been out of the league since.
