Familiar foe: Lamar sick again; sits out practice

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens backmost Lamar Jackson has proven adept astatine eluding pass-rushers and antiaircraft linemen ... but seemingly not illness.

Jackson missed Friday's signifier due to the fact that helium was erstwhile again sick, but manager John Harbaugh expressed assurance that the two-time Pro Bowl backmost volition commencement Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

"He'll beryllium fine," Harbaugh said aft Friday's practice. "He tried to get to signifier but helium was conscionable excessively sick."

Asked if he'll play Sunday, Harbaugh replied, "Oh yeah."

It was a astonishment erstwhile Jackson was not contiguous astatine Friday's practice, but the crushed for his lack was not a shock. This marked the sixth clip that Jackson has been sidelined by unwellness successful the regular play since the commencement of the 2021 season. Last November, Jackson couldn't play a Week 11 crippled successful Chicago due to the fact that helium was excessively sick and backup Tyler Huntley led Baltimore to a 16-13 triumph implicit the Bears.

Last year, Jackson said helium wasn't disquieted astir the fig of times he's been sick.

"I've been steadfast each my life," Jackson said past year. "I ne'er had problems being sick astatine each until I'm here. So I don't truly cognize what that is."

This is the archetypal signifier that Jackson has missed this year. He had been constricted successful 2 practices successful 2022 (right elbow wounded successful Week 3 and hep wounded successful Week 7).

The first-place Ravens (6-3) are favored by 13 points implicit the Panthers (3-6), which represents the biggest constituent dispersed of the week. Jackson, who has ne'er faced Carolina, is 26-2 successful his archetypal commencement against a squad successful his career. That's the champion grounds since 1950 among backmost to commencement against astatine slightest 20 antithetic teams, according to probe by the Elias Sports Bureau.

If Jackson was incapable to play, Huntley would marque his 5th vocation start.