Baltimore

Ravens

Jackson missed four of the Ravens’ first five practices with what he described as a “bug.” The two-time MVP returned to practice on Saturday and has now participated in three straight sessions with the team. Jackson said he remained mentally “locked in” while away from the team and doesn’t feel as if he’ll have too much catching up to do. It helps that Jackson is playing in a familiar offense. With offensive coordinator Todd Monken back for another season, Jackson is hoping he can replicate the numbers he saw last season when he threw for 3,678-24-7 on his way to his second MVP in five seasons. Here’s hoping the worst is behind Lamar and that his immune system can fight off whatever comes its way once the regular season begins.

Jackson is continuing to battle an illness that sidelined him earlier this week. In a statement posted to the team’s social media account, the Ravens said, “QB Lamar Jackson remains sidelined with an illness and will not practice today. He continues to undergo further evaluation and receive care from our medical team.” Jackson seems to regularly battle illnesses that come and go with time. He managed to practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but could be in line to miss a few more day of practice with this latest news.

Jackson was sent home from practice earlier this week because of an illness. He missed three sessions in total. Jackson has inexplicably dealt with more illnesses over the years than any almost other player, so the news wasn’t entirely shocking. Backup quarterback Josh Johnson should see an uptick in reps if Jackson misses any more time. Jackson remains a strong pick to finish as a top-five fantasy quarterback despite his clear lack of a daily probiotic.

On ESPN’s “Get Up,” Graziano said Jackson — who has gotten sick frequently since the early days of the COVID pandemic — might return Friday after the team takes an off day on Thursday. The team sent Jackson home on Sunday after he showed signs of illness. Jackson will likely return to training camp at full strength in the coming days, but his status is worth monitoring. Josh Johnson will likely take first-team reps while Jackson is sidelined.

Harbaugh continues to praise Bateman, who is entering his fourth season with the team. The former first-rounder has had an underwhelming start to his career, totaling 93-1,167-4 in 34 games, with injuries slowing some of his development. Bateman caught 32 passes for 367 yards and one touchdown last season but is expected to serve as the WR2 in an offense that will feature heavy doses of Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. If he lands in that role, Bateman could have some fantasy upside entering the season, but expectations should be tempered in an offense that will still lean heavily on the run.

Worley has played in 21 games for the Ravens since 2021 while making three starts. The veteran defensive totaled 12 tackles in 12 games last season, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He’ll be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp, but his experience at both corner and safety could prove beneficial for him as the team nears final cut downs.

Bateman has been nursing a foot injury ever since he underwent season-ending surgery in November of 2022. The injury didn’t stop him from suiting up in 16 regular season games last season, but it landed him on the PUP list to start training camp last season and kept him sidelined for nearly three weeks of camp. The former first-round pick is expected to see a much larger role after playing well behind Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. last season. He signed a two-year, $14.4 million extension earlier this offseason after totaling 32 catches for 367 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Bateman is under contract through 2026, but it’s safe to say that this season is a make-or-break year for the three-year vet. He can be cut without a dead cap hit next offseason.

Tampa was a fourth-round selection by the Ravens in this year’s draft. The former Iowa State Cyclone is expected to serve primarily as depth in the Ravens’ vaunted secondary this season and has made a name for himself for his physical style of play over his last two years as a starter. His absence could slow his development and ability to make any kind of an impact early in the season, but this doesn’t appear to be anything major.

Per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, this was the first full-team practice of training camp. The two-time NFL MVP was present but unable to finish the day due to his illness. We’ll assume this is something that will pass sooner rather than later unless the team announces otherwise.

Drake made the announcement via a photo collage Instagram post, saying “he wouldn’t change a thing” about his time in the NFL. He finishes his career with 5,521 yards from scrimmage and 41 total touchdowns.