Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice for the second day in a row on Thursday. His absence on Wednesday was labeled a rest day by head coach John Harbaugh, but he later appeared on the team’s injury report with a back and neck problem.
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday, “It is what it is,” about Jackson’s absence.
The Denver Broncos are the Ravens’ opponent in Week 9. Veteran Josh Johnson, 38, is the team’s backup.
According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, this is the first time since 2022 that Jackson has missed regular season practices due to injury.
Jackson has thrown for 2,099 yards and 17 touchdowns with two interceptions in eight games for the 5-3 Ravens.
Micah Parsons is not expected to return for the Cowboys
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said that while the All-Pro edge rusher is improving, he is not yet ready to return to practice. That would likely rule Parsons out for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Until they return to play with [athletic trainer] Britt [Brown]“I actually don’t even have that thought,” McCarthy said Thursday. “So he’s not quite there yet.”
Parsons suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4 against the New York Giants. He has already missed three games and it appears he will miss at least a fourth week for the Cowboys.
Saints’ Derek Carr returns after missing three games
Quarterback Derek Carr will be back under center for the New Orleans Saints against the Carolina Panthers after sitting out three games due to an oblique injury.
Jake Haener will serve as his backup, despite rookie Spencer Rattler starting the last few games in Carr’s absence.
“We felt like Rattler gave us the best opportunity at that time, and so I think this weekend we’ll see where we are, what the expectations are. My expectation is that Derek will be ready to go,” Allen said . said ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. “In that case, Jake will be the backup. I don’t want to go into the details of why, but I think this is what’s best for our team.”
Carr went down in the Saints’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month after taking a hard hit near the end of that game. He hasn’t played since, which is the longest time he’s missed since breaking his ankle while with the Raiders in 2017.
The Saints, who started the season 2-0 with a pair of big wins, haven’t won a game since.
Patriots QB Drake Maye goes through concussion protocol
Drake Maye remains in the concussion protocol, but the New England Patriots quarterback could return on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said the rookie quarterback has made great progress since suffering the injury against the New York Jets last week. Maye was limited in practice this week as he has yet to be cleared from the concussion protocol.
“I’m very hopeful that things will go the way they’re trending,” Van Pelt said Thursday.
Maye was injured in the second quarter with a blow to the head. Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood chased Maye during a scramble and made helmet-to-helmet contact on a hit from behind as Maye slid.
After the goal, Maye went to the medical tent on the sideline and then to the Patriots’ locker room. Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback on New England’s next possession.
Here’s the rest of the Week 9 injury report. (Players will be added as teams release their reports.)
