Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson got a late start to training camp, and he could get an early hook in the team’s preseason opener.
Coach John Harbaugh told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday that the team hasn’t decided whether Jackson, who has practiced just three times since returning from a COVID-19 infection, will play in the Ravens’ preseason opener Saturday night against the visiting New Orleans Saints.
But if Jackson does, it won’t be for long.
“We’ll sit down on Wednesday and kind of decide that,” Harbaugh said. “It wouldn’t be more than about a series, if we do anything with him.”
On Saturday, Jackson’s first day of camp, Harbaugh said the Ravens hadn’t adjusted their plan for Jackson’s preseason workload. Jackson, who missed eight days of practice while on the reserve/COVID-19 list, deferred to the team’s coaches and medical staff when asked Tuesday whether he’d play.
“I’m trying to catch up with my guys, because they’re on the train — like Coach [offensive coordinator Greg Roman] said — [and] I’m trying to catch the train,” Jackson said. “I’m ‘in the car’ right now. I’m trying to catch up to those guys. But yes, I’m just taking it a day at a time.”
Harbaugh told SiriusXM NFL Radio that the Ravens’ plans for their “more established” starters were still not finalized.
“We’ll just have to decide what we want to do,” he said. “They won’t play much, if at all. We’ll just have to see.”