Lamar Jackson Back at Practice, Status Unclear vs. Bengals

Ravens fans can breathe a little easier: Lamar Jackson was back on the practice field Wednesday.

The two-time MVP was a limited participant in his first on-field work since spraining his left ankle 17 days ago, ESPN's Jamison Hensley reported, but whether Lamar Jackson plays Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals is still an open question. He was favoring the ankle after practice and walked into the team facility with a noticeable limp.

What Jesse Minter said about Lamar Jackson

Coach Jesse Minter said Jackson "was able to get in a little bit of work and be involved in preparation," including some team drills. He did not commit to Sunday.

"There's nobody that wants to be out there more than Lamar," Minter said. "Lamar wants to play. But at the same time, you got to be healthy enough to play."

"I know this, that when it's ready for him to be able to play and we feel like that's the best thing to do, that's what we'll do," Minter added.

Jackson got hurt late in the first half of the 24-18 win over Tennessee on Oct. 4. He had missed the last two games and six straight practices before Wednesday.

Why the ankle matters so much

Tyler Huntley has held the fort, leading a comeback win at Atlanta before Sunday's 13-10 loss at Cleveland. The gap is easy to see. In 14 quarters with Jackson this season, Baltimore has scored 116 points and 14 offensive touchdowns. In 10 quarters without him, it has 40 points and four touchdowns.

"He is working to get back," receiver Zay Flowers said. "He is working every day, doing what he needs to do to get back on the field. That's all you can do when you're injured, just do everything you can to get back on the field."

Ravens vs. Bengals: the stakes

The Ravens (4-2) host the Bengals (3-2) at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and these are considered the two best teams in the AFC North right now. Jackson's history in this matchup is why Baltimore fans will be refreshing the injury report all week.

Since he became the starter midway through the 2018 season, the Ravens are 11-2 against Cincinnati with Jackson, and he has thrown 24 touchdowns and six interceptions against them. Without him over that span, Baltimore is 0-3 against the Bengals, including the playoffs, and has lost by an average of 12 points.

Thursday's practice report is the next thing to watch. A step up from limited would be the first real sign he is trending toward Sunday.

Smacktok pick: hold your Ravens picks until the Friday injury designations. If Jackson is cleared, lean Baltimore, given his 11-2 record against Cincinnati. If Huntley starts again, lean low on Ravens scoring, since they have 40 points in 10 quarters without Jackson.