11/11/2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) watches before throwing the soccer ball against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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2021-11-25 18:17:36 GMT + 00: 00 – Lamar Jackson’s illness is waning as the Baltimore quarterback plans to hit the field on Sunday night when the Ravens face the Cleveland Browns in an important bout of the AFC North received.
Jackson missed last week’s win against the Chicago Bears, rates his chances of playing “120 percent” with the Ravens in first place (7-3) against the Browns in last place (6-5) battle.
For those who are counting, it was Jackson’s third regular season sick leave. That doesn’t include his second battle with COVID-19 during training camp.
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“I feel great this time,” Jackson told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m back feeling good. I’m positive (on the outlook). No relapses man, we’re good.”
Jackson said his illness worsened last Saturday. When Jackson was ailing the next day, the Ravens left with Tyler Huntley as a replacement. He led a late scoring drive in the 16-13 win over the Bears.
“I have no idea,” Jackson said, about why he was getting sick and sick. “I just got tired, got slight chills, was out. … I tried to rest, tried to recover and to get better and I only sweat in my sleep.”
Jackson could be the healthiest quarterback on the field this Sunday night.
Brown’s caller Baker Mayfield continues to struggle with injuries to his left shoulder, knee and foot and his production has taken a nosedive.
Mayfield was intercepted twice in last Sunday’s 13-10 win over the Detroit Lions and completed just 51.7 percent of his passes. He passed for 176 yards and a touchdown.
Mayfield’s high mileage in the last five games is 234. Cleveland has scored 14 points or less in four of those games.
“I’m not going to do every throw – nobody does that,” Mayfield said. “But I was very frustrated with where I went with the ball compared to the results. It’s very frustrating. I’ve always been an accurate guy. That wasn’t the case (against Detroit).”
The Browns will be keeping a close watch on Mayfield during the week. He didn’t train on Wednesday.
“We will always submit to the medical staff and make sure there is a man ready,” said Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski. “Obviously that’s the way you talk to the players. We’re not going to get people out who can’t protect themselves.
“To say Baker isn’t fighting – I think you all know that – but he’s ready to play and help the team win, but we will always have these talks week after week.”
The Browns desperately need Mayfield to emerge from his battles as the Ravens are opponents in back-to-back games due to a planning curiosity.
Cleveland has a reunion next week and then welcomes Baltimore on December 12th. The Ravens visit the Pittsburgh Steelers between the two matchups with the Browns.
Baltimore have won their last three games, including a wild 47-42 affair on the Monday night stage last December.
Mayfield passed for 343 yards in that competition, but Cleveland’s best bet this time around could come in a low-scoring game.
Defensive Myles Garrett leads the NFL with 13 sacks and the Browns averaged 12.3 points in their six wins.
The defense is not so strong during the defeats, as it has given up more than 30 points in four of them, while it allows an average of 35.4 points in the five setbacks.
Meanwhile, Huntley’s late drive kept Baltimore in first place in the tightly packed AFC North. The stakes are high as the Ravens play five of their last seven regular season games against division enemies.
“It’s just a great division. I’ve been in this division for many years and it always has been,” said Baltimore coach John Harbaugh. “It really doesn’t matter what the records are, it’s still very, very difficult to play these games.”
While Jackson was a full training participant on Wednesday, 10 Ravens sat out. These included defensive end Calais Campbell (concussion) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (neck).
Mayfield and receiver Jarvis Landry (knee) were among the six Cleveland players who missed practice.
The Browns also called running back Kareem Hunt (calf) and offensive tackle Jack Conklin (elbow) as players to return from the injured reserve. It is not yet clear whether either player will be activated by Sunday.
–Field-level media
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