Amid Dez COVID back-and-forth, Jackson shines
BALTIMORE — Back in action after a 15-day layoff, Lamar Jackson directed a relentless rushing attack that the Ravens hope will be the first big step in a run to the playoffs.
Jackson ran for 94 yards and a touchdown, and the Ravens returned from a COVID-19 outbreak to amass 294 yards rushing in a 34-17 rout of the Cowboys on Tuesday night.
Playing for the first time since Nov. 22 following a positive test for the potentially deadly virus, Jackson carried 13 times and threw for two scores. He was one of 23 Ravens to spend time on the reserve/COVID-19 list while four different strains of the virus swept through the organization.
“I still can’t really taste or smell, but I’m good,” Jackson said. “I feel good to be back with my guys. It was like two weeks I ain’t seen them.”
Though the Ravens still have a half-dozen players on the COVID-19 list, the team felt complete for the first time in weeks.
“It’s like when you go on a family vacation and one of your family members get sick and you can’t bring them,” rookie linebacker Patrick Queen said. “You’re down in the dumps.”
One Raven remained down in the dumps — for a while at least.
Ravens receiver Dez Bryant was supposed to see his first action against his former team, but he left during warmups and was scratched with what Baltimore termed “an illness.”
Bryant wrote on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19. According to reports, Bryant’s PCR test from Tuesday morning had come back inconclusive, but a point-ofcare test shortly before the game came back positive.
Bryant didn’t seem to take the benching well, later tweeting: “Yea I’m going to go ahead and call it a quit for the rest of the season... I can’t deal with this.”
He subsequently posted a series of tweets, first writing “I’m about to drink some wine and cope....” before answering in response to concern that he was quitting, “Yea I’m coming back... I’m being smart.”
Gus Edwards ran for 101 yards on just seven carries and rookie J.K. Dobbins — who also missed time on the COVID-19 list — added 71 yards rushing and a TD to help Baltimore (7-5) break a three-game skid and stay alive in its quest to reach the postseason for a third straight year.
The Cowboys (3-9) came in with the worst rush defense in the league, and it showed as they allowed 7.9 yards per carry.
The last-place Cowboys have lost six of seven. Andy Dalton went 31 for 48 for 285 yards and two touchdowns, and Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 77 yards.