Baltimore’s Jackson turns Rams inside out
Lamar Jackson matched his career high with five touchdown passes and ran for 95 yards in another splendid all-around performance, and the Baltimore Ravens routed the Los Angeles Rams 45-6 on Monday night for their seventh con- secutive victory.
Mark Ingram rushed for 111 yards and a TD and caught a scoring pass while the Ravens (9-2) became the fourth team in the 21st century to score touchdowns on its first six drives in a game. With Jackson operating almost flawlessly at the controls, Baltimore em- barrassed a previously solid Rams defense by racking up 480 yards with its evolving brand of high-octane foot- ball.
The Ravens’ 22-yearold quarterback added another argument to his Most Valuable Player case in his “Monday Night Football” debut, going 15 for 20 for 169 yards while constantly making smart decisions with his arm and his feet. He hit Willie Snead with his fifth TD pass with 14:43 to play and took the rest of the night off.
GOOD NEWS FOR CHARGERS >> The Los Angeles Chargers could get both of their starting safeties back for Sunday’s game at Denver.
Derwin James practiced for the first time since training camp on Monday and has been officially designated for return from injured reserve. James suffered a stress fracture to his right foot during joint practices with the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 15.
While coach Anthony Lynn was measured in his assessment of James, he was optimistic about Adrian Phillips being ready to play this week.
Phillips was given the designation to return on Nov. 15 and practiced leading up to the Nov. 18 game against Kansas City at Mexico City. Phillips broke his right forearm during the fourth quarter of a 13-10 loss at Detroit on Sept. 15.
“I thought Derwin looked pretty good, but he hasn’t played football in a long time. We’re going to take it slow,” Lynn said following practice. AP (Phillips) came back last game, but he wasn’t able to play because we didn’t think that he was ready to go. We’ll look at DJ the same way.”
Lynn said both players will need to show change of direction and quickness bursts. He added that Phillips is also practicing on special teams along with calling out fronts on certain packages on defense. Despite not having James and Phillips for most of the year, the Chargers are fifth in the league in defense and fourth against the pass.
The Chargers (4-7) are coming off their bye and looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Lynn said the bye week came at the right time to get back some players for the final five games.
Even though the players had the week off, Lynn and his staff did plenty of self-scouting. All seven of Los Angeles’ losses have been by seven points or fewer.
“Losing by one score and not figuring out a way to win some of those games is a little disappointing to me. I do believe it’s going to turn,” he said.
COLTS LOSE TE EBRON FOR REST OF SEASON >> The Indianapolis Colts have put Pro Bowl tight end Eric Ebron on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
He is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Tight end Ross Travis was signed to replace Ebron.
The move comes days after top receiver T.Y. Hilton returned to the lineup and at a time when Indy’s offense has struggled. Ebron had 31 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns in his second season with the Colts (6-5). He was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season and can become a free agent after the season.
Travis played in four games with Indy in 2017 before spending last season on the injured reserve list. He was waived by the team on Aug. 31. FALCONS’ FREEMAN RETURNING TO PRACTICE >> Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, who has missed two games with a sprained knee, is returning to practice.
Coach Dan Quinn says Freeman will participate in Monday’s light practice as the Falcons prepare for Thursday night’s game against New Orleans. It is not known if Freeman will have time in a short practice week to be able to play against the Saints.
Safety Kemal Ishmael, who has missed two games with a concussion, also could return this week.
‘MEAN JOE’ AMONG DEFENSIVE HONOREES >> Hall of Famers Joe Greene, Deacon Jones and Dick Butkus are among the finalists on defense for the NFL’s All-Time Team.
The league on Monday revealed 24 linebackers, 18 defensive ends and 16 defensive tackles for the squad. A 26-member voting panel is making the choices, with 12 LBs, seven DEs and seven DTs eventually making the team.
Houston’s J.J. Watt, Carolina’s Luke Kuechly, and Denver’s Von Miller are the current players among the finalists.
Bruce Smith, the career sacks leader, Ray Lewis, No. 2 in solo tackles, and Julius Pepper, second in tackles for loss, are on the list.
SHORT YARDAGE >> Brittany Bowlen is rejoining the Denver Broncos next month as vice president of strategic initiatives as she continues her quest to succeed her late father as controlling owner of the franchise valued at close to $3 billion.
• The Jets released linebacker Jamey Mosley to make room for linebacker Wyatt Ray on the practice squad.
Mosley, the younger brother of Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, had two stints on New York’s practice squad this season. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in May.