Humphrey: Jackson ‘was so sick’ during flight to Chicago
During the plane ride to Chicago for the Ravens’ matchup against the Bears on Sunday afternoon, cornerback Marlon Humphrey knew quarterback Lamar Jackson wasn’t feeling well.
Jackson had been battling a non-COVID illness throughout the week and there were questions swirling about whether the former NFL Most Valuable Player would suit up. Humphrey, on the other hand, had a feeling the Ravens would be without their top playmaker well before the team’s injury report ruled him inactive.
“The plane lands — [Jackson] doesn’t even know the plane landed,” Humphrey said. “He was so sick at the time.”
Before the bus ride to the stadium, Jackson texted backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, saying, “Go do your thing today. I’m going to be watching.”
Huntley was able to lead the Ravens to a 16-13 comeback victory over the Bears in his first career start. But the biggest concern for the Ravens surrounded Jackson’s status.
Jackson missed practice Wednesday and Thursday because of an illness, but he returned to the field Friday and said he was feeling great. Suddenly, all the symptoms that kept him out of practice reappeared and put his status for Sunday’s game in jeopardy.
“He had it yesterday,” coach John
Harbaugh said after Sunday’s game. “He had it on the plane. He didn’t go to the meetings at night. We thought he’d wake up this morning, maybe feeling better and he didn’t. He felt worse.”
Harbaugh said Jackson’s illness is not COVID or influenza and doesn’t believe it’s long term. “I’m sure if it doesn’t clear up, they’ll keep testing him,” Harbaugh said. “But you have to think that it’s going to clear up. We’ll pray for that.”
Harbaugh said he held out hope that Jackson could play, but he got a text from quarterbacks coach James Urban and it wasn’t good.
“He wasn’t in shape to play and compete in an NFL game,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh said Jackson looked good after the game, as he was in the locker room and expected to fly back with the team.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Harbaugh said.
From a handful of players appearing on the injury report to Jackson, center Bradley Bozeman and wide receiver Rashod Bateman getting sick, Humphrey called this a strange week.
“All these game-time decisions ended up not going in our favor,” Humphrey said. “So it was definitely weird. I think it was very tough, but I thought once we got through pregame, everybody kind of knew, ‘Hey, this is who we got. This is all we need.’ And we went from there.”