AP

Ravens hopeful on Lamar Jackson injury, confident in Huntley

Dec 3, 2022, 8:50 PM | Updated: Dec 4, 2022, 3:31 pm

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) leaves the injury tent and heads toward the locker r...

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) leaves the injury tent and heads toward the locker room, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Just like last year, the Baltimore Ravens are prepared to enter the pivotal part of their season without star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The big difference is, this time Jackson is expected to return and Tyler Huntley appears far more comfortable in his role as a stand-in for the 2019 NFL MVP.

Baltimore fans, the players and the coaching staff stirred restlessly Sunday when Jackson headed to the sideline tent after being sacked by Denver’s Jonathon Cooper on the final play of the first quarter. The concern grew when Jackson was ushered into the tunnel to the Ravens’ locker room so trainers could get a closer look at his injured knee.

Jackson never returned to the game, but things ultimately turned out fine for the AFC North leaders. Not only did Huntley engineer a late touchdown drive in the closing minutes of Baltimore’s 10-9 victory, but coach John Harbaugh revealed that Jackson will ultimately return this season — perhaps as soon as next Sunday at Pittsburgh.

“It’s going to be a number of days to weeks,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see if he can go back this week. If not, it will be sometime after that shortly.”

After the game, Jackson seemed like he was in a much better mood than seven days earlier, when he directed a vulgar tweet at a fan following Baltimore’s loss at Jacksonville. This time, Jackson posted a purple heart on Twitter along with two rocket emojis while quote-tweeting a message about the victory.

The Ravens (8-4) have had their struggles this season on offense, and Jackson has not always been exceptionally sharp. But his versatility and leadership — most notably his ability to scamper out of the pocket for big yardage — make him invaluable to Baltimore’s run-oriented attack.

Jackson missed the final four games of the 2021 season with an ankle injury, and Baltimore lost every one of them. The Ravens were 8-3 before finishing with a six-game skid. Huntley won only once as a starter last season, but the experience he gained proved beneficial during a 91-yard drive that he finished with a 2-yard run that gave Baltimore its only lead with 28 seconds left.

It was a welcome departure from the fourth-quarter collapses that accounted for each of the team’s four defeats this year.

“We’ll take that win,” said tight end Mark Andrews, who had four catches for 53 yards. “No matter how it comes, we’re going to take that all day.”

Said Huntley: “The outcome (today) was way better than last year. We finished up strong.”

Huntley completed his first six passes, but the Ravens trailed 6-3 at halftime. He ended up with 41 yards rushing and went 27 for 32 for 187 yards, decent numbers enhanced by his terrific performance during the game-winning drive.

“Calm, cool, confident. Acted like he’s been there before, which he has,” Andrews said. “Just so much love and respect for his game and what he’s able to do.”

Understood. But the Ravens have built their offense around Jackson’s versatility, and that is why they’re prepared to pay the quarterback a boatload of money for a long-term deal either this offseason or next.

Short-term, however, Baltimore would love to have Jackson taking snaps next week against its division rivals in Pittsburgh.

Whether that happens or not, Huntley — known affectionately by his teammates as “Snoop” — will be ready to go.

“Just like every week. Prepare,” he said. “That’s about it. That’s all there is to it.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Ravens hopeful on Lamar Jackson injury, confident in Huntley