The Ravens secured a much-needed win on Sunday, bringing an end to a tumultuous 24 hours that saw the team embroiled in a controversy over the mischaracterization of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s practice participation on Friday.
Initially, the Ravens reported that Jackson fully participated in practice. However, this was inaccurate. In reality, Jackson did not take reps with the first-string offense, meaning his participation should have been classified as limited.
After Sunday’s game, Coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation. “I’m not involved in those rules,” Harbaugh told reporters. “I don’t know those particular rules. That was probably, I think in their defense, you know, he practiced a full practice. I think they felt like, because he did the same number of reps, it was a full practice. But when you dig in and you read the rule, at the end of the day it wasn’t right. So that’s what it was. That’s why as soon as we found out, we changed it.”
When asked to clarify who “they” referred to, Harbaugh responded, “Yeah, that’s in the training room and the P.R. and the other side. That’s not in the football side. [It’s in the] medical side.”
Harbaugh emphasized that it was an honest mistake: “I mean, it really is an honest mistake. I can tell you this. Nobody’s trying to hide anything. I mean, there’s no advantage — there’s no advantage to be gained, you know, with that. I mean, he practiced, his status was what it was. He was questionable.”
Given that Harbaugh isn’t involved with injury designations, perhaps he should be. Maybe every coach should have involvement, especially with the growing sensitivity around inside information and gambling. It remains to be seen whether the league will view this situation as an honest mistake—which is still a rules violation—or if the league will determine it was part of an effort to conceal the fact that Jackson would not be starting, or, as it turned out, dressing for the game.
This entire episode, particularly considering the timing, should prompt every team to review their procedures for making and updating injury reports. Honest mistake or not, it was a mistake — and it involved the starting quarterback, one of the most high-profile players in the league.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/john-harbaugh-ravens-made-an-honest-mistake-in-lamar-jackson-practice-designation
