Call it a week of mystery surrounding the availability of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco for Sunday’s crucial division game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Flacco has not practiced all week because of a hip injury suffered against Pittsburgh in Week 9. The Ravens were on their bye last week. Friday’s injury report lists him as doubtful, but head coach John Harbaugh has insisted that Flacco can play despite not practicing.
Harbaugh said Friday, “I’m standing by that,” Harbaugh said, before adding with tongue perhaps firmly implanted in his cheek, “He’s coming along beautifully. It’s just amazing. Amazing, the recovery he’s making.”
Harbaugh also said, “There will be a quarterback starting. I can guarantee that. And, every play, there will be at least one quarterback on the field.”
If Flacco doesn’t play, those quarterbacks could be Robert Griffin III and/or rookie Lamar Jackson with different packages for both. The latter missed practiced Thursday because of an illness, but was back on the field Friday.
When asked if there is concern that Jackson missed an important day of practice in a week where he might be called on to play more than normal, Harbaugh said, “Absolutely. It’s not ideal. Was it part of the plan? Apparently, it was.”
Jackson has played at various times in the first nine games of the season, more as a runner than receiver. He has rushed 28 times for 139 yards (5.0 average) with one touchdown, while completing 7-of-12 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Griffin has not been active for any game this season, and last played in the regular-season for the Browns in the final game of the 2016 season.
Meanwhile, continuing to have fun with the media, Harbaugh had this to say when asked about reports that he was exercising some gamesmanship by not saying who would be the quarterback Sunday.
He said, “A ‘John Harbaugh mind-meld.’ I like Spock, but I’m more a Captain Kirk guy.”
Following are status reports for Sunday’s games.
CAROLINA PANTHERS at DETROIT LIONS
CAROLINA PANTHERS
–OUT: WR Torrey Smith (knee)
DETROIT LIONS
–OUT: WR Marvin Jones Jr. (knee), TE Michael Roberts (shoulder), DT A’Shawn Robinson (ankle)
–QUESTIONABLE: DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder), DT Damon Harrison (shoulder)
CINCINNATI BENGALS at BALTIMORE RAVENS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
–OUT: LB Preston Brown (knee), WR Josh Malone (hamstring), LB Nick Vigil (knee), DT Adolphus Washington (knee)
–DOUBTFUL: WR A.J. Green (toe)
–QUESTIONABLE: LB Vontaze Burfict (hip), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (concussion), WR John Ross (groin)
BALTIMORE RAVENS
–OUT: T James Hurst (back), LB Tim Williams (ankle)
–DOUBTFUL: QB Joe Flacco (hip)
–QUESTIONABLE: S Tony Jefferson (thigh), T Ronnie Stanley (ankle), CB Tavon Young (ankle)
DALLAS COWBOYS at ATLANTA FALCONS
DALLAS COWBOYS
–OUT: WR Tavon Austin (groin), DE Taco Charlton (shoulder), DL David Irving (ankle), LB Sean Lee (hamstring), DE Daniel Ross (calf)
–DOUBTFUL: DT Antwaun Woods (concussion)
–QUESTIONABLE: DT Maliek Collins (knee), G Zack Martin (knee), LB Joe Thomas (foot), G Connor Williams (knee)
ATLANTA FALCONS
–OUT: LB Deion Jones (foot)
DENVER BRONCOS at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
DENVER BRONCOS
–OUT: G Max Garcia (knee), LB Brandon Marshall (knee), S Dymonte Thomas (ankle)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
–OUT: CB Trevor Williams (knee)
–QUESTIONABLE: DE Joey Bosa (foot), TE Antonio Gates (knee)
HOUSTON TEXANS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS
HOUSTON TEXANS
–QUESTIONABLE: CB Aaron Colvin (ankle), WR Keke Coutee (hamstring), LB Zach Cunningham (knee), LB Duke Ejiofor (shoulder), CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle, knee)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
–OUT: WR Jamison Crowder (ankle), RB Samaje Perine (knee, calf), RB Chris Thompson (rib)
–QUESTIONABLE: CB Quinton Dunbar (shin), K Dustin Hopkins (right groin), S Montae Nicholson (illness), T Trent Williams (thumb)
OAKLAND RAIDERS at ARIZONA CARDINALS
OAKLAND RAIDERS
–OUT: WR Martavis Bryant (knee), WR Jordy Nelson (knee)
–QUESTIONABLE: CB Gareon Conley (groin), CB Nick Nelson (illness), LB Kyle Wilber (knee)
ARIZONA CARDINALS
–OUT: S Budda Baker (knee), WR Chad Williams (ankle)
–QUESTIONABLE: K Phil Dawson (right hip), S Rudy Ford (heel), DT Rodney Gunter (not injury related), T D.J. Humphries (knee), G Mike Iupati (back), DT Robert Nkemdiche (calf)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
–OUT: CB Ronald Darby (knee), CB Jalen Mills (foot), TE Joshua Perkins (knee), RB Darren Sproles (hamstring)
–QUESTIONABLE: T Lane Johnson (knee), DT Haloti Ngata (knee)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
–OUT: T Terron Armstead (shoulder), DE Marcus Davenport (toe)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
–OUT: T Marcus Gilbert (knee), DE Stephon Tuitt (elbow)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
–OUT: CB Quenton Meeks (knee)
–DOUBTFUL: DT Eli Ankou (calf), G Josh Walker (foot, ankle)
–QUESTIONABLE: G A.J. Cann (hamstring), DT Marcell Dareus (triceps, back)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at NEW YORK GIANTS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
–OUT: DE Vinny Curry (ankle), LB Lavonte David (knee), S Justin Evans (toe), RB Ronald Jones II (hamstring), CB M.J. Stewart (foot)
–QUESTIONABLE: WR Chris Godwin (ankle), C Ryan Jensen (hamstring), DE Carl Nassib (elbow)
NEW YORK GIANTS
No players listed
TENNESSEE TITANS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
TENNESSEE TITANS
–OUT: RB David Fluellen (knee)
–QUESTIONABLE: WR Tajae Sharpe (ankle), G Quinton Spain (ankle), WR Taywan Taylor (foot)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
–OUT: TE Ryan Hewitt (ankle), CB D.J. Killings (ankle), TE Erik Swoope (knee)
–QUESTIONABLE: CB Nate Hairston (ankle), S Malik Hooker (hip, illness)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at CHICAGO BEARS (Sunday night)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
–OUT: TE David Morgan (knee), S Andrew Sendejo (groin)
–QUESTIONABLE: LB Anthony Barr (hamstring), G Tom Compton (knee), G Mike Remmers (back)
CHICAGO BEARS
–OUT: TE Dion Sims (concussion)
–QUESTIONABLE: DT Bilal Nichols (knee), WR Javon Wims (knee)
