Lamar Jackson won't play vs. Steelers after Ravens place QB on reserve/COVID-19 list
The Baltimore Ravens placed quarterback Lamar Jackson and three other players on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday a short while after the NFL again pushed back their Week 12 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jackson will not be able to play in the Tuesday night game due to the designation. Robert Griffin III will likely get the start at quarterback.
Fullback Patrick Ricard, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and long snapper Morgan Cox were also placed on the list on Friday.
Ravens COVID-19 outbreak in Week 12
The Ravens (6-4) are dealing with an outbreak of the coronavirus that has resulted in 12 players on the list this week. Those on the list have either tested positive for the virus or have been in close contact with someone who tested positive.
Players who test positive are required to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days as long as they test negative, per NFL protocol. Those considered high-risk contacts must be out for a minimum of five days.
The team has reported positive tests from Monday through Thursday. The rest of the reserve/COVID-19 list consists of running back Mark Ingram II, running back J.K. Dobbins, defensive tackle Brandon Williams, linebacker Pernell McPhee, defensive end Calais Campbell, guard Patrick Mekari, guard Matt Skura and defensive end Jihad Ward.
NFL scheduling changes in Week 12
The continued positive tests in the organization prompted the league to first move the game from its prime-time slot on Thanksgiving to Sunday afternoon. The NFL announced about 30 minutes before the Ravens release on Friday that the divisional matchup will be played on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Pushing the game to Tuesday should keep the players, coaches and personnel safe despite the outbreak in Baltimore.
It creates further scheduling issues for the NFL since the Ravens were scheduled to play the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night in Week 13. That game will be moved to Monday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. ET “should the game” on Tuesday be played at all, the NFL said in a release.
It is the first major scheduling conundrum since the Tennessee Titans outbreak in Week 5. The Steelers (10-0) were impacted by that situation and lost their Week 8 bye. The Steelers currently are the No. 1 seed in the AFC, meaning they’d get a bye in the playoffs.
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