Join the huddle. Sign up here for Ravens updates in your inbox.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said Friday that he’s “heading in the right direction” in his recovery from a high-ankle sprain, but that he’s unsure whether he’ll be available for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jackson, who returned to practice this week for the first time since spraining his left ankle in the Ravens’ Oct. 4 win over the Tennessee Titans, said his availability could be a game-time decision. He said he wouldn’t need to feel 100% healthy Sunday, but he wouldn’t feel comfortable playing if his mobility were severely limited.

“I’m hurting,” Jackson said. “I’m trying to help my team win, but I’m not to my full capability. I’m not even close to it. But I’m just trying.”

Advertise with us

Backup Tyler Huntley has gone 1-1 as a starter, impressing late in the Ravens’ overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons and struggling throughout a narrow loss Sunday to the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens finished with season lows in points (10) and total yards (235) in their AFC North opener.

Meanwhile, the Ravens will be without outside linebacker Tavius Robinson for the rest of the season, Minter announced. Robinson, the team leader in sacks with 3.5, did not practice this week with that the team listed as a pectoral injury. Minter declined to reveal details about it.

Before his Week 4 injury, Jackson was the engine of one of the NFL’s best offenses. The Ravens have averaged 6.9 yards per play with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player on the field this season, a mark that would lead the league, and just 4.8 yards with him off the field (23rd), according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

Jackson’s injury came under scrutiny last week after he missed practice while being what Minter called “day-to-day” in his recovery. He also missed the start of practice Wednesday before rejoining the team late in the session, working out in Ravens shorts and a Ravens hooded jacket.

“I think if Lamar can play, it’d be great,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said after practice Thursday. “If he doesn’t, we have ‘Snoop’ [Huntley], but it seems like Lamar’s the only quarterback that kind of gets the slander that he gets for anytime anything is going on. I feel like you just don’t see these same articles, and you don’t see these same headlines. I think it’s unfair treatment.”

Advertise with us

Jackson’s activity ramped up Thursday, when he was on the field for the start of practice and led the Ravens’ quarterbacks through position drills, his ankle wrapped in athletic tape. His workload in Friday’s media viewing period was limited to half-speed work with the offensive line and running backs.

Cincinnati enters Week 7 off a bye and has the NFL’s No. 13 defense, according to FTN, by far the best unit Jackson will have faced this season. The Bengals’ pass rush will test not only Jackson’s mobility but also the Ravens’ remade offensive line. Jackson could start Sunday behind Cam Jurgens, his fourth different center of the season, who was acquired in an Oct. 7 trade but wasn’t cleared to practice until Wednesday because of he was in the NFL’s concussion protocol.