Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, limited by back injury, expected to play vs. Titans

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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was a limited participant in practice Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, coach Jesse Minter said.

Jackson was listed with a back injury on Wednesday’s injury report. He was not on the field for the start of practice but walked off with teammates afterward.

Minter joked after practice that he’d heard “sheer pandemonium” surrounding Jackson’s absence, but he added that the quarterback was “dealing with something small” and was able to “get some stuff done” Wednesday. It’s unclear when he suffered the injury.

“Hopefully, I can calm down the whole city of Baltimore and let you know that Lamar was at practice,” Minter said.

In three games, Jackson has completed 69.7% of his passes for 745 yards, four touchdowns and an interception and has 17 carries for 124 yards and another score. His 82.2 QBR is fourth in the NFL.

Jackson’s pass protection will be scrutinized this week after the Ravens lost centers Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic to long-term injuries. Danny Pinter, a front-runner to start throughout training camp, is also out for the year with a knee injury he suffered in August. First-round pick Vega Ioane is expected to move from right guard to center, further destabilizing a unit that ranks 29th in ESPN’s pass block win rate.

Ioane played eight snaps at center at the end of the Ravens’ 34-31 win Sunday over the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro.

“At the end of the day, this game is [a] next-man-up mentality,” Jackson said before practice Wednesday. “So with three guys going down before the fourth game — it was crazy. And then for two guys to go down in one game, then for my right guard ... to end up playing center in a game out in another country, it was crazy.”

The return of left tackle Ronnie Stanley, a limited participant in practice Wednesday, should boost the Ravens’ line. A toe injury sidelined him for the end of the team’s Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints and in Week 3.

Wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring), who played Sunday despite barely practicing last week, was also limited in practice. Minter said Monday that Flowers is “coming out of this thing really ready to push to be back in there closer to full time.”

Left guard John Simpson (groin), tight end Durham Smythe (heel), wide receiver Chris Moore (ankle) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (hamstring) were also limited Wednesday.

Along with Gwyn and Pocic, the Ravens were missing defensive lineman Calais Campbell (rest) and outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger). Because of their injuries at center, the Ravens signed center Andre James and guard Kyle Hergel to their practice squad Wednesday.

James has 61 career starts, mostly with the Las Vegas Raiders. He also made one start for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. Hergel spent last year on the Bears’ practice squad, working under former Chicago and current Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

With space on their 53-man roster, the Ravens also signed safety K’Von Wallace off their practice squad. Wallace has yet to appear in a game this season for the Ravens.