A hamstring injury has kept Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson out for three games, but he’s expected to return Thursday against the Dolphins. The team announced Jackson was a full participant in a walkthrough on Monday.
As it geared up for a Week 8 matchup with Chicago, Baltimore erred in announcing Jackson as a full participant in last Friday’s practice. Jackson was in attendance for the entire practice, but he only took snaps with the scout team.
According to the NFL’s injury policy, “Participation on the scout team, no matter how extensive, by a player whose normal repetitions would be with the starters but for his medical condition, would not alter the player’s proper designation as ‘Limited Participation.’”
The Ravens issued a correction Saturday, changing his practice status to limited while ruling him out for the game. Despite Jackson’s absence, the Ravens defeated the Bears behind backup signal-caller Tyler Huntley.
Although Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said the team made an “honest mistake” regarding Jackson’s injury designation last week (via Saad Yousuf of The Athletic), the NFL is now reviewing the matter, Mark Maske of the Washington Post relays.
“The league will look into this,” a league spokesperson said. “The league reviews any matter involving a change to a player’s status.”
The NFL’s investigation into the Ravens comes with the NBA embroiled in a gambling scandal since last Thursday. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams on Friday “regarding the gambling policy for league and team staffers,” according to Maske. Additionally, the NFL Management Council sent a memo to teams regarding the league’s gambling policy for players.
Regarding the NBA scandal, the NFL wrote in the memo (via Maske), “These developments underscore the risks that all sports are facing in the current environment and serve as a reminder of the need to adhere strictly to the NFL Gambling Policy.”
The change in Jackson’s status on Saturday did not reveal “any unusual betting activity,” Maske writes, though it did lead to a significant change in the spread. The Ravens opened as 6.5-point favorites. That figure immediately plummeted to 1.5 after they ruled the two-time MVP out.
With the NBA in the midst of a PR nightmare, it’s possible the NFL will come down hard on the Ravens. Forfeiture of draft picks, fines, and suspensions could all be on the table. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL’s “Personnel (Injury) Report Policy” states that the commissioner “may deprive the offending club of a selection choice or choices, and/or may fine the offending club and/or may fine or suspend with or without pay any involved individuals as appropriate.”
Even if the NFL finds that the Ravens did just make an “honest mistake,” the team still violated league policy. Although it could be minor, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ravens receive some sort of punishment as a result.