The NFL’s Thanksgiving slate did not feature an evening kick-off in 2020, with the news breaking earlier this week that the scheduled clash between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers was moving to Sunday. Baltimore’s organization featured multiple positive COVID-19 tests, including to players like Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins, and though players from the Steelers were publicly upset, the league chose to push the proceedings back a few days, citing health and safety concerns. On Thursday, however, the news got even worse for Baltimore, with Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reporting that star quarterback Lamar Jackson also tested positive.
Sources: #Ravens star QB Lamar Jackson tested positive for COVID-19.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 27, 2020
Though Jackson hasn’t fully replicated his MVP performance in 2019, he is still the centerpiece of Baltimore’s offense. In fact, Jackson accounts for more than 2,500 total yards and 18 touchdowns so far in 2020 and, with him out of the lineup, the Ravens have very few options at the quarterback position.
#Ravens QB Trace McSorley went on the Reserve/COVID-19 list last week. Now Lamar Jackson has tested positive, per @RapSheet.
That leaves Robert Griffin III and practice-squad rookie Tyler Huntley as the healthy QBs, with a showdown with the #Steelers now scheduled for Sunday.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 27, 2020
It remains to be seen as to how the Ravens and the NFL will respond to this latest news, though it is crucial to note that football isn’t the most important thing here. Hopefully, Jackson will be healthy and without symptoms but, for now, the reporting indicates that he tested positive and will presumably be out of action for at least this week if not longer as a result.
