Ravens news: Lamar Jackson status update, running back usage, and more

The Baltimore Ravens don’t have good news on quarterback Lamar Jackson, but they don’t exactly have bad news either.

There’s just… no news, at least not for the time being. Jackson has missed the last four season games after suffering a PCL sprain in early December against the Denver Broncos, and he has yet to return to practice since his injury.

Tyler Huntley has stepped up in Jackson’s place but struggled to string together wins as the Ravens are recently coming off a demoralizing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.

Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters he’s listening to “Lamar and the doctors” and didn’t provide a definite timeline for when Jackson will return.

Baltimore’s season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals has enormous implications — beating the Bengals would put the Ravens one step closer to winning the AFC North while losing to them would hand the Bengals their second-straight divisional title.

In the bigger playoff picture, too, the Ravens still have plenty to play for and will want to fight for higher seeding, hoping that the Los Angeles Chargers lose their last game.

Here’s what’s trending in Ravens news around the web

John Harbaugh not happy about Gus Edwards’ usage in Week 17 (Todd Karpovich, Sports Illustrated)

Running back Gus Edwards barely saw the field in Week 17, recording three carries for two yards in a debilitating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

John Harbaugh told reporters he thought Edwards should have been more involved in the offense in the Steelers game. Instead, J.K. Dobbins became the workhorse back, getting a career-high 17 carries.

Given that the Ravens have two talented backs in Dobbins and Edwards, both ball-carriers should feature heavily in the offensive script, especially with Lamar Jackson still out.

Ravens mascot Poe is back on the field after preseason injury (CBS Sports)

He’s back! Poe, the Ravens’ mascot, returned to the field in Week 17 after suffering a knee injury in the preseason.

The beloved bird got injured while performing some halftime shenanigans in the Ravens’ preseason game against the Washington Commanders, but he appears to have recovered to full health.

Poe dramatically ripped off his leg cast and rose from his wheelchair on the sidelines of the Ravens-Steelers game, adding a much-needed boost of morale. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to sway the tides and the Ravens ended up losing to the Steelers on Sunday night.

Former Raven Marshal Yanda praises J.J. Watt (Peter King, NBC Sports)

Former Ravens offensive lineman Marshal Yanda had some sweet anecdotes to tell about facing Cardinals’ J.J. Watt, who recently announced his plans for retirement.

Yanda reminisced about the time Watt, then on the Houston Texans, posted 2.5 sacks against Baltimore in a playoff game back in 2012:

"“We were a really good team when Houston came to Baltimore for the divisional playoff game. We had no weak links on our line. The right side [center Matt Birk, Yanda, tackle Michael Oher] was pretty solid. We scouted J.J., we knew him, but that day, that game, he completely ate our lunch. That was a sign of things to come.”"