Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens and an awkward year in limbo

OWINGS MILLS, Md.-- The Baltimore Ravens entered wild-card week against the Cincinnati Bengals with cautious optimism. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had injured his left knee in Week 13, but players and coaches figured he'd be back for the playoffs, according to multiple team sources.

Four to six weeks seemed like a worst-case scenario for recovery, and for a team that closed the regular season losing three of four, including Week 18 vs. the Bengals, help was needed.

But signs of a return weren't evident. Some in the building were concerned when Jackson didn't practice at all during Week 18. Over recent weeks, Jackson had attended quarterback meetings but wasn't a fixture in team settings as he rehabbed in relative isolation, according to team sources. The only game he traveled to was at Pittsburgh the week after he injured the knee against Denver. Jackson wasn't on the field for team work during the week.

Players took the field for their first practice of the postseason on Wednesday, Jan. 11, to find Jackson still absent. He was gone that week because of illness. Once-hopeful team members started to wonder what was going on. Players who spoke with Jackson got indications he wouldn't be able to go.

Then, hours after Thursday's practice session, at 5:41 p.m. ET, Jackson dropped a now-famous tweet, describing his injury as a Grade 2 PCL sprain with inflammation surrounding the knee and announcing he would not be playing.

Players had wrapped post-practice meetings by that point; many were headed home. Coaches were in their offices or in meetings.

«Whoo, boy — I was shocked by that,» a team source said.

Coach John Harbaugh said he wasn't aware Jackson was going to tweet about his injury and hadn't «paid much attention to it.»

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