Quarterback Joe Flacco missed practice because of a right hip injury on Wednesday, the first day after Baltimore Ravens’ bye week, leading to speculation that rookie Lamar Jackson might start on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Head coach John Harbaugh said earlier in the week that Flacco doesn’t need to practice in order to play, and would not get into what-ifs.
“I don’t feel like we owe anybody answers,” Harbaugh told reporters. “We’re just getting ready to play the game. “We’ll just see how it goes.”
Flacco sustained the hip injury in the Ravens’ Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers when he landed awkwardly on his right knee early in the game.
Jackson would get the first start of his career if Flacco can’t go on Sunday, and the Ravens also could activate Robert Griffin III to back him up.
“I feel like I’d be very prepared,” said Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner from Louisville. “I’m trying to sponge everything in. Whatever happens, will happen.”
Jackson has taken part in 84 offensive plays at several positions this season, completing 7 of 12 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, in addition to rushing for 139 yards and another score.
–Defensive end Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers, who has not played in a game this season because of a bone bruise in his left foot, was back at practice on a limited basis. Head coach Anthony Lynn said Bosa is healthy enough to take part in individual drills and that the team will evaluate how to proceed moving forward.
There was no indication that he might be able to play on Sunday at home against the Denver Broncos, but Bosa has said that as soon as he can practice, he will play in games.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Bosa, who the Chargers made the third pick of the 2016 draft as a two-time All-American out of Ohio State, sustained the foot injury in August and had not practiced since a few days before the season opener.
The 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a 2017 Pro Bowl selection, the 23-year-old Bosa has recorded 111 total tackles, including 23 sacks in 28 games in his first two seasons with the Chargers.
–The Green Bay Packers likely will be without four members of their team for Thursday’s road game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers (4-4-1) left for the Pacific Northwest to face the Seahawks (4-5) without wide receiver Randall Cobb, safety Kentrell Brice, cornerback Kevin King and linebacker Nick Perry. Their expected absences, according to ESPN.com, are related to their rehabilitation schedules from their respective injuries.
Cobb sat out last week’s 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins after sustaining a setback in practice during his recovery from a hamstring injury. He also sat out practice on Monday and Tuesday.
The 28-year-old has 26 receptions for 258 yards and one touchdown in five games this season. He is four years removed from a Pro Bowl campaign in 2014, when he collected 1,287 receiving yards and 12 scores.
–The Arizona Cardinals signed cornerbacks David Amerson and Leonard Johnson, the team announced.
The Cardinals may be in need of extra depth in the secondary as they await word on the severity of the knee injury to safety Budda Baker, who often works out of the slot. Cornerback Bene Benwikere has been utilized in that spot by Arizona.
Amerson, who worked out for the Cardinals on Tuesday, spent the offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs after being released by the Oakland Raiders on Feb. 5. The 26-year-old was released by the Chiefs on Sept. 1.
Johnson played in 15 games last season with the Buffalo Bills and spent the preseason with the New York Giants before being released on Sept. 1. He made 231 tackles, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 77 career contests with Tampa Bay (2012-14), New England (2015), Carolina (2016) and Buffalo (2017). The Cardinals also signed offensive lineman Rick Leonard to the practice squad.
–Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told reporters that he did not receive a response after texting running back Le’Veon Bell prior to the 4 p.m. ET reporting deadline on Tuesday.
By electing against showing up, Bell forfeited the 2018 season — and $14.5 million in earnings on the franchise tag. The 26-year-old Bell will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
“I texted him yesterday before the deadline asking him — texted — saying I was hoping he was going to show up, and if he decided not to I wish him nothing but the best,” Roethlisberger said on Wednesday morning, via video posted by PennLive.com. “He was a great teammate and football player. To each their own on what they want to walk away from.
“The thing about it is he’s not here, he’s not going to be here, so we don’t have to talk about it.”
–Cleveland Browns interim head coach Gregg Williams will have a chance to interview for the full-time job, general manager John Dorsey said.
“Gregg will get interviewed for the head coaching position. I think he deserves that,” the 58-year-old Dorsey told reporters Wednesday on Williams, who took over after the Browns fired Hue Jackson on Oct. 29.
Dorsey elected against commenting on whether the Browns’ search for a head coach would extend into the collegiate ranks. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley’s name has been linked for the job due in large part that reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield — the top overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft — played for the Sooners.
Dorsey said the team plans to begin its coaching search in earnest after the season.
–Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David’s availability for Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants is in question after he sustained a sprained MCL in his right knee.
A traditional timetable for recovery from the injury is two to four weeks, with the Buccaneers re-signing linebacker Kevin Minter as a precaution on Tuesday. Tampa Bay (3-6) travels to MetLife Stadium to face the Giants (2-7) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).
David was injured early in the third quarter of Sunday’s contest while recording a tackle on Washington Redskins wide receiver Maurice Harris. The 28-year-old David was able to finish the contest. He has collected a team-leading 71 tackles in nine games this season and is tied for a club-best nine tackles for a loss.
The Buccaneers have been decimated at the linebacker position, namely with Kwon Alexander sustaining a torn ACL in Week 7. Kendell Beckwith broke his ankle in an offseason car accident while reserve Jack Cichy is also out for the season with an ACL tear in his knee.
–Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors following his five-touchdown performance versus the Carolina Panthers, the NFL announced. Roethlisberger threw for 328 yards in the Steelers’ 52-21 romp over the Panthers on Thursday to receive the honor for the second time this season and 17th career.
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 355 passing yards and posting a season-best 76.7 completion percentage in Sunday’s 34-22 triumph over the Detroit Lions.
Tennessee Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard received AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 1.5 sacks in Sunday’s 34-10 victory over the New England Patriots. Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch secured NFC Defensive Player of the Week laurels after recording a career-high 13 tackles and one interception in Sunday night’s 27-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka received AFC Special Teams Player of Week honors after making all seven of his attempts (five extra points, two field goals) in Sunday’s 41-10 victory over the New York Jets. Washington Redskins punter Tress Way earned NFC Special Teams Player of Week honors after booting five kicks for a net average of 47.8 yards per punt in Sunday’s 16-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
–Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz are three of the 32 nominees for the fifth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Miami Dolphins running back Frank Gore, who is also a nominee, won the award in 2016 while playing with the Indianapolis Colts.
The award was established in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr.
The full list of 32 nominees:
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Corey Peters; Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack; Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams; Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers; Chicago Bears center Cody Whitehair; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green; Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joel Bitonio; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott; Denver Broncos defensive tackle Domata Peko; Detroit Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach; Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams; Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins; Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley; Miami Dolphins running back Frank Gore; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter; New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees; New York Giants tight end Rhett Ellison; New York Jets defensive lineman Steve McLendon; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz; Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota; Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis.
