Lamar Jackson is Practicing, But the Ravens Are Making Everyone Sweat Until Sunday

The Baltimore Ravens are currently running a masterclass in suspense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson took the majority of first-team reps at practice on Friday and reportedly looked good doing it, but the team is still dragging out his official status.

According to Tom Pelissero, a final decision on whether Jackson actually suits up against the Cincinnati Bengals might not drop until Sunday morning. That means everyone gets to spend the weekend refreshing their feeds instead of enjoying their lives.

"Tom Pelissero reported that a final decision on Jackson's status may not come until Sunday morning."

The stakes for this game could not be higher if they tried. The AFC North is currently a three-way traffic jam with the Ravens, Steelers, and Browns all sitting at 4-2. The Bengals are lurking right in the rearview mirror at 3-2, making this a massive divisional swing game.

Baltimore desperately needs their MVP back under center. Without him last week, the Ravens dropped a miserable 13-10 rock fight to Cleveland. You do not need an advanced analytics degree to know that scoring 10 points is a bad time.

Before getting sidelined, Jackson was absolutely cooking. He is currently sitting on a league-leading 119.6 passer rating and has the Ravens' offense humming to the tune of 26 points per game when he is on the field.

This Sunday morning waiting game is pure torture for anyone holding a ticket or setting a lineup. The Ravens are 4-2 against the spread this year, but trying to handicap a Baltimore offense without knowing if the most electric player in football is playing is like trying to guess the end of a movie you haven't seen.

If Jackson gets the green light, expect him to immediately test a Cincinnati defense that knows exactly what is coming. If he sits, we get another week of the Ravens trying to survive a divisional dogfight with one hand tied behind their back.