Lamar Jackson sidelined again as Ravens prep for red-hot Bears

It's a flip-flop scenario with the Chicago Bears possessing a four-game winning streak and the Baltimore Ravens mired in a four-game slide. One of those teams will see the end of a streak when the upstart Bears visit the banged-up Ravens on Sunday afternoon. Chicago (4-2) is looking for its first five-game winning streak since 2018, while the Ravens (1-5) are dealing with the worst six-game start in the 30-season history of the franchise. Baltimore will be without quarterback Lamar Jackson for the third straight game and Tyler Huntley will draw the start, but star cornerback Marlon Humphrey is expecting a victory regardless. "There would be nothing greater than if we could beat the Chicago Bears this Sunday," Humphrey told reporters. "We are 1-5. We need to focus on one game and one practice at a time. "I just want to win a game. That would be really cool. … It is just not fun to lose games. It's something I told the defense. I've never really been a loser in my entire life. I'm not really cool with being a loser. I'm not really comfortable with being a loser, so I just want to win one game." Bears quarterback Caleb Williams can feel the intensity and knows beating the Ravens would rate as a solid step for his club. "This is a big game for us and a big game for them," Williams said. "Being able to come in here with the right mindset gives us the best chance to win the game." Williams has passed for 1,351 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in his second NFL season. Chicago's winning formula includes running back D'Andre Swift (419 yards, three touchdowns) and a defense that has a league-high 16 takeaways and a league-best plus-11 turnover margin. Safety Kevin Byard III is tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions while linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has a team-best 61 tackles to go with three interceptions. "It's special right now," Byard said. "I'm not going to make it seem like this has happened before, that I've ever been a part of that, so you got to keep it rolling. That's what we need to do to win games." Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday to do individual workouts but didn't partake in team drills. By Friday, the team listed him as a full participant before reneging Saturday and saying he had been limited. He was listed as questionable Friday before being ruled out Saturday. The Ravens signed Huntley from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Friday with the plan calling for him to start if Jackson was unable to play. Cooper Rush had started the previous two games. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said just having Jackson around was good for the team. He was injured during a 37-20 Week 4 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28. "Of course, I think the energy level changes. Heck yeah. Lamar is our quarterback," Harbaugh said. "Our guys responded with great energy." Jackson threw 10 touchdown passes in 15 quarters before the injury. The Ravens scored 30 or more in three of their first four games. Without Jackson, the Ravens scored 13 total points in losses to the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams with Rush as the starter. He passed for 72 yards against the Rams on Oct. 12 before last week's bye. One motivated Baltimore player is standout linebacker Roquan Smith, who is returning from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury. Smith spent his first 4 1/2 seasons with Chicago before being dealt to the Ravens at midseason in 2022. He emphasized he holds no grudges. "I'm excited about the matchup, for sure," Smith said. "I haven't gotten a chance to play Chicago since I've been here. I'm grateful for all of my time in Chicago. … "But obviously, it's the team that's on the schedule, and every team on the schedule has to get dealt with accordingly." The Bears ruled out tight end Cole Kmet (back), running back Roschon Johnson (back), offensive lineman Braxton Jones (knee) and defensive backs Kyler Gordon (groin/calf) and Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder). On Saturday, Chicago placed Jones and Gordon on injured reserve. Swift (groin) is questionable along with defensive lineman Austin Booker (knee), linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (knee) and kicker Cairo Santos (right thigh). –Field Level Media

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