Lamar Jackson's status for Sunday night's AFC North winner-take-all game in Pittsburgh is "undetermined" at this time, Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday.
"He's coming off a very serious injury and he's working at it. I saw him in here today working at it," Harbaugh said. "I think we'll know a lot more on Wednesday."
However, there's reason for optimism that his back contusion will improve enough to allow him to play against the Steelers because of the progress Jackson has already made.
"There was improvement throughout the week," Harbaugh said. "It was not good at all early in the week and it improved as the week went on. That was cause for optimism."
Harbaugh made it clear that doctors and the team's training staff will determine with Jackson whether he's physically able to play.
Even though Tyler Huntley was superb in Green Bay and led the Ravens to two victories and 30+ point games in his two starts this season, the decision on whether Jackson would play in Pittsburgh has already been made from a coaching perspective.
"My confidence in Tyler is a real big positive – a real plus. But it doesn't factor into whether Lamar plays," Harbaugh said. "If Lamar is ready to go, he's playing – that's it, for sure."
Harbaugh Has 'No Headspace' for Head Coach Battle Narrative
Some of the chatter heading into Sunday night's game in Pittsburgh will be about what it means for both head coaches' futures.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Harbaugh are the NFL's two longest-tenured head coaches at 19 and 18 years, respectively. Both have answered questions about their job security amidst turbulent seasons for both teams.
With them set to face off for the 40th time in their careers as head coaches in arguably the NFL's best rivalry, it will have high stakes.
"I really just really don't have the [head] space for that. It's just not something that you have the ability to think about," Harbaugh said.
"I know there's always pressure. But I think it was Billie Jean King who said, 'Pressure is a privilege.' If those are the things that are being talked about along with that, that's OK. That's a privilege, too."
Ravens' Plan Was to 'Ramp Up' Derrick Henry's Usage
Derrick Henry had a career-high 36 carries in Green Bay and Harbaugh shed light on why.
Part of that was because of the way the game played out. More first downs equals more plays for everyone. And with how well Henry was running the ball (216 yards, four touchdowns), there was little reason to take him off the field.
But Harbaugh confirmed Monday that the plan going into the game was to feed Henry early and often. Henry had 48 snaps compared to 14 for Keaton Mitchell and 15 for Rasheen Ali.
"[The plan] was to lean on him like we did," Harbaugh said. "It's pretty much always the plan that way to a degree, but I would say we definitely ramped it up, for sure. Conditions and where we're at as a team, where our offense is at, we thought the best way to win the game was definitely Derrick Henry."
The question is whether the Ravens will stick with that game plan with the playoffs essentially starting Sunday night in Pittsburgh and Jackson possibly returning.
Harbaugh Pinpoints Problems With Ravens' Pass Defense in Green Bay
The Ravens gave up five completions of 30+ yards to backup Packers quarterback Malik Willis, who also ran for touchdowns of 22 and 11 yards.
Cornerback Nate Wiggins had a particularly tough night, as he surrendered five catches on six targets for 111 yards, per Pro Football Focus, and Marlon Humphrey also had some rough moments.
On Monday, Harbaugh was asked for an explanation of why the Ravens gave up so many big plays in their secondary.
"It was just technique in the back end, really at the corner position. It wasn't really across the board," Harbaugh said. "It wasn't any kind of miscommunications or anything like that. We played things right. We just didn't play the pass game well from a coverage standpoint in the back end. It was really the outside lane throws made. They were just too easy."
The Ravens were burnt on the Packers' opening drive with a 39-yard touchdown up the seam to Christian Watson, who got behind safety Kyle Hamilton and between their split safeties of Malaki Starks and Alohi Gilman.
"That first touchdown was a seam route against Cover-2. We didn't play that right or well," Harbaugh said. "Honestly, too, it wasn't a great call against that route."
Big plays through the air hurt the Ravens badly in their loss to the Steelers earlier this month. The good news for Baltimore is that DK Metcalf, who did a lot of the damage with seven catches for 148 yards, will serve the second game of his two-game suspension for his altercation with a fan in Detroit. Tight end Darnell Washington suffered a broken arm in Cleveland, and wide receiver Calvin Austin III is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Those players missing will be factored into the Ravens' game plan, but Harbaugh expressed how impressed he is with the Steelers' other playmakers, such as "top-of-the-line" running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, as well as tight end Pat Freiermuth and others.
"They've got guys," Harbaugh said. "You gameplan for the guys that they have."
