The NFL fined the Ravens $100,000 on Friday for violating its injury report policy over quarterback Lamar Jackson’s practice participation last week.
The team accepted the fine and won’t appeal it.
On Oct. 24, Jackson was listed as a full participant in practice where he ran the scout team, which helps teams prepare for their upcoming game by playing as if they were the opponent. On Saturday, Jackson’s participation changed to limited before the team ruled him out of Sunday’s game against the Bears.
The NFL’s injury report policy says: “Participation on the scout team, no matter how extensive, by a player whose normal repetitions would be with the starter but for his medical condition, would not alter the player’s proper designation as ‘limited participation.’”
Jackson had been listed as a limited participant in practices on Wednesday and Thursday before his status changed to full participant that Friday, suggesting he would likely be available for Sunday’s game. The team changed his status to limited on Saturday and ruled him out for Sunday, but the Ravens beat the Bears 30–16 anyway,with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley starting in Jackson’s place.
After the game, Ravens coach John Harbaugh called the incorrect listing “an honest mistake.”
The Ravens avoided a harsher punishment from the NFL, such as a loss of draft picks, because the league agreed with Harbaugh and after its investigation determined the violation was an act of negligence and not an attempt to gain an advantage.
“It is critical that the Baltimore Ravens always operate with integrity and in full accordance with NFL guidelines,” the team said in a statement Friday. “We clearly made an error regarding player injury reporting and cooperated transparently with the league’s investigation. We accept the decision by the NFL that we violated the policy and have taken steps to ensure that we will be compliant moving forward.”
