Even as they prepare to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9, there remains fallout from the Chicago Bears’ controversial situation in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, and the league has now weighed in.
The Bears went through the week preparing for Ravens starter and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, monitoring reports as he progressed to a “full” practice to end the week.
When the Ravens downgraded Jackson and started Tyler Huntley, drama ensued.
NFL Levies Heavy Fine After Bears-Ravens Game
Polarizing Bears-Ravens Situation Draws Heavy Response From NFL
The Ravens soon drew attention for their reversal on Jackson’s status, though Bears head coach Ben Johnson downplayed the impact that it had on his team after the game and even in his final presser of Week 9.
Still, the NFL felt that what Ravens head coach John Harbaugh portrayed as an honest mistake was, in fact, a violation of the league’s policy on injury reporting.
The result is a $100,000 fine for Baltimore.
“Sources: the NFL has fined the Baltimore Ravens $100,000 for violating the league’s Injury Report Policy by incorrectly listing quarterback Lamar Jackson’s practice participation status on Friday, October 24,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on October 31.
“The NFL believes the violation was the result of negligence, not an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. If the investigation had determined the violation was intentional or competitive in nature, the discipline would have been more significant, including the potential loss of draft picks. The Ravens cooperated fully with the investigation.”
Jackson, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, made his first start since Week 4 in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins on “Thursday Night Football.”
Bears HC Ben Johnson Downplays Lamar Jackson Controversy
Opinions about the Ravens have ranged from understanding to accusations of attempts to gain a competitive advantage.
Huntley, a replacement Pro Bowler in 2022 after starting six games, has a 6-9 record. Two of his wins have come against the Bears. Johnson praised Huntley for doing damage with his arm and legs after the game.
The coach reiterated that they did not feel the Ravens’ decision put them at a disadvantage.
“I thought we handled it really well. We went into that week thinking that their starter was going to be up. He’s a really good player, obviously, and I think we handled it the right way. When we found out he wasn’t going to be up, we pivoted to the next option. I think that’s what you do in this league. The great teams, the great players, the great coaches, they adjust,” Johnson said on Friday.
“We have this motto in the quarterback room. “No one adjusts better than us.” And so, that’s just par for the course.”
The bigger issue for the league is betting implications such a determination has, particularly amid a swath of illegal activity from players in the NBA. The NFL has largely avoided such controversy, but the Ravens fueled that speculative fire.