Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson believes there is a link between his Monday night cramp and his fight with COVID-19 last month.
When asked on Wednesday if the cramps were related to having the coronavirus recently, Jackson said, “Probably. Probably because of the body heat and we are walking in the cold. It was so cold there. That probably had an effect on that too. I can’t call it. “
Jackson tested positive for COVID-19 on Thanksgiving and acknowledged that he had flu-like symptoms. Team officials said Jackson was hit “pretty hard” by the coronavirus, and the quarterback said he slept most of his 10-day quarantine before returning to the team on December 6.
During Monday’s dramatic 47-42 victory in Cleveland, Jackson spent the first 13 minutes of the fourth quarter in the locker room because he had cramps in his throwing arm and both calves. He returned for the last two minutes to throw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and then put Baltimore within reach for Justin Tucker’s winning 55-yard field goal.
Jackson reiterated on Wednesday that he was in a lot of discomfort.
“I had real cramps, just like my hand, my throwing arm spasms, forearm spasms, fingers coming together,” Jackson said. ‘I went through it. I was checked off. ‘
Jackson appeared on the sidelines with two minutes to go, just as backup quarterback Trace McSorley hurt his knee on a third-down run.
Asked if he would have come back had McSorley not been injured, Jackson said, “I actually got stretched and I saw it was third, I got up. I probably already went out, if I’m not mistaken, I think I probably already went out. I don’t even think it mattered. I went out anyway. I had to do it. “
Jackson’s target options were also cut on Wednesday, as Baltimore placed three wide receivers – Brown, Miles Boykin and James Proche – on the reserve / COVID-19 list. It is not known if they will miss Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.