Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice amid back issue

Denver Broncos star pass-rusher and reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Month Von Miller offered praise Thursday for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, whom Miller and his teammates will face in Sunday's matchup between two of the conference's best sides coming out of September. 

There was just one problem: Jackson missed practices during the week because of a back ailment that Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman seemed unconcerned about ahead of the weekend. 

It appears Roman was correct. 

According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Jackson returned to practice Friday and, by all accounts, should be good to go for Sunday's showdown in Denver. Hensley added that the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player didn't appear impacted by the setback while completing on-the-field work, which is a promising sign heading into the first Sunday of October. 

This isn't to say Jackson will be 100% for the Week 4 contest. He's already dealt with a "sore" hip following a flip into the end zone he may have at least somewhat regretted after the fact and a stomach bug this fall, and he was hit an NFL-high 44 times over the campaign's first three weeks.

Unbeaten Denver, meanwhile, previously toppled opponents with a combined record of 0-9, so defeating 2-1 Baltimore should prove to be a more difficult task. 

"It's really like a playoff game early in the season," Miller said Thursday. "A lot of these guys haven't even played in a playoff game before. That's kind of been my message to these guys."