In a Thursday night game filled with injuries, it appeared Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson wasn’t going to escape unscathed.

Late in the first quarter of Baltimore’s 34-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson scrambled away from pressure on third-and-4 from the Ravens’ 37-yard line and threw an underhand pass that fell incomplete as he was tackled out of bounds along the right sideline by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson.

Jackson remained down for a few moments and was tended to by trainers before getting up and heading to the bench. He later entered the blue medical tent but quickly emerged and gave a thumbs-up as he spoke to assistants on the sideline.

The 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player returned to the game without missing any snaps and delivered a signature performance, completing 16 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 54 yards on nine carries.

That first-quarter scare wasn’t the only one, however, as Jackson also slipped a few times on the M&T Bank Stadium grass and twice fell down without being hit by a defender. But he bounced back up each time and showed flashes of his trademark elusiveness, scrambling for 10.71 seconds before throwing an incomplete pass to rookie Zay Flowers in the third quarter.

“[It was] very impressive,” coach John Harbaugh said. “The ankle [injury] over there in the sideline where that deal happened to bounce back and play the way he did and still have some mobility with hanging there to make those throws, it’s impressive.”

Jackson, who confirmed he wore a heating pad on the sideline, downplayed the injury, saying he’s “feeling good” and expects to play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 26 after the Ravens receive a mini-bye.

“We need to stop talking about this ankle,” Jackson joked with reporters as he knocked on the lectern for good luck. “I’m good. We’re not going to talk none of it into existence.”

Jackson hasn’t missed any games this season after sitting out 11 over the past two years, including a wild-card round loss to the Bengals in January. He signed a five-year, $260 million extension in April with $185 million guaranteed and has once again been among the league’s top quarterbacks as the Ravens (8-3) seek their first AFC North title since 2019.

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Here’s how the Ravens (8-3) graded out at each position after a 34-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) in Thursday night’s Week 11 game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Quarterback

Lamar Jackson didn’t have his favorite target because tight end Mark Andrews injured his left ankle on the first possession and did not return. Coach John Harbaugh said after the game that it looks like a “season-ending injury.” Jackson was effective on short passes and showed good mobility but held on to the ball too long at times. He missed several long passes and the Ravens went to the running game in the second half. Jackson completed 16 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns and finished with a passer rating of 121.3, which is somewhat misleading. Grade: C+

Running backs

Harbaugh must have ordered the Ravens to run the ball in the second half, and they got the message. The Ravens had 33 rushing yards in the first half and 124 in the second. Gus Edwards had 12 carries for 62 yards and Keaton Mitchell had 33 yards on eight attempts. Jackson had nine carries for 54 yards and Edwards had two 3-yard touchdown runs. Edwards and Mitchell were a good outside-inside tandem. Grade: C+

Receivers

Despite Jackson missing several open receivers on long passes, the Ravens were still successful with short and intermediate throws. The Ravens had success running slants and quick screens, and Jackson completed a 51-yard pass to receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the fourth quarter. Beckham finished with four catches for 116 yards but exited late with a shoulder injury. Zay Flowers had three catches for 43 yards, including one for 33 yards. The Ravens averaged 16.5 yards per catch but turned some of those short passes into big gains. Grade: C

Offensive line

This group started to dominate in the second half as the Ravens started to wear the Bengals down. Guards Kevin Zeitler, John Simpson and center Tyler Linderbaum had solid games, but the Ravens’ tackles — Patrick Mekari and Morgan Moses — allowed too much pressure on the outside. They both had trouble with speed rushers, and the Ravens were fortunate Jackson could change direction and improvise on passing plays. The Ravens, though, finished with 157 yards on 31 carries. The Bengals had three sacks. Grade: C-

Defensive line

The Ravens played better than a week ago but Cincinnati still had success running the ball, especially in the first half when the offense was performing better with Joe Burrow under center. The Bengals did a nice job of angling in on nose tackle Michael Pierce and end Justin Madubuike, but the Ravens were able to maintain lane integrity much better than they did against the Browns on Sunday. Both Pierce and Madubuike had a strong presence in the middle as far as putting pressure on the quarterbacks. Madubuike finished with three tackles, including a sack. Grade: C

Linebackers

Middle linebacker Roquan Smith finished with 10 tackles but he still played too far off the ball and allowed the Bengals to get into his body. He was more effective with run blitzes. Weak side linebacker Patrick Queen had 11 tackles but missed several in the open field and seemed to be a step slow in pass coverage. The Ravens got good pressure from the edges with outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney (one sack, two quarterback hits) and Kyle Van Noy (one sack, one quarterback hit). The best pass rusher was Odafe Oweh, who finished with just one sack but provided consistent pressure throughout the game. He hustled all over the field, even though the Ravens allowed 136 rushing yards. Grade: C+

Secondary

Safety Kyle Hamilton was the best player in this group. He knocked down two passes and finished with three tackles. His pass coverage was tight for most of the game, especially on the outside. The Ravens had little trouble holding down Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who had only two catches for 12 yards and a meaningless touchdown with 1:08 left. When Burrow left the game, the Bengals were more content to run out the clock than challenge the Ravens downfield, but safety Marcus Williams did knock down two passes and finished with seven tackles. The Bengals had only 136 passing yards. Grade: B

Special teams

Justin Tucker converted on field goal attempts of 25 and 47 yards. The Ravens returned only one punt for 5 yards and didn’t have any return yards on four kickoffs. Punter Jordan Stout had four punts for an average of 45.5 yards, including a long of 56, but this wasn’t one of his better games. The best thing about the special teams is that the Ravens didn’t have any major blunders like they’ve had in recent weeks. Grade: B

Coaching

At least offensive coordinator Todd Monken got Mitchell involved in the offense this week, and that’s a plus moving forward. The Ravens also closed this one out with a strong running game, an element that has been consistently missing from the offense for a couple of years. Defensively, the Ravens played well enough to hold off Cincinnati, but it would have been interesting to see how this group would have fared if Burrow had played all four quarters. Grade: B-

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Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson were the Orioles’ first two draft picks in 2019. Each reached the majors in 2022. In 2023, both finished in the top 10 of American League Most Valuable Player voting.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani as the unanimous AL MVP on Thursday night, with Henderson placing eighth and Rutschman ninth in the voting. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was the National League winner, also unanimously.

It’s the first time two Orioles have landed in the top 10 since 2013, when Chris Davis came in third and Manny Machado placed ninth. Henderson’s finish is Baltimore’s highest in MVP voting since Machado placed fifth in 2016. An Oriole has not been named MVP since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991.

Like Machado a decade ago, both Henderson and Rutschman were in their first full seasons in 2023. Named the AL Rookie of the Year on Monday, Henderson hit .255/.325/.489 with 28 home runs and 82 RBIs. The 22-year-old infielder was named on 21 of 30 BBWAA ballots, appearing as high as fifth.

Rutschman missed much of the first two months of 2022 but finished 12th in AL MVP voting in addition to being the runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year. In 2023, the 25-year-old catcher hit .277/.374/.435 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs. He received one fourth-place vote among the 17 ballots he appeared on.

This isn’t the first time Rutschman and Henderson have gone back-to-back. The Orioles drafted Rutschman first overall in 2019 and took Henderson 42nd overall atop the second round. Rutschman entered 2022 as Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect, and Henderson held the same status heading into 2023, the first time two players from the same team’s draft class were the sport’s top prospects in consecutive years. This season, they often occupied the top two spots in manager Brandon Hyde’s lineup, with the pair both winning Silver Slugger Awards for their offensive performance.

No other Orioles received votes for the final BBWAA award. In addition to Henderson’s win, Hyde was named the AL Manager of the Year, and right-hander Kyle Bradish placed fourth in AL Cy Young Award balloting, with closer Félix Bautista also appearing on ballots.

All four Orioles players who received awards votes — Henderson, Rutschman, Bradish and Bautista — made their major league debuts in 2022; Rutschman and Bautista aren’t due to become free agents until after the 2027 season, with Henderson and Bradish under team control through 2028. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, who drafted Rutschman and Henderson and acquired Bradish in a trade, has said the Orioles have young players who they would like to sign to contract extentions.

“A big part of the calculus of keeping this franchise healthy is pursuing or examining opportunities to possibly keep some of these guys longer,” Elias said last month.

Atlanta to host 2025 All-Star Game

Orioles CEO and Chairman John Angelos has said he views the Braves’ ballpark and the surrounding area as a model for what Camden Yards can be. Another aspect to copy was presented Thursday.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Atlanta’s Truist Park will host the 2025 All-Star Game. Camden Yards, which has not had the event since its second season in 1993, was reportedly on the shortlist for the 2025 Midsummer Classic but now will have to wait until at least 2027, with the 2026 All-Star Game to be held in Philadelphia in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Not including the Tampa Bay Rays, who have never hosted an All-Star Game since entering the league in 1998, only three teams have waited longer than the Orioles: the Toronto Blue Jays (1991), Chicago Cubs (1990) and Oakland Athletics (1987). MLB owners unanimously approved the A’s’ move to Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Braves last hosted in 2000 and were scheduled to in 2021 before MLB moved the event to Denver after the Georgia State Legislature passed an act that restricted voters’ rights.

The Orioles’ lease at Camden Yards expires Dec. 31, though the club does have a nonbinding memorandum of understanding in place with the state. With a long-term agreement, the team would gain access to $600 million in public funds to upgrade the ballpark’s infrastructure, which could help future chances of hosting an All-Star Game.

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Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields danced at the Ford Field 30-yard line in the middle of a fourth-quarter drive against the Detroit Lions, shaking his hips and moving his arm in an adrenaline-fueled moment of joy.

That’s how good he was feeling over the first 56 minutes Sunday during his comeback from a four-game injury absence.

Fields had just run for a 29-yard gain on third-and-14, part of his 104-yard rushing day against the Lions. He led a touchdown drive on the Bears’ opening possession and threw an impressive 39-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore in the third quarter on his way to throwing for 169 yards. That 29-yard run, his longest of the day, helped set up a Cairo Santos field goal that gave the Bears a 12-point lead.

“I was just feeling it,” Fields said. “I have no idea (what the dance was). Just first thing that popped in my mind.”

Then, in a matter of minutes, the Lions canceled the dance party.

Instead, what will be remembered most about Fields’ return from a dislocated right thumb is the Bears’ inability to finish the game, as they allowed the NFC North-leading Lions to storm back for a 31-26 victory to improve to 8-2. The 3-8 Bears had to sort through how they let what should have been a feel-good story — and a promising start to a crucial final seven-game stretch for Fields — slip away.

Bears running back Khalil Herbert said some form of “finish the game” eight times in a two-minute interview in the postgame locker room.

“We’ve got to find a way to have (Fields’) back and finish,” Herbert said. “That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got to find a way to finish that.”

Much of the Bears’ collapse fell on the defense allowing Lions quarterback Jared Goff to put together two touchdown drives in the final four minutes for the win. But the Bears offense also missed an opportunity to put the game away on their second-to-last drive with a five-point lead.

Herbert was stuffed for no gain running up the middle on first down and stopped after just 1 yard on second down, a read-option play that Fields handed off.

On the next play, Bears rookie Tyler Scott could feel his chance was coming as soon as he shot off the line of scrimmage and past cornerback Cam Sutton. On third-and-9 in the final three minutes, Scott ran the route just like he had practiced, and he had a couple of steps on Sutton as Fields let the football fly.

“It’s my chance to make an impact on this game, especially during that time,” Scott said. “To put a dagger in the game.”

Fields threw a “great ball,” Scott said. But as Scott dived forward, the football was just out of his reach. He had misjudged the catch a little, he said, and the missed opportunity forced the Bears to punt, giving the Lions the ball back with 2 minutes, 44 seconds to play.

“If that thing connects, yeah, I think that seals the deal in my opinion,” said Fields, who called Scott “a young player with a bright future in this league” who “will be good and bounce back from that.”

Over the next two minutes, the Lions put together the winning 73-yard scoring drive.

“You know it hurts that you’re not able to execute in those moments like that,” Scott said. “And then it hurts even more to see that we come out with an L.”

The Bears had 29 seconds to tie the game after the Lions went ahead 29-26, but Aidan Hutchinson got past rookie right tackle Darnell Wright for a strip-sack of Fields. As Wright tried to recover the fumble, he kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

“I just have to step up in the pocket and do better,” Fields said. “I know Darnell was beating himself up after the game, and he’s going to learn from that, get better. But to help him out, I’ve got to step into the pocket and just help him out.”

Fields said he thought his thumb “held up pretty good” and said his body felt as fresh as if “it was the first game of the season out there.”

He showed little rust on the opening 75-yard touchdown drive, when he threw for 38 yards and ran for 28.

His best play of the day was the touchdown pass to Moore for a 20-14 third-quarter lead. Fields moved forward in the pocket and then launched the pass to Moore, who had gotten in front of cornerback Jerry Jacobs and caught it in stride. Fields and Moore said Fields overthrew a similar play earlier in the night.

“I mean, he just let that first one rip,” Moore said. “I was like, ‘Uh, I’m fast, but’ … let’s take some off of that. And then we connected again on the same type of play.”

There were other missed opportunities. Along with the three-and-out drive in the fourth, the Bears also lamented not scoring on two first-half Bears takeaways, one that ended in the Bears punting and another that ended with a Scott fumble.

“The way our defense was able to create takeaways was big for us, and as an offense, we’ve got to turn those into touchdowns rather than field goals or no points at all,” Fields said. “We know who we are, we know what kind of team we are, and we’ve just got to be better. We’ve just got to finish. When those big moments happen, when we need those big plays, we’ve got to execute.”

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