Quarterback Lamar Jackson will miss his fifth straight start when the Ravens play the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that his recovery timetable remains uncertain heading into the postseason.

After Jackson missed his 15th straight practice Friday, Harbaugh opened his news conference with a nearly 90-second explanation of his tight-lipped approach to Jackson’s recovery from a knee injury that he initially deemed minor. Harbaugh said that while there “really are no updates” on Jackson’s status, he remained “hopeful” that Jackson would return for next week’s AFC wild-card-round game.

“It’s just kind of the nature of it,” Harbaugh said. “And when we have an update, definitely, you’ll have it. But injuries are so hard to predict. ... I try to say, ‘Well, I’m really not going to talk about that.’ And sometimes, people think, ‘Well, he’s hiding something,’ or whatever. And it’s really not. I might be hiding something sometimes, but not in this case.

“But the truth is, we just really don’t know. So I know everybody’s working as hard as they can. Lamar’s working as hard as he can. The trainers are working as hard as they can. Can’t wait for him to get back, obviously, just like everybody else. So that’s where we’re at with that.”

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In recent days, Harbaugh had answered questions about Jackson vaguely, saying Monday that he didn’t know whether Jackson would practice this week and declining to comment Wednesday when asked whether he expected Jackson to be ready for the postseason.

“I’m just probably going to leave all that stuff alone,” he said.

A week earlier, Harbaugh had declined to comment on the nature of Jackson’s injury, which he suffered Dec. 4, in a Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos. “We’re just coaching the guys out here right now,” Harbaugh said Dec. 28.

The Ravens’ quarterback situation grew even more complicated this week, with Tyler Huntley limited in practice by injuries to his right (throwing) shoulder and wrist. Harbaugh said Friday that there’s a “really good chance” Huntley plays against Cincinnati (11-4), which won the AFC North on Thursday after the NFL canceled its suspended Bengals-Buffalo Bills game. He was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.

But Harbaugh also noted that the Ravens (10-6) are weighing short- and longer-term considerations as the playoffs approach. “If that doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen,” Harbaugh said of Huntley playing.

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During the 30-minute period of practice open to media, Huntley didn’t attempt a pass as fellow quarterbacks Anthony Brown and Brett Hundley warmed up. He said after practice that, despite resting his arm this week, he expects to start.

“The best way to feel the best is a little rest,” he said. “So they’ve been resting me these past couple days, and I’ll be ready to go.”

If both Jackson and Huntley are unavailable, the Ravens would turn to Brown, an undrafted rookie who’s appeared in just one game this season.

“Really valuable for Anthony to get the reps” this week, Harbaugh said. “Tyler was right there getting all the reps mentally, but Anthony got the reps physically. Couldn’t do anything but help him as a player. So he’ll be the backup, and he’ll be ready to go if needed.”

Along with Huntley, five Ravens are questionable for Week 18: wide receiver DeSean Jackson (illness); defensive lineman Calais Campbell (knee); and cornerbacks Marcus Peters (calf), Brandon Stephens (illness) and Kevon Seymour (illness). All were either limited or absent at practice Friday. DeSean Jackson missed this week’s practices, and Harbaugh said Friday that his status for Sunday is uncertain.

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Only one Bengals player was on the team’s injury report. Cornerback Eli Apple (neck) is considered questionable but practiced fully Friday.

NFL owners approve playoff format

NFL owners on Friday approved a resolution that opens the door to the Ravens potentially hosting a playoff game next weekend. If the Ravens beat Cincinnati on Sunday, and if the two teams are scheduled to meet again in the wild-card round, the site for the game would be determined by a coin toss. Harbaugh said he hadn’t given the scenario too much thought.

“Whatever they do is good with me, personally, and we’re just excited to go play the game on Sunday, and we’re going to try to play our best football, and that’s really what we’re thinking about,” he said.

jonas.shaffer@thebaltimorebanner.com