The Baltimore Ravens may have to prepare to play at least one game without Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore’s star quarterback left Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans in the first half with a sprained ankle and did not return. Jackson is in danger of missing the team’s “Sunday Night Football” clash against the Atlanta Falcons.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Tuesday morning that Jackson has “only an outside chance” to play in Week 5. While his injury isn’t considered a long-term issue, the 29-year-old could miss multiple games.
Jackson’s availability in question
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Jackson dominated before Sunday’s injury, converting 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. The two-time MVP has enjoyed a surgical season in the pocket under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, registering a career-high 70.8% completion rate and 10.1 yards per attempt.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters Monday that he didn’t see Jackson’s ankle injury as a “crazy long-term” concern. He was still waiting to find out more about his superstar’s status.
“I don’t know the chances yet. We’re still gathering a lot of information and the imaging and things like that,” Minter said. “He’s just dealing with a little bit of an ankle [injury], and we’ll see where that shakes out. Full trust and confidence in him that when it’s ready to roll that we’ll roll and go from there.”
The Ravens will turn to Tyler Huntley if Jackson can’t play. Their longtime second-stringer, who infamously received a 2022 Pro Bowl nod with four starts, kept them afloat on Sunday by completing eight of nine passes for 63 yards.
Baltimore won both games Huntley started in place of Jackson last season behind 287 combined rushing yards and six touchdowns from Derrick Henry. Running a conservative offense, Huntley completed 33 of 42 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns in victories over the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
Minter took a similar approach last weekend, leaning heavily on Henry while nursing a big lead in wet conditions. Yet he and the team trust Huntley to deliver in a primetime game.
“[He’s] been in must-win situations and got the job done. He’s played well,” Minter said. “The guys believe in him, and I think that’s as important as anything. The guys have a lot of confidence in him.”
