After exiting late in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has had fans eagerly anticipating whether or not he’ll play in Week 5. Finally, the decision is in.
One NFL Insider took to social media on Friday, October 3, just two days before the Ravens are set to play the Houston Texans.
Will Lamar Jackson Play in Week 5?
NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed that Jackson will not play in Week 5. Cooper Rush will make his first season start on Sunday, October 5.
The former Dallas Cowboys backup has been taking the majority of reps during practice in anticipation of this decision. “The Ravens have ruled out QB Lamar Jackson,” Rapoport wrote on X.
The #Ravens have ruled out QB Lamar Jackson.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2025
Jackson is currently the fifth-best quarterback in the league based on PFSN’s QB Impact metric, receiving a B grade through his first few games. Last season, Rush earned a D grade in his 12 starts with the Cowboys. Jackson’s hamstring injury proved to be enough to keep him out of action. As it stands, the injury could also affect his Week 6 status.
One of the biggest blessings for the Ravens is that they have a Bye in Week 7. Should the team choose to rest him next week as well, that gives Jackson a chance to miss three weeks but only two games. Their Bye could not have come at a more crucial time, as the 1-3 Ravens find themselves in win-now mode.
With Super Bowl aspirations, the last thing the Ravens want to do is have to rely on Rush for the remainder of the season. QB injuries have been racking up like crazy this season, with Jackson being the latest to add his name to the mix.
So far this season, the two-time NFL MVP is 68/95 for 869 yards with 10 touchdowns to just one interception. Unsurprisingly, he’s second on the team in rushing with 21 carries for 166 yards.
Now more than ever, the team will need to rely on RB Derrick Henry. Henry has had an uncharacteristic three fumbles this season, but the 31-year-old continues to be as explosive as ever. His 5.8 yards per carry average is barely down from the 5.9 he had last year, which was a career high.
WR Zay Flowers will likely see more targets than ever with Rush in charge. TE Mark Andrews has had a relatively quiet season, but establishing an immediate rapport with Rush will be crucial to get back on track.
