A knee sprain has sidelined Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson since Week 14, but the prevailing thought was he’d be available once the postseason began. However, with Baltimore’s Wild Card matchup against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals just days away, Jackson appears unlikely to suit up.
Lamar Jackson Injury Update
In 2021, Jackson missed the Ravens’ final four games (and most of Week 13) with an ankle injury. With health issues all over their roster, Baltimore ended the season on a six-game losing streak and missed the playoffs.
The Ravens made the postseason this year, but they’re entering the dance on another low note, losing three of their final four regular-season contests. With Jackson still hobbled, Baltimore will probably have to turn to backup Tyler Huntley when they go up against Cincinnati on Sunday.
Jackson “faces an uphill battle” to play this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who notes Lamar is “just not quite right” despite weeks of rehabilitation. Jackson hasn’t practiced at all since injuring his knee.
As recently as last week, the Ravens seemed to be holding out hope that Jackson could play in the Wild Card Round.
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“He’s a special guy,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said last Thursday. “I think if somebody’s got a chance to do it, he does.”
“I would say, I would bet on him. I would definitely bet on him,” Roman said. “It’s not an ideal situation, obviously, but it’s a great opportunity when he does come back to get him back in the lineup and get moving.”
With Jackson out, the Ravens deployed Huntley in Weeks 13-17. Shoulder and wrist injuries forced Huntley to sit out in Week 18, leading Baltimore to turn to undrafted rookie free agent Anthony Brown. Huntley is expected to be ready to start on Sunday.
Baltimore’s offense has gone into a nosedive without Jackson. They’ve averaged just 12.5 points per game and haven’t scored more than 17 in any single contest. The Ravens’ offense ranked seventh in expected points added per play from Weeks 1-12, but they’ve dropped to 26th over the past six weeks.
Jackson’s Mounting Injury History
Assuming he doesn’t play this weekend, Jackson will have missed 11 games over the past two seasons. The former MVP is among the most dynamic players in the NFL and essentially is the Ravens’ offense, but it’s fair to wonder if Baltimore will have any concerns about his long-term health as they attempt to extend him on a long-term contract.
After playing on his fifth-year option in 2022, Jackson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. However, it’s implausible that Jackson will actually reach the market this spring, as the Ravens can assign him the franchise tag.
Jackson was always the most likely Baltimore player to see the franchise tender. The Ravens no longer have any other realistic candidates after extending Roquan Smith this week on a deal that made him the highest-paid linebacker in the league. With Smith in the fold for years to come, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta will almost assuredly use the franchise tag on Lamar.
