Things were already not looking good in Baltimore before Lamar Jackson’s injury, and after the two-time MVP went down with a hamstring strain in Week 4, they have gone worse. The Ravens have stumbled to a 2–5 start, and without Jackson’s playmaking ability, the offense has sputtered, drawing increased scrutiny toward offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
But while fans and analysts have pointed fingers at the play-calling, Baltimore’s defensive struggles have arguably been even more glaring. And despite the mounting frustration, Jackson isn’t letting Monken take the fall.
Why Lamar Jackson Believes Monken Isn’t to Blame?
The Ravens offense is ranked 20th in PFSN’s Offensive Impact metric, and has averaged fewer than 15 points per game over the past three weeks. Even though Baltimore escaped with a win in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, reports suggest internal frustration is mounting over Monken’s play-calling.
Jackson, however, isn’t buying into the finger-pointing. The quarterback shut down the criticism, making it clear Monken shouldn’t be singled out for the team’s sluggish start.
“Yeah, man,” Jackson said when asked whether he still has confidence in his coordinator. “We’ve been winning all these games over the years with him. It’s been about 3 years. The start of a slow season, I feel like everybody plays a part in their own way. You can’t put that on one person.”
Lamar Jackson came to Todd Monken’s defense after reports surfaced about internal frustration with the OC. Does Lamar have faith in Todd?
“Yeah, man. We’ve been winning all these games over the years with him. It’s been about 3 years. The start of a slow season, I feel like…
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 28, 2025
Now in his third year with Baltimore, Monken is facing accusations that he’s drifting away from the weekly game plan with unexpected calls, a concern that wasn’t present in previous seasons. That shift has reportedly created tension in the locker room, as players spend the week preparing for specific concepts only to see a different approach rolled out on game day.
Monken isn’t the only one under fire, though. Head coach John Harbaugh and his assistants have also drawn criticism as frustrations rise amid the team’s early-season struggles.
Jackson’s potential return on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins could provide the spark Baltimore desperately needs. If he’s back under center, the Ravens will look to use a three-game road stretch against the Dolphins, Vikings, and Browns to regain momentum and climb back into the AFC North race before December arrives.
Before the injury, Jackson posted 869 passing yards and 10 touchdowns to just one interception through four games, adding 166 yards and a score on the ground. According to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, those numbers still rank fourth in the league, trailing only Daniel Jones, Jordan Love, and Drake Maye.
