Lamar Jackson is still fighting for a Week 5 return for the Baltimore Ravens, but Wednesday’s update was a sharp reminder that his ankle injury is still a huge question mark. The two-time MVP didn’t practice as the Ravens kicked off preparations for Sunday’s showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, keeping everyone on edge.
The Ankle Scare and What It Means Right Now
Look, after Jackson left Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans and didn’t even come back for the second half, then was spotted leaving the stadium in a protective boot, everyone held their breath. Initially, the Ravens were trying to stay optimistic, saying it wouldn’t be a long-term thing. Now, we got ESPN’s Jamison Hensley dropping the news that tests showed no major damage to the ankle, which is a massive sigh of relief. That’s why he’s listed as a game-time decision, which, honestly, is way better than we could’ve feared after seeing him hobble off. But let’s be real, a game-time decision is still a coin flip.
Production Power and the Backup Plan
You can’t blame Baltimore for wanting their guy back. Through four games, Jackson has been absolutely electric. He’s completed 68 of 101 passes for 967 yards, slung six touchdowns, and only thrown one interception. Plus, he’s still got that game-changing rushing ability with 144 yards on the ground. His 119.6 passer rating isn’t just good, it ranks among the absolute best in the NFL. That’s the kind of production you don’t just put on the sideline lightly. If Jackson can’t go, Tyler Huntley is the insurance policy. He stepped up against the Titans, going 8 of 9 for 63 yards in the second half to help seal the win. Huntley’s no rookie backup either, with 11 career starts under his belt for the Ravens, so they’ve got some experience if he gets the nod.
This Sunday night game is huge. The Ravens are sitting pretty at 3-1, but the Falcons are right there at 2-2, and they’re facing off at 8:20 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For now, the Ravens have a reason to feel better about Jackson’s ankle, but nobody’s making any assumptions he’s playing. These next few practices are going to tell us everything. If he can get his workload up without any setbacks, the door’s wide open for him to face Atlanta. If that ankle keeps him limited, expect Huntley to step in and try to keep Baltimore rolling. Either way, Wednesday’s news was a glimmer of hope after a scary Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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