Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is officially out for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Jesse Minter confirmed on Friday that Jackson will miss Week 6 as he continues to recover from that ankle injury, a real gut punch for Baltimore after earlier reports gave fans a flicker of hope.
The On-Again, Off-Again Drama of Jackson’s Ankle
Just days ago, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there was a “realistic chance to return for Sunday’s game,” with Minter even calling Jackson “day-to-day.” That’s the kind of chatter that gets a fanbase hyped, only to have the rug pulled out from under them. Jackson, for his part, is reportedly “working his butt off” and “doing everything he can” to get back on the field. He was already out for Week 5, where Tyler Huntley stepped in and led the Ravens to an overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons. This whole saga started back in Week 4, when Jackson left their 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans in the second half. Minter initially downplayed the long-term risk, saying, “I really don’t think it’s going to be crazy long term, but we’ll see what happens.” Well, “not crazy long term” is starting to feel a lot like “longer than anyone wants.”
What This Means Without the MVP Under Center
Let’s be real, there’s no replacing a two-time MVP and three-time first-team All-Pro like Lamar Jackson. This Ravens offense is built around his dynamic skill set, and when he’s not out there, it’s just a different team. Minter even admitted after Week 4 that it’s “unfair and not realistic” to compare anyone to Jackson. They do have an experienced backup in Huntley, who Minter says “has shown the ability to come in and really kind of run the offense, make plays with his legs, be able to make plays on third down.” Huntley’s got some experience, having started two games last season when Jackson missed four games with a hamstring injury and a back contusion. The team actually went 2-0 in those starts, which is wild. But nobody’s fooling themselves, right? The Ravens are “obviously a much more dangerous team with a healthy Jackson.”
This Sunday’s tilt against the Browns is going to be a huge test. Can Huntley keep the momentum going, or will the absence of their superstar signal-caller finally catch up to them? All eyes are on that ankle, hoping for better news next week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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