Lamar Jackson was absent again from practice on Wednesday during the part open to reporters, battling an ankle injury that has already sidelined him for one game. This isn’t just a minor ding, man, this is a sprained left ankle, according to NFL Media, and it’s got everyone watching what the Ravens will do with their superstar quarterback.
The Injury That Sent Shockwaves
Jackson first went down two weeks ago in a 24-18 victory against the Tennessee Titans. It happened on the last play of the first half when defensive end Jermaine Johnson landed on the back of Jackson’s leg after a sack. Before that play, Jackson was absolutely slinging it, completing 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t return to the game after the hit. Coach Jesse Minter said Monday that Jackson was “definitely doing better,” but he admitted he wasn’t sure what Jackson’s practice participation would look like on Wednesday. Minter made it clear, though: “To Lamar’s credit, he’s doing everything he can to get back out there.” But wanting to play and being ready to play are two different things, especially with that kind of history.
Huntley Steps Up, But What About Last Season?
So, with Jackson out, Tyler Huntley stepped in. He finished the Titans game, then led the Ravens to a road win last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Huntley was money, completing 24 of 32 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons, even scoring the winning touchdown himself on a 1-yard run in overtime of that 30-23 victory. That’s big-time stuff! Baltimore is sitting pretty at 4-1, giving them some margin for error after a seriously solid start. And guess what? Huntley has won all three of his starts for the Ravens since the start of last season. This dude knows how to win when called upon.
But here’s where things get tricky, and why everyone’s holding their breath: last season, Jackson got hurt early in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs when he dinged his hamstring. He missed three games and didn’t come back until the team was a rough 2-5. When he did return for a 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins, throwing four touchdown passes, he rarely looked great over his first eight weeks back. His completion percentage was just 59.8%, with eight touchdowns, five interceptions, and only 21.8 rushing yards per game on average. Bringing him back too soon clearly carries a risk.
ESPN reported on Wednesday that Jackson has a “realistic chance” to play this Sunday, citing a league source. The Ravens are heading on the road to face the Cleveland Browns, and this ain’t just another game. With Huntley proving he can get it done, the question becomes: how much risk is too much, especially with that tough experience from last season still fresh? You know they’re looking at that 4-1 record and thinking big picture, but Lamar is Lamar. What happens next is gonna tell us a lot about this team’s direction.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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