There is no uncertainty as to whether the Ravens need quarterback Lamar Jackson. There is a lot of uncertainty about when he will be able to play.
With him, they are 3-1. Without him, they are 1-2. With losses to the Browns and Bengals over the last eight games, the Ravens started 0-2 in the AFC North for the first time since 2007.
Jackson made it clear Friday that he is dealing with a sprained ankle, suffered in Week 4 against the Titans. He then declared, regarding the possibility of playing Sunday against Cincinnati: “Right now, I’m going in the right direction. »
A day later, the Ravens downgraded Jackson from questionable to ruled out.
With a Sunday trip to Buffalo followed by a short week’s visit from the Jaguars, Jackson’s return becomes critical. In Jackson’s absence, Baltimore’s 4-3 record could drop to 4-5 by next Friday.
So the question of the week in Baltimore is whether Jackson will play against Josh Allen and the Bills. As mentioned on Sunday’s Football Night in America, there’s no word in the building on whether he’ll be able to return Sunday — and any effort to predict when he’ll be able to play is just a guess.
Jackson made it clear during his Friday press conference that it was a pain tolerance issue and that the sprained ankle was preventing him from being as mobile as he should be. It’s no surprise. A high ankle sprain takes longer to heal than other types of sprains. He explained that he didn’t want to play if it could potentially hurt the team.
The challenge this week for the Ravens will be getting the eventual starter ready for the game. If Jackson is listed as a “full” participant on Wednesday, Thursday and/or Friday, it will mean he took 100% of his normal first-team reps. Which also means that, if he doesn’t play, backup Tyler Huntley won’t get first-team reps in preparation for Buffalo.
With or without Jackson, the next two games will become crucial to Baltimore’s season. Win both and they are well on their way to achieving their goal. Lose both, and it could be another season without a ticket to the playoff party.
The chances of going 2-0, not 0-2, will be much greater if Jackson is able to play. This is something we will discover as the current week progresses.
Gn sports
