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Lamar Jackson’s Ankle Sprain Puts Ravens’ AFC North Hopes in Question
By Drooid · · How we work
Ankle Sprain Sidelines Ravens’ Star Quarterback
Baltimore’s two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson left the Week 4 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans at halftime after his left ankle was rolled up on the final offensive play of the first half. The injury was identified as a sprain; Jackson was seen exiting the stadium in a protective walking boot and was listed as “day-to-day.”
How the Injury Unfolded
The play that caused the injury occurred when Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II tackled Jackson from behind; Johnson’s shoulder struck the outside of Jackson’s left ankle. Jackson completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns before the sack, added two rushes for 20 yards, and then left the field without a helmet. He did not return for the second half, and backup Tyler Huntley took over, completing 8 of 9 passes for 63 yards but failing to generate any points for the Ravens.
Statistical Snapshot of Jackson’s Season So Far
Through the first four games, Jackson has completed 70.8 % of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception, posting a 119.6 passer rating. He has also contributed 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. When Jackson is on the field, Baltimore averages 28.4 points per game (79-32 record since 2019). In the games he has missed since the start of his career, the Ravens have posted a 6-11 record and average only 17.6 points per game.
Team’s Response and Backup Plans
He added, “I really don’t think it’s going to be crazy long-term, but we’ll see what happens.” The organization has indicated that Huntley will start if Jackson is unavailable for the Falcons game. Huntley, a seven-year veteran with the Ravens, has appeared in 31 games, completing 66.6 % of his passes for 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and has a 5-6 record as a fill-in starter.
What the Outlook Means for Baltimore’s AFC North Race
The Ravens entered Week 5 tied with the Cleveland Browns at the top of the AFC North (3-1). A prolonged absence for Jackson could force Baltimore to rely heavily on its Derrick Henry-led rushing attack and the emerging play of wide receiver Zay Flowers, while also contending with the Falcons’ league-best rushing defense. Analysts note that without Jackson’s dual-threat capability, the Ravens’ offensive efficiency could drop sharply, potentially affecting the outcome of upcoming divisional games against the Browns (Week 6) and the Cincinnati Bengals (Week 7).
Verbatim Quotes
- “I really don't think it's going to be crazy long term, but we'll see what happens.” — Jesse Minter, Ravens coach
- “We're still gathering a lot of the information and the imaging and things like that,” — Jesse Minter, Ravens coach
- “There's one Lamar Jackson, the guy's a two-time MVP,” — Jesse Minter, Ravens coach
- “You just look at what he's done over the last few years and been in must-win situations and got the job done,” — Jesse Minter, Ravens coach