The Baltimore Ravens might be navigating choppy waters without their star quarterback for a few more weeks. Lamar Jackson, who's playing out the final year of his deal, tweaked his ankle in Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the sprain could sideline Jackson for multiple games, though it's not expected to require surgery or become a long-term issue.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters Monday that the team is still "gathering information" on Jackson's ankle and isn't sure if he'll play in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons. Minter added that he doesn't expect Jackson to be out for an extended stretch, saying, "I don't think it's going to be crazy long term, but we'll see what happens."
But Fox Sports' Nick Wright isn't convinced Jackson will be back in a hurry. During Tuesday's episode of First Things First, Wright pointed to Jackson's history of unusual recovery timelines and the uncertainty swirling around his contract as reasons for concern.
"This is where Lamar's own history on injury recovery is ominous," Wright said. "We don't know if this is a Harbaugh thing, how Lamar communicates thing or Lamar's comfortability playing when he's not 100 percent. One of the criticisms of him is he's not always communicating with the organization. I think the lack of an agent hurts him in this regard as someone filtering messages for him. You mentioned the contract thing. Lamar Jackson is essentially in a contract year. He has no guaranteed money on his contract after this year."
Jackson's absence from practice on Wednesday only adds to the intrigue, as the team prepares for a primetime showdown. With Jackson's future in Baltimore uncertain, the Ravens could be extra cautious with their franchise signal-caller, especially given the injury concerns for both Jackson and Dak Prescott after Sunday's action.
If Jackson can't go, Tyler "Snoop" Huntley will get the nod under center. Huntley saw significant action in 2021, throwing for 1,081 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. The Ravens have gone 6-11 without Jackson since 2019, and their offense has managed just 17.6 points per game in those contests.
The situation is a delicate one for Baltimore, which desperately needs wins to keep pace in the AFC North. But with Jackson's long-term future up in the air, the team might be tempted to play it safe, even if it means a few more games with Huntley at the helm. As the Ravens monitor Jackson's progress, fans will be watching closely for any updates.
For now, all eyes are on Sunday night's matchup with the Falcons, and whether Jackson's absence will be a one-game blip or a longer absence. The Ravens' hopes rest on a speedy recovery, but the contract cloud hanging over Jackson could make that timeline murkier than usual.
