7:48pm: Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh doubled down on the “hope” that Jackson would be ready to play after the team’s Week 7 bye. He told the media today that “he expects both (Jackson) and (linebacker) Roquan Smith to be back after” the week off.
Baltimore saw left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and safety Kyle Hamilton all return to play today after missing the Week 5 massacre. Adding Jackson and Smith, the two players usually designated to communicate with the sideline when healthy, would bring the Ravens back almost to a fully healthy starting line up.
12:58pm: The Ravens are currently in the midst of their second straight game without superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP was inactive on Sunday against the Rams because of a hamstring injury. The Ravens have a bye next week, and they’re “hopeful” that Jackson will come back after that, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Baltimore entered the season as a popular Super Bowl pick, but injuries and an uncharacteristically poor defense have helped lead to a dismal 1-4 start. With their defense allowing 400-plus yards and over 35 points a game, it’s imperative for Jackson to return if the Ravens are going to keep pace with the division-leading Steelers (3-1) in the AFC North.
The Ravens figured they had a capable backup to Jackson when they signed former Cowboy Cooper Rush to a two-year contract with $4.2MM in guarantees last offseason. Rush’s first start in Jackson’s place was a disaster, though. He went 14 of 20 for 179 yards and three interceptions in a 44-10 blowout loss to the Texans last Sunday. The Ravens and Rams are still in the first half of their Week 6 matchup as of this writing, but Rush has already tossed another INT.
While Rush has struggled as a passer this season, the 31-year-old has also never been a threat with his legs. It’s the opposite with Jackson, who pairs his excellent passing with all-time great skills as a runner. The 28-year-old ranks first in history in rushing yards among QBs (6,339). Team sources indicated earlier this week that the Ravens don’t expect Jackson to get back on the field until he looks like “his normal, dual-threat self.” It turns out that could be as early as Week 8 against the Bears.
Why even bother at that point. Defense sucks so not like they’re they’re gonna win it all anyways.
Might as well rest him and others and play for high draft picks. Possibly get a top 5 top 10 pick. Get some defensive help.
When you pay the QB you need cheap contracts around him. Might as well trade back from the top 5-10 pick and accumulate as many cheap contracts and future draft picks as you can muster
The Ravens dominated time of possession by more than 15 minutes giving their beleaguered defense a much needed rest… but those turnovers will kill a team every time.
That division is a Steelers lock just 1/3 into the season already.
Steelers play the Ravens twice, Bills, Lions, and the Colts later in the season. If Lamar is healthy, the division is hardly a Steeler lock.
How many Tomlin Steelers team have faded down the stretch? Started last year 10-3, finished 10-7. A few years ago, they started 11-0 and finished 12-4. More examples as you go back further.
Steelers have a mediocre offense, a mediocre defense, and 42 year old Aaron Rodgers leading them. If Lamar returns soon, the division is up for grabs.
Regardless of who wins that division, what we are seeing is how bad the product can get when injuries eliminate the top performers. Goodell is convinced that an expanded schedule will somehow solve this problem.
Steelers fan, but have to agree with rct. Pittsburgh is fairly mid, and at this point, their schedule is harder than that of the Ravens.
1-5 isn’t insurmountable when the rest of the division blows. In fact, a less talented 2015 Chiefs team managed to win 11 games despite starting that way. Not saying it’s necessarily likely, but too soon to write Baltimore off
They have to sweep division and hope Steelers collapse. Not looking good especially the fact Ravens get a #1st place schedule and Pitt does not.
Ravens are done and should tank for next season. They’ll rack up too many losses for it to matter when Jackson returns. Out of the games you mentioned rct I see 2 wins 2 losses and a pickem vs the colts. I don’t see the steelers as a superbowl favorite, just the other 3 teams being that bad.
Nope. Too much talent on this team to tank. They could still win 7-8 games.