There’s a concerning trend lurking underneath Lamar Jackson’s latest injury update even if the Ravens consider it to be good news
Lamar Jackson’s ankle injury isn’t deemed serious, but there’s still a chance he misses multiple games and it only adds to a growing concern that’s popped up over the last few seasons.
Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle injury against in the first half of Week 4’s win over the Tennessee Titans and didn’t return to the game.
Now, it looks like Lamar Jackson will miss even more time after the latest update on said ankle injury.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jackson sprained his ankle and the injury gives “him only an outside chance to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons”. He didn’t stop there, either, adding the fact Jackson could miss multiple games depending on how his rehab goes.
The best part of the update is it’s not considered to be a long-term injury, nor is it one that requires surgery. However, at the same time, ankle injuries are very fickle and the Ravens need to be as cautious as possible, here.
Meaning, Jackson could very well miss a few games and that adds to the recent injury history that’s been brewing over the last several seasons.
Lamar Jackson’s ankle injury has him on track to miss multiple games for the fourth time in six seasons
Jackson has missed a total of 14 games since the 2021 season and that doesn’t include the handful of games he’s left early due to injury.
Overall, it’s starting to become a concern, especially when considering Jackson’s mobility and ability to make plays out of structure are huge components of his game. He’s made strides as a natural passer over the course of his career, but he’s nowhere near as dynamic in that fashion. His legs elevate him into the elite tier of quarterbacks and it’s easy to see why when watching him play.
The Ravens obviously aren’t the same team when he’s on the sidelines, as well. Lamar Jackson’s ankle injury gets even more magnified when looking at the Ravens’ upcoming schedule: They take on the aforementioned Falcons this week, who are riding a two-game win streak. Then it’s the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville Jaguars that round out Weeks 6-9.
That is an absolutely crucial stretch that will certainly factor into the Ravens’ playoff hopes. It’s not even about Jackson’s availability for those games, either. Just how effective will he be coming off the ankle injury? There’s always a chance he could re-aggravate it, as well.
So it’s very easy to see why the Ravens have to take the right approach. Tyler “Snoop” Huntley has shown to be a viable, short-term backup option over the years and he’s the guy who would lead the way, again, in 2026.
If Huntley is playing at his usual pace, then there’s no need to rush Jackson back, even with the upcoming schedule. Especially when considering the schedule lightens up a lot after that stretch. The Ravens then have to play the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, the Houston Texans, then they get their bye week before playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 13.
Three of those four teams have yet to win a single game and the Panthers are currently at .500. When including the bye week, it’s clear why Jackson needs to take his time.
Still, the overall worry stands when it comes to Jackson’s ability to stay healthy over the last few seasons. I’m sure Jackson and the Ravens are hoping this is the only issue they’ll face in 2026, but as we know, only time will tell.
