Ravens unsure if Lamar Jackson's ankle will let him face Falcons
The Baltimore Ravens don't know yet if Lamar Jackson will play Sunday night at Atlanta after he hurt his left ankle. Coach Jesse Minter said he doesn't expect a long absence. Baltimore is 6-11 without Jackson since 2019, and Tyler Huntley would start if he sits.
The Baltimore Ravens are waiting on Lamar Jackson's left ankle. Coach Jesse Minter said Monday that he does not know whether his star quarterback can play Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, ESPN and AP reported.
"I don't know the chances yet," Minter said. "We're still gathering a lot of the information and the imaging." He added that he did not think the injury would be "crazy long term," but said the team would have to see what happens.
Jackson was hurt late in the first half of Sunday's 24-18 win over Tennessee, when he took a sack and his ankle seemed to roll under a defender, AP said. He did not return, and ESPN said he left the stadium wearing a protective boot. On Monday he posted "ouch" on social media.
The stakes are clear. With Jackson starting, Baltimore is 79-32, according to ESPN, but without him since 2019 the Ravens are 6-11, and their scoring drops from 28.4 points a game to 17.6.
Tyler Huntley would start if Jackson cannot go. Huntley is 5-6 as a fill-in starter, and Baltimore did not score with him at quarterback on Sunday, according to AP. Still, he won a key game at Green Bay last season, 41-24, to keep the Ravens' playoff hopes alive.
Injuries have hurt Baltimore before. Last season Jackson was hurt in Week 4 and did not return until Week 9, and the Ravens started 1-5 before missing the playoffs at 8-9, AP said.
Other Ravens also got hurt on Sunday, as cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), guard Andrew Vorhees (foot) and tight end Durham Smythe (Achilles) all left and did not return.
Baltimore (3-1) is tied with Cleveland for first in the AFC North, while Atlanta just beat New Orleans 45-24 on Monday night to reach 2-2. Sunday's game in Atlanta kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET.
What we know: Jackson is day to day, and the team does not expect a long absence.
What we don't: What his scans showed, and whether he will practice this week.
Where outlets agree ESPN and AP both quote Minter saying he doesn't think Jackson's ankle injury will be "crazy long term" and that Huntley would replace him.
Where they differ Minter sounds hopeful about a short absence, but AP notes the team has given no timeline and Baltimore's season fell apart the last time Jackson missed time.