Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s Status For Week 18 In Doubt
If you were hoping for a crystal-clear answer on whether Lamar Jackson is playing against the Steelers this Sunday, John Harbaugh is keeping his cards closer to his chest than a poker pro with a royal flush.
The situation is as high-stakes as it gets. We’re looking at a Week 18 AFC North title fight. Winner takes the division and a playoff spot; loser goes home to think about what went wrong. It is the kind of drama the NFL scriptwriters dream about, but for Ravens fans, the suspense is excruciating.
The “To Be Determined” Saga
Here is where we stand: Jackson has been banged up. He missed the Week 17 win over Green Bay with a back injury that Harbaugh described as “legitimate” and “very painful.” We aren’t talking about a little stiffness; we’re talking about deep-tissue contusions that make it hard to move, let alone dodge T.J. Watt coming off the edge.
Harbaugh spoke to the media on Monday and dropped the dreaded three words every fantasy owner and fan hates to hear: “To be determined.”
However, he did offer a crumb of hope. Harbaugh noted that while things looked bleak early last week, Jackson improved as the days went on. “That was cause for optimism,” the coach said. But optimism doesn’t throw touchdown passes. Wednesday is the day we’ll supposedly know more, so keep your refresh button handy.
Why This Matters
Tyler Huntley did a respectable job steering the ship against the Packers. But facing the Steelers in a winner-take-all scenario is a different beast entirely.
The Ravens have been riding a rollercoaster of injuries all season. Jackson himself has battled hamstring issues, ankle problems, and now this back situation. Yet, despite the chaos, Baltimore is one win away from the crown. On the flip side, Pittsburgh is getting healthy at the right time, with reports suggesting Watt could be back to terrorize opposing backfields.
The Bottom Line
If Jackson can go, he plays. Harbaugh made that clear. “If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing. That’s it. For sure.”
Until then, we wait. The Ravens are relying on grit, next-man-up mentality, and perhaps a little bit of luck. Whether it’s Jackson or Huntley under center Sunday night, expect the atmosphere to be absolutely electric.
