The Cincinnati Bengals vs Ravens Lamar Jackson status question hangs over Sunday’s AFC North matchup at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore (4-2) hosts Cincinnati (3-2) at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 25, with the two clubs sitting atop the division standings. Jackson returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant, but his availability remains undetermined two days before kickoff.
Ravens coach Jesse Minter said Jackson “was able to get in a little bit of work and be involved in preparation” this week. Minter added that the decision ultimately comes down to health. “There’s nobody that wants to be out there more than Lamar.
Lamar wants to play. But at the same time, you got to be healthy enough to play,” Minter said.
Bengals Vs Ravens Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 25
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
- TV: CBS
- Weather: 59°F, 0% chance of precipitation
Bengals Outlook
Cincinnati enters at 3-2 after alternating wins and losses over its last five games, most recently beating Miami 31-24 on Oct. 11. Quarterback Joe Burrow has completed 135 of 189 passes for 1,361 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, and his 272.2 passing yards per game lead a unit that ranks well ahead of Baltimore through the air. The Bengals convert third downs at a 50.00% clip, the better mark in this matchup, and their defense has forced eight takeaways against six giveaways.
The running game has been thin. Chase Brown has carried 71 times for 246 yards and the team averages just 82.8 rushing yards per game, a number that will be tested against a Ravens front that has recorded 15 sacks and 38 tackles for loss this season. Cincinnati is also down several pieces, with tight end Tanner Hudson out for the season after a torn pectoral, along with linebacker Swayze Bozeman, cornerback Jalen Davis, receiver Andrei Iosivas and tackle Brian Parker II all on injured reserve.
Ravens Outlook
Baltimore has won four of its last five, including an overtime victory at Atlanta, but dropped its most recent game 13-10 at Cleveland. The Ravens lean on Derrick Henry, who has carried 130 times for 534 yards and seven touchdowns, powering a rushing attack that averages 151.5 yards per game, nearly double Cincinnati’s output on the ground. Baltimore’s offense has scored 156 total points through six games, an average of 26.0 per outing, and converts 90.48% of its red zone trips into points.
The health of Jackson defines the outlook. In 14 quarters with Jackson on the field this season, the Ravens have scored 116 points and 14 offensive touchdowns. In 10 quarters without him, Baltimore has managed just 40 points and four touchdowns.
Backup Tyler Huntley led the comeback win at Atlanta but struggled in the loss to Cleveland. Baltimore also lists safety Jaylinn Hawkins, linebacker Tavius Robinson and center Cam Jurgens as questionable, while cornerback T.J. Tampa remains on injured reserve.
Key Matchup
Trey Hendrickson faces his former team for the first time since leaving Cincinnati in free agency, and the pass rusher’s pending battle with Bengals right tackle Amarius Mims will shape the game. Hendrickson recorded 61 sacks and four Pro Bowl selections over five seasons with the Bengals before signing a four-year, $112 million deal with Baltimore that includes $60 million guaranteed.
He missed two games with a finger injury before returning in Week 6 against Cleveland, where he produced eight quarterback pressures and a sack on 26 pass-rush snaps. For the season, Hendrickson has 25 pressures and two sacks, and his 22.7% pressure rate ranks third among edge rushers with at least 25 pass-rush snaps. A source close to the matchup framed the challenge for Cincinnati this way: “Hendrickson’s obviously a good player, but the Bengals will have to game plan for an entire Ravens defense that has a ton of impact players.”
Players To Watch
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
Burrow’s 11 touchdown passes and 104.4 passer rating have carried an offense that ranks ahead of Baltimore in yards per game. His ability to convert on third down, where the Bengals sit at 50.00%, will matter against a Ravens defense that has already posted 15 sacks this season.
Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens
Henry’s seven rushing touchdowns and 534 yards give Baltimore a ground-game identity that does not depend on Jackson’s health. His workload could shift depending on whether Jackson or Huntley starts under center.
What To Watch
Baltimore and Cincinnati enter Week 7 as the two teams atop the AFC North, per ESPN. Jackson’s history against the Bengals adds weight to his medical status: since becoming Baltimore’s starter in 2018, he is 11-2 against Cincinnati with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. Without him in the lineup over that same span, the Ravens are 0-3 against the Bengals, losing by an average of 12 points.
Referee Shawn Smith will work his first Bengals game since Week 4 of the 2023 season, according to Sports Illustrated. Cincinnati is 1-4 in games Smith has officiated, while Baltimore is 7-4. Smith’s crew has called an average of 13.33 penalties per game this season, including 4.33 offensive holding calls per game, the third-highest rate in the league.
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