Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson Set To Play In Critical Game
If you thought a little back bruise and a whirlwind of media speculation were going to keep Lamar Jackson off the field for the biggest game of the year, you haven’t been paying attention.
After a week of hand-wringing in Baltimore, Jackson stepped up to the podium on Thursday and kept it brief. When asked if he’d be suiting up for Sunday night’s win-or-go-home clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens’ star quarterback didn’t mince words. “A hundred percent,” Jackson told reporters. “I’m gonna be out there.”
Jackson Returns To Practice With a Purpose
The narrative surrounding the Ravens this week has been nothing short of a soap opera. Jackson missed the Week 17 victory over the Packers, a game where Derrick Henry decided to put the entire franchise on his back with a career-high 216 rushing yards, sparking rumors about Jackson’s commitment.
But while the talking heads were debating his dedication, Jackson was getting back to work. He was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. While he admitted he’ll be wearing extra padding to protect that bruised back, the visual of QB1 taking snaps is the only thing that matters to a team sitting at 8-8 and clinging to their playoff lives.
Shutting Down the “Quitter” Narrative
Perhaps the most frustrating part of the last week for Jackson wasn’t the physical pain, but the “noise” questioning his heart. Reports surfaced suggesting frustration within the organization regarding his practice habits, painting a picture of a disconnect between the former MVP and the coaching staff.
Jackson wasn’t having any of it. “I never quit on my team before. I never quit anything to be honest with you,” Jackson said, sounding less like a media-trained robot and more like a guy genuinely annoyed by the questioning of his character. “I don’t know where that noise came from.”
Head Coach John Harbaugh backed him up, denying the reports of friction. In the NFL, the only thing that silences drama is winning. And to win on Sunday, the Ravens need the dynamic version of Jackson, not the hobbled version we’ve seen sporadically this season.
The Stakes: A Heavyweight Fight For the AFC North
This isn’t just a regular-season finale; it’s Ravens vs. Steelers. It is the kind of rivalry that usually ends with cracked helmets and bruised egos. The scenario is painfully simple: the winner takes the AFC North crown and punches a ticket to the dance. The loser cleans out their locker.
It’s been a weird year for Jackson. He’s battled through hamstring, toe, and knee issues. His rushing numbers are down, and the offense has looked disjointed at times. Yet, despite the 1-4 start to the season and the injuries, everything is right in front of them.
Tyler “Snoop” Huntley did an admirable job managing the ship last week, and Henry looked like a runaway freight train, but you don’t beat the Steelers in a prime-time elimination game without your general.
