Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson Out Again For Week 6
The Baltimore Ravens are in a bit of a pickle, and the bad news just keeps rolling in. For the second week in a row, the team will be without its electrifying quarterback, Lamar Jackson. That’s right, the two-time MVP has been officially ruled out for Sunday’s clash against the Los Angeles Rams, still nursing a nagging hamstring injury.
The Ravens are looking at a 1-4 start, their worst since 2015, and the vibe in Baltimore is, well, not great. It feels like the team is trying to climb out of a hole, but the ladder keeps breaking. Jackson, the human highlight reel, hasn’t practiced all week, and his absence leaves a gaping void that’s impossible to ignore.
The Jackson Effect (Or Lack Thereof)
Let’s be real: A Ravens team without Lamar Jackson is like a superhero movie without the hero. Since Jackson took over as the starter in 2018, the Ravens are a dismal 4-11 when he’s not on the field. They’ve dropped their last five games without him and have looked offensively challenged, failing to score more than 17 points in any of those contests. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team with playoff aspirations.
This season, Jackson was on fire through four games, tossing 10 touchdowns to just one interception and completing nearly 72% of his passes. He is the engine that makes this offense go, and without him, things have sputtered.
Can Cooper Rush Save the Day?
With Jackson sidelined, the keys to the offense are once again handed to backup Cooper Rush. His performance last week against the Houston Texans was, to put it mildly, forgettable. Rush threw for just 179 yards and three interceptions in a 44-10 blowout loss. The entire offense looked out of sync, mustering only 207 total yards, the team’s lowest output in eight years. Ouch.
“You have to take care of the ball, especially as a quarterback; it’s your job,” Rush said. No kidding. The veteran quarterback, who built a reputation as a reliable backup during his time with the Cowboys, needs to find his footing, and fast. The Ravens’ season might depend on it.
What’s Next For Jackson and the Ravens?
The timing of the upcoming bye week couldn’t be better. It gives Jackson an extra week to heal up before a potential return against the Chicago Bears. For now, he’s doing what he can from the sidelines. “He’s around, still keeping engaged in the meetings,” Rush said. “He is in here every day doing all he can.”
While the offense is hurting without Jackson, the defense is getting some much-needed reinforcements. Pro Bowlers Kyle Hamilton, Ronnie Stanley, and Marlon Humphrey are all set to return. However, they’ll be missing linebacker Roquan Smith, another key piece of their defensive puzzle.
The Ravens are staring down the barrel of a 1-5 start, a hole only four teams in NFL history have ever dug themselves out of to make the playoffs. The pressure is on. Can Rush steer the ship through these choppy waters, or will the Ravens’ season sink before it ever really gets started? We’re about to find out.
