The Lamar Jackson injury situation hangs over Sunday night’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the 3-1 Ravens visit the 2-2 Falcons in a prime-time matchup that will test Baltimore’s depth at quarterback. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, with Jackson’s status for the AFC North leaders still uncertain three days out.
Jackson suffered a left ankle injury during Baltimore’s 24-18 win over Tennessee and missed practice Wednesday. Ravens coach Jesse Minter told reporters the team is “still gathering a lot of the information and the imaging and things like that,” and added he does not expect the issue to be “crazy long term,” according to ESPN. If Jackson sits, Tyler Huntley would start, and Minter said Huntley “has enough experience to be able to play without a week of practice,” per CBS Sports.
Baltimore Ravens Vs Atlanta Falcons Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 11
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- TV: NBC
- Weather: 64°F, 6% chance of precipitation
Will Lamar Jackson Play Sunday Night?
Jackson’s practice absence Wednesday left his availability unresolved heading into the week. With Jackson under center this season, the Ravens are averaging 29 points per game behind a 118.4 passer rating and a 72.4% completion rate, numbers that have made Baltimore one of the league’s most efficient offenses through four games.
Minter was careful not to overstate the severity, saying “I really don’t think it’s going to be crazy long term, but we’ll see what happens.” He also noted the stakes of replacing a two-time MVP: “There’s one Lamar Jackson, the guy’s a two-time MVP.” Jackson has missed 17 games across his nine-year career, 13 of them due to injury, and a hamstring issue and back contusion cost him four games last season.
What Happens If Tyler Huntley Starts?
Huntley is 5-6 as a fill-in starter for Baltimore and led the Ravens to a 41-24 win at Green Bay in Week 17 of a previous season to keep playoff hopes alive, a performance Minter referenced when discussing Huntley’s track record in “must-win situations.” Replacing Jackson carries a steep statistical drop: since the start of 2019, Baltimore is 6-11 without him, averaging 17.6 points per game compared with 28.4 with him on the field.
Even with that uncertainty at quarterback, the Ravens still have Derrick Henry, who ranks fourth in the NFL with 374 rushing yards and is tied for the league lead with seven rushing touchdowns. Henry rushed for 73 yards and a score against his former team, Tennessee, last week after opening the season with 144 yards and three touchdowns in a win at Indianapolis.
Can The Falcons’ Run Defense Slow Derrick Henry?
Atlanta enters the game leading the NFL in run defense, allowing just 48.3 yards per game on the ground. That sets up directly against a Baltimore rushing attack that ranks fourth in the league at 153.5 yards per game, the most direct individual matchup of the night according to Yahoo Sports.
The Falcons arrive with momentum. After scoring just 16 combined points in their first two losses, Atlanta has scored 80 points over its last two games, including a 45-24 win over New Orleans on Monday night. Michael Penix Jr. has completed 33 of 45 passes for 479 yards and two touchdowns this season, and Bijan Robinson has rushed for 494 yards and four scores on 85 carries.
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Ravens 29.0, Falcons 24.0
- Passing yards per game: Ravens 257.5, Falcons 191.8
- Rushing yards per game: Ravens 153.5, Falcons 181.0
- Total yards per game: Ravens 411.0, Falcons 372.8
- Third-down conversion rate: Ravens 32.43%, Falcons 37.21%
- Turnover differential: Ravens plus-3, Falcons minus-5
- Sacks allowed: Ravens 7, Falcons 8
- Red zone scoring rate: Ravens 86.67%, Falcons 100.00%
Ravens Outlook
Baltimore is 2-0 on the road this season and seeking its first 4-1 start since 2021. The Ravens have gone 20-7 on the road since 2023, the best mark in the league, with a plus-214 point differential in those games, and Jackson personally carries a 40-16 record as a road starter. Baltimore also leads the NFL in turnover differential at plus-21, a figure that includes last season’s totals.
Wide receiver Zay Flowers has emerged as one of the league’s most explosive playmakers after returning from an earlier absence, and tight end Mark Andrews recorded his 500th career reception and scored a touchdown in last week’s win over Tennessee. The offensive line has shuffled pieces almost weekly, with Vega Ioane playing well at center in Week 4 and limiting Jeffery Simmons’ impact. Flowers himself is listed as questionable with a foot injury heading into Sunday, adding another layer of uncertainty to Baltimore’s offensive game plan.
Falcons Outlook
Atlanta is playing its third consecutive prime-time game, following a Thursday night win at Green Bay and Monday’s win over New Orleans, and the Falcons are 3-1 in home prime-time games since 2024. Atlanta’s defense leads the NFL with 79 quarterback pressures and ranks second with 35 quarterback hits, though the unit has produced just seven sacks on the season. Left tackle Jake Matthews, who has started 199 consecutive games, a franchise record and the longest active streak in the league, left Monday’s game with a groin injury but returned to practice Thursday and is listed as questionable. Atlanta’s offense found its footing after Cooper Rush opened the season as the starter and threw four interceptions in the first two games before Penix took over.
Key Matchup: Henry Against The NFL’s Top Run Defense
Derrick Henry against Atlanta’s run defense is the matchup that could shape the game’s rhythm. The Falcons have allowed the fewest rushing yards per game in the league, while Henry has scored a touchdown in every game this season and ranks among the NFL’s rushing leaders. If Baltimore leans on Huntley or a limited Jackson, establishing Henry early becomes even more important for controlling tempo and taking pressure off the passing game.
Players To Watch
Roquan Smith, LB, Ravens
Smith is the only player in the league this season with at least 30 tackles, one interception, one sack and one forced fumble, making him the engine of Baltimore’s defense regardless of who starts at quarterback.
Calais Campbell, DL, Ravens
Campbell has played in 282 career games, tied with Jim Marshall for the most by a defensive lineman in NFL history. A game against Atlanta would give him sole possession of the record.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons
Penix has thrown for 479 yards and two touchdowns this season and has directed Atlanta’s turnaround over the past two weeks, including Monday’s 45-24 win over New Orleans.
What To Watch
Baltimore enters tied with Cleveland atop the AFC North and is chasing its first 4-1 start since 2021, while Atlanta sits at 2-2 in the NFC South after a 16-point, two-game turnaround. The Ravens also hold a 5-2 edge in the all-time series and a 2-2 record in games played in Atlanta, with the teams’ last meeting a 17-9 Baltimore win in December 2022. Jackson’s first career road start came against this same Falcons team in 2018, a 26-16 Ravens win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Jackson’s final injury designation is expected to be announced before kickoff Sunday.
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