For the Baltimore Ravens, their biggest test yet waiting once again. They’ve ruled out their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, for the second consecutive week, due to a hamstring injury. Jackson has been sidelined since he sustained the injury during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 28. This loss certainly is a blow for the Ravens, who have had a hard time establishing their identity this year.
Without Jackson, the Ravens have dropped five consecutive games, their worst start ever in franchise history. They have failed to score more than 17 points in each of those contests. This is an ugly graphic from ESPN that plainly displays how important their star player is to their offensive success. Since Jackson took over as the Ravens’ starting quarterback in 2018, Baltimore has been abysmal without Jackson. They sport a woeful 4-11 mark in contests he does not play.
And the team wants to avoid its first four-game losing streak since the final month of the 2021 season. That streak occurred with Jackson sidelined by an ankle injury. It was another outing where the Ravens’ offense was put on blast. That left Tyler Huntley to step in for Jackson and he certainly didn’t cut it, boasting an abysmal 179 passing yards while tying his career low with three picks.
The Ravens’ challenges only get worse as they will be without their star middle linebacker, Roquan Smith. As widely expected, he has been ruled out with a hamstring injury for the second straight game. Despite these setbacks, Baltimore will welcome back three Pro Bowl players: safety Kyle Hamilton (groin), offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Their return isn’t just a welcome sight, but a much-needed boon as the Ravens head into preparation for Sunday’s matchup.
As they head into this key division battle that precedes their bye week, the Ravens are looking to get their floundering season back on track. That extra rest could help Lamar Jackson get himself back to 100 percent. He might be available for a return in time for the October 26 game against the Chicago Bears.
We believe in ‘Coop’ and we’re eager for what we can do,” said wide receiver Zay Flowers. When he said that, he was talking about Cooper Rush, who’ll be taking the reins while Jackson is out. At the same time, Rush focused on the need to protect the football.
“You have to take care of the ball, especially as a quarterback; it’s your job.” – Cooper Rush
Baltimore had a tough outing, gaining just 207 total yards—their fewest in eight years. The onus is now on the Ravens to go out and earn such an upset and find their own feet again. Appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Jeremy Fowler pointed out the team’s disturbing 1-4 start. He worried that a terrible start might snowball into a lost season.
Leave a Reply