The Baltimore Ravens are still sitting atop the AFC North, but the margin for error is shrinking fast-and now, there’s real concern about the health of their most important player.
Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP and the engine that drives Baltimore’s offense, is reportedly dealing with an ankle injury that could put his Week 14 status in doubt. That news came straight from offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and it adds some much-needed context to what’s been a puzzling stretch of underwhelming performances from Jackson.
Over the past month, Jackson hasn’t looked like himself. His trademark accuracy has dipped, turnovers have crept in, and he’s thrown just one touchdown pass during that span. It’s led to plenty of speculation about whether something physical might be holding him back-and now we have a clearer picture.
Monken didn’t mince words when asked about his quarterback’s condition.
“I just give him a lot of credit,” Monken said. “He’s battling each week, trying to get healthy enough to play.
That’s what I see out of him-a guy that’s battling little nagging injuries, things that are stopping him from being able to get out every day and practice. I see a guy battling.”
That’s not exactly the kind of update that inspires confidence heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Yes, it’s true that just about every player is dealing with something by December. That’s the nature of the NFL grind.
But when your quarterback-the centerpiece of your offense and the face of your franchise-is “battling” week to week and struggling to even practice, that’s a different level of concern. Especially when that quarterback’s legs are such a vital part of what makes him so dangerous.
Jackson’s game is built on dynamic movement-his ability to extend plays, escape pressure, and turn broken plays into highlight-reel runs. If his ankle is compromised, even slightly, it limits what the Ravens can do schematically and what defenses have to respect.
Suddenly, the threat of the read-option isn’t as scary. The scramble drill becomes less of a weapon.
And if he can’t practice consistently, timing with receivers and overall rhythm takes a hit.
Still, the Ravens are clinging to first place in the division, and that’s no small feat. But with the playoff race tightening and key games ahead, Baltimore needs Jackson as close to 100% as possible. Because as much as their defense has carried its weight and the run game has found moments of rhythm, this team goes as far as Lamar can take them.
And right now, it sounds like he’s doing everything he can just to stay on the field.
The Ravens have shown they can grind out wins even when things aren’t clicking perfectly, but if they’re going to make a real postseason run, they’ll need their quarterback to be more than just available-they’ll need him to be Lamar Jackson again. The version that keeps defensive coordinators up at night. The version that can flip a game with one throw or one cutback.
For now, the question isn’t just whether Lamar will play in Week 14. It’s whether he can get back to being that guy in time to keep Baltimore’s season from slipping away.