Lamar Jackson's Injury Clouds Ravens' Week 17 - and the Bigger Picture
The Ravens’ playoff hopes just got a lot murkier. Lamar Jackson didn’t participate in Tuesday’s walkthrough due to a back injury suffered during the second quarter of Baltimore’s 28-24 loss to the Patriots. And while the team hasn’t ruled him out yet, his absence from practice casts serious doubt over his availability for the upcoming matchup against the Packers - a game that now feels like a must-win with Baltimore sitting at 7-8 and hanging by a thread in the playoff race.
Let’s be clear: Jackson missing time isn’t just a setback - it’s a seismic shift for a team already walking a tightrope. In 12 games this season, he’s completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,311 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 340 yards and two more scores on the ground.
That dual-threat production is the heartbeat of Baltimore’s offense. Without him, the Ravens' margin for error shrinks to almost nothing.
But the implications stretch far beyond Week 17. This injury - and the season as a whole - is starting to feel like a turning point for the Ravens and their franchise quarterback.
According to reports, Baltimore is approaching a critical fork in the road when it comes to Jackson’s future. With two years left on his deal at $51.25 million per season - none of it guaranteed - and a looming $74.5 million cap hit in 2026, the team essentially has two options: restructure his deal through an extension or consider trading him.
That second path comes with a major obstacle: Jackson holds a no-trade clause. That means he would have significant control over where he goes, if anywhere, should Baltimore ever explore that option. So while the idea of a trade might generate headlines, it’s not as straightforward as it sounds.
An extension, on the other hand, would be the cleanest way to lower the financial burden and lock Jackson in for the long haul - assuming both sides are aligned on what that future looks like.
But here’s where it gets tricky. Jackson hasn’t exactly delivered a slam-dunk contract year by his own standards.
He’s already missed three games this season and could be sidelined for a fourth. Combine that with the very real possibility of missing the playoffs, and you’ve got a front office staring down some tough decisions at a time when momentum is slipping, not building.
And it’s not just about the quarterback. There are broader questions facing this franchise, from the long-term roster structure to the coaching staff. Head coach John Harbaugh addressed the speculation around job security with his usual steadiness, saying coaching has always been a day-to-day job and that it’s never about “keeping a job” - it’s about doing the job well in the moment.
Right now, the Ravens need more than just a good day - they need a spark. Whether that comes from Jackson gutting it out, a backup stepping up, or the team rallying around the uncertainty, Baltimore’s path forward is hanging in the balance. And what happens over the next two weeks could shape not just the rest of this season, but the entire direction of the franchise heading into 2026.