With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Ravens head into a frigid Saturday night showdown in Green Bay likely without their franchise cornerstone under center.
Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP and heartbeat of Baltimore’s offense, is officially listed as doubtful as he continues to recover from a back contusion suffered late in the first half of last week’s loss to New England. Jackson hasn’t practiced all week, and unless something changes dramatically, he’s on track to miss his fourth game of the season-a major blow for a Ravens team trying to stay afloat in the AFC playoff picture.
Head coach John Harbaugh didn’t sugarcoat the situation when speaking to reporters earlier this week. “It’s not like a black and blue mark,” Harbaugh said.
“These are deep tissue contusions… very painful.” According to Harbaugh, the injury has caused Jackson’s muscles to lock up, severely limiting his mobility.
And while the competitive fire that defines Jackson hasn’t dimmed, this is one of those injuries where willpower alone isn’t enough.
“If he’s able to go, he’s going to be out there,” Harbaugh added. But as of now, all signs point to backup Tyler Huntley getting the start in a must-win game.
Huntley has been in this position before-stepping in for Jackson during the 2021 stretch run when the Ravens ultimately missed the postseason. Now, with Baltimore sitting at 7-8 and having dropped three of their last four, the stakes are just as high.
A loss to Green Bay, or a Steelers win in Cleveland on Sunday, would officially eliminate the Ravens from playoff contention. It’s a tough spot for a team that had higher expectations coming into the year.
There’s at least some good news on the defensive side: veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, has no game designation and is set to return. His presence should help stabilize a secondary that’s had its share of ups and downs this season.
But it’s not just the Ravens dealing with quarterback uncertainty heading into Week 17. The Packers have their own questions under center.
Starter Jordan Love remains in concussion protocol, and while he’s practiced in a limited capacity all week, he’ll need to be fully cleared to suit up Saturday night. Backup Malik Willis is also banged up, dealing with a right shoulder issue and an illness, and is listed as questionable.
In total, Green Bay has listed four starters as questionable for Saturday’s game, adding another layer of intrigue to a matchup that suddenly feels like a war of attrition. Both teams are limping into Week 17, but only one still has a path-however narrow-to the postseason.
The Ravens have been here before, and they know what’s at stake. But without their star quarterback, they’ll need to dig deep and find a way to keep their season alive.