The Ravens already proved they can survive a week without Lamar Jackson, and that’s why one national voice is now saying Baltimore should take the long view.
After Jackson sat out last weekend’s overtime win over the Falcons, Tyler Huntley stepped in and handled the offense efficiently, going 24 of 32 for 201 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also added 20 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, giving the Ravens enough juice to get the job done without their star quarterback.
That performance has fed the argument that Jackson does not need to be rushed back for Sunday’s trip to Cleveland. Jackson is still questionable because of the ankle injury, and he missed the first two days of practice this week.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said Baltimore should err on the side of caution.
"I think when I look at Lamar Jackson, I think he should sit out. I don't think he should play," Smith said.
"Get him 100%. Get him close to 100% and get him out on the field so he can do what he does in the meat of the season.
I don't want him being put out there prematurely as if it's desperate times. The Baltimore Ravens are 4-1 on the season right now.
They are in first place in the AFC North. There is an absence of urgency ...
You can afford to lose a game if it comes to that. I'm not saying you're going to do it on purpose, but the priority is Lamar Jackson being healthy."
Jackson’s early-season production explains why this is such a delicate call. In the first four games, he completed 70.8% of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception, while also running for 144 yards and a score. He was rolling toward another MVP-level season, and Huntley, for all the confidence he brings, doesn’t offer that same ceiling.
Still, the matchup matters. Cleveland is sitting at 3-2 and would move into first place in the division with a win, even if only temporarily. Baltimore, though, enters as a 3.5-point favorite with Jackson expected to miss the game, and Huntley has a track record of handling the job - he’s 3-0 as a starter over his last two seasons in Baltimore.
Even a loss in Cleveland would not derail the Ravens. They would still be in a strong place in the AFC, and they would have another shot at the Browns later in the year with Jackson healthier.
After Sunday, Baltimore hosts the Bengals before games against the Bills, Jaguars and Chargers, and that stretch is still ahead. With the schedule about to get tougher, the case for protecting Jackson now only gets stronger.
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