The Baltimore Ravens are staring down a must-win scenario this Saturday against the Green Bay Packers-and they may have to do it without their franchise quarterback.
Lamar Jackson listed as "doubtful" for Saturday’s game
Lamar Jackson hasn’t practiced all week, and as of Thursday, the Ravens officially listed him as doubtful for the weekend. That designation doesn’t leave much room for optimism-it typically means the player isn’t expected to suit up.
Jackson suffered a knee to the back during Sunday night’s loss to the New England Patriots, an injury that forced him out at halftime. Without him, the Ravens couldn’t rally, and the defeat pushed them to the brink of playoff elimination.
Here’s the math: Baltimore needs to win out-Saturday against Green Bay and then next week against Pittsburgh. But that alone won’t be enough.
They also need the Steelers to lose this Sunday to the Cleveland Browns. If Pittsburgh wins and Baltimore wins, the AFC North title is still locked up by the Steelers before the Week 18 showdown.
If the Ravens lose on Saturday, the playoff door slams shut.
Jackson’s absence looms large
This isn’t the first time Jackson’s availability has become a late-season storyline. Injuries have cost him chunks of recent seasons, and 2025 has been no exception.
He’s already missed three-and-a-half games this year. The Ravens are just 1-2 in games he didn’t start-and they couldn’t pull off a win last Sunday after he exited at the half.
Since Jackson took over as the starter in 2018, the Ravens are 8-16 when he’s not in the lineup. That’s not just a stat-that’s a signal. Baltimore’s offense is built around his dynamic skillset, and while backup Tyler Huntley has shown flashes, the drop-off is real.
If Jackson can’t go, Huntley will get the nod. He’s been in this spot before and knows the system, but the Ravens will need more than familiarity-they’ll need execution, poise, and a little bit of magic to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Quarterback questions in Green Bay, too
The Packers aren’t exactly heading into this game with a clean bill of health either. Both Jordan Love and Malik Willis are questionable after suffering injuries in last week’s game against the Chicago Bears. Neither has been a full participant in practice, but Green Bay hasn’t signed a veteran QB this week, which suggests they’re expecting at least one of them to be ready by Saturday.
So while both teams are clinging to playoff hopes, they're also juggling uncertainty at the most important position on the field. For Baltimore, the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s win-or-go-home time-and they may have to fight for their season without the player who defines it.