Lamar Jackson Injury Update: Ravens QB Unlikely vs. Falcons, Could Miss Multiple Games

Lamar Jackson looks unlikely to play Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, and he could miss more than one game. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson has only an “outside chance” to suit up while he recovers from a sprained left ankle. The injury is not considered long-term or surgical, but Jackson did not practice Wednesday, and Tyler Huntley took the first-team snaps.

That’s a lot of bad news for one week. Let’s break down what we know, what the “unconventional” label means, and why the Ravens’ bigger problem might be on the other side of the ball.

What Ian Rapoport Reported About Lamar Jackson’s Ankle

Rapoport said Jackson’s sprain gives him only an outside chance to play against the Falcons. He added that Jackson could miss multiple games depending on how rehab goes.

Rapoport also called the injury “unconventional,” saying it doesn’t fit the usual low-ankle or high-ankle labels reporters use to estimate recovery time. If you’re wondering why that matters, here’s the short version: the type of sprain usually tells you how long a player will be out. Without a clear label, nobody outside the Ravens’ medical staff can give you a confident timeline.

The good news is the part Rapoport stressed: this isn’t considered a long-term injury, and it shouldn’t need surgery.

Jackson hurt the ankle on a sack at the end of the first half against Tennessee. Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II landed on it, and Jackson never returned. Before he left, he went 15-for-20 for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

What Happened at Wednesday’s Practice

Jackson was not on the field. Huntley ran with the first team, and rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano took the other reps.

Coach Jesse Minter didn’t close the door. “There’s a lot of time between now and Sunday,” he said, adding that Jackson is getting plenty of treatment and the team will make a call later in the week. When he’s ready, Minter said, he’ll be ready.

Keep that in context. Coaches rarely rule anyone out on a Wednesday. The Friday injury report is the one to watch, and the Ravens’ beat writers expect to know more by then than they did at the start of the week.

Can Tyler Huntley Hold Things Together?

The Ravens trust him. Tight end Mark Andrews said the team has “a lot of trust” in Huntley and plans to have his back. Huntley played the second half against the Titans, finishing 8-for-9 for 63 yards, though the offense didn’t score in the five drives he ran.

History tells a mixed story. Huntley is 5-6 as a starter in games Jackson missed. The Ravens are 6-11 in the 17 career games Jackson hasn’t played. That’s not an indictment of Huntley. It shows how much of this team’s success depends on one player.

It also helps that the offense is built to function. Under first-year coordinator Declan Doyle, the Ravens rank fifth in yards and seventh in points, and they sit near the top of the league in success rate and explosive play rate. Zay Flowers is playing at an elite level, though he was also missing from Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring issue. Huntley won’t have it easy, but he won’t start from scratch either.

The Bigger Concern: Baltimore’s Run Defense

This is where our take comes in.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said he was concerned about the Ravens “with or without Lamar Jackson.” He called Jackson a top-five quarterback whose tape has been sensational, then pointed straight at the run defense. Orlovsky said the Ravens get pushed off the ball too often and allow backs to gain yards before defenders reach them. By EPA, an efficiency measure, he put Baltimore in the bottom three against the run.

The raw yardage tells a slightly different story. The Ravens allow about 100 rushing yards per game, which ranks around 10th in the league. But they’ve also allowed six rushing touchdowns, and Orlovsky’s point is that they haven’t faced a juggernaut ground game yet. Atlanta might be the first.

Here’s why we agree this is the real storyline. If Huntley starts and the offense takes a step back, the Ravens will need their defense to keep games close. Right now, that unit is the one with the clearest weakness.

And it’s worth saying: none of this is Jackson’s fault. His offense has been among the best in football, and Jackson has the top offensive grade among quarterbacks this season, according to PFF. If the Ravens stumble, don’t let anyone blame an offense that has been humming.

What the Falcons Bring to Sunday Night

Atlanta is 2-2, and the turnaround has been dramatic. The Falcons scored 16 points total in their first two games with Cooper Rush at quarterback. Since Michael Penix Jr. returned from ACL surgery, they’ve scored 80 in two games, beating Green Bay 35-14 and New Orleans 45-24.

The ground game has driven it. Atlanta ran for 447 yards across those two wins. Bijan Robinson alone had 339 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

That’s the matchup problem for Baltimore’s defense. It’s also a problem for the Ravens’ offense. The Falcons have the league’s top run defense and haven’t allowed more than 68 rushing yards in any game. Derrick Henry, who has 374 yards and seven touchdowns this season, faces a tough night too. The old plan of leaning on the run game if Jackson is out may not work against this defense.

What to Watch Before Sunday

• Friday’s injury report. Whether Jackson is listed as questionable, doubtful, or out is the clearest signal we’ll get.
• Any practice time for Jackson. Even a limited session would change the outlook.
• Flowers and the rest of the injury list. Several Ravens were missing from Wednesday’s session, including Flowers, safety Kyle Hamilton, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
• Baltimore’s defensive plan against the run. Watch the personnel Minter’s defense uses on early downs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lamar Jackson playing Sunday night against the Falcons?

It looks unlikely. Rapoport reported Jackson has only an outside chance, and he did not practice Wednesday. Minter hasn’t ruled him out, and the Ravens will decide later in the week.

How long will Lamar Jackson be out?

Nobody knows yet. Rapoport said he could miss multiple games depending on rehab, but the injury is not considered long-term or surgical.

What is an “unconventional” ankle sprain?

It’s Rapoport’s description of a sprain that doesn’t fit neatly into the low-ankle or high-ankle categories. The Ravens haven’t released an official diagnosis.

Who starts at quarterback if Jackson can’t play?

Tyler Huntley. He took the first-team reps at Wednesday’s practice.

Why are analysts worried about the Ravens even with Jackson healthy?

Orlovsky pointed to the Ravens’ run defense, which he said ranks bottom three in the league by EPA. Atlanta’s run game has been one of the league’s best over the past two weeks.

Final Thoughts

Here’s where we land. Fans should prepare for Huntley on Sunday night and treat any Jackson return as a bonus. The injury isn’t considered serious long-term, and that matters more than any single game.

But if you’re looking for the thing that could really cost Baltimore this month, watch the run defense. A strong ground game exposes it, injury or no injury.

What do you think? Do you trust Huntley and this coaching staff to hold things together, or is the defense the bigger problem? Drop your take in the comments, and check back after Friday’s injury report for the latest.

Related: Lamar Jackson ankle injury update after the Titans game