Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson Carted Off With A Sprained Ankle

Early in the game this past Sunday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a right ankle sprain. The Ravens lost the game, 24-22, to the Cleveland Browns. This will tremendously affect the next four games for the Baltimore Ravens along with the Browns. These next four games will be very crucial for every team in the AFC North.

The Ravens are expecting Jackson to be diagnosed with a low ankle sprain, per ESPN. Jackson walked out of the locker room with a protective to assure his health for the following week. They are managing his ankle throughout the week very tentatively. 

“We’ll look at it more [Monday] and we’ll see where we’re at,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Baltimore has one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL. They also have one of the tightest races for whoever will win the division. Now, with their best player banged up or at the very least, not 100% this can jeopardize the playoff contention. The next four games that remain on the schedule are the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The backup quarterback Tyler Huntley has stepped up pretty well in the moments of Jackson’s absence. However, Huntley’s attempting to fill big shoes when called upon with such urgency. He almost help complete another comeback for the Ravens but just fell short. Many believe this team is still a playoff team although the Ravens has just lost two games back to back. Their injuries have not helped much either losing their best role players to compliment Jackosn’s explosive ability.

“Tyler displayed great determination, and I felt the entire team showed the same. “Harbaugh said. “That’s who we are and that’s why we have a chance to still win the championship in the AFC North and go on from there. That’s what we’ll be fighting to do in the next four weeks.”

How did Lamar Jackson suffer the injury?

Early in the game, Jackson suffered a shot to the ankle in the first play of the second quarter. He threw a short pass to Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. Browns defender, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah dove at Jackson’s feet. He immediately in pain fell to the ground and held his right lower leg. He then was evaluated in the medical tent, which led to him being carted off the field for good.

Due to the ankle injury, making this the first time in his four-year career he’s had to miss this game. He’s been sidelined twice by illness, and he sat out in the 2019 season finale due to the clinching of the playoffs that season. Huntley believes he will return before next week and seems to have faith he’ll be just fine. 

“He is going to be ready to work and come back whenever they do their tests to make sure he is OK,” Huntley said. “He will be back.”

Baltimore Ravens and Jackson are on the wrong side of history

There’s no secret this season has robbed the Ravens with a boatload of injuries. They have 23 players placed on the injured reserve at some point this season. Right before Jackon’s ankle injury, they lost their top pass rusher in Calais Campbell. He suffered a thigh injury minutes before Jackson.

Not to mention, it doesn’t help the Ravens that Jackson is often hit at an alarmingly, historic rate. Jackson is averaging 16 hits per game this year, the highest rate by any quarterback in the last 15 years, according to ESPN.

One would think with the revamped offensive line and backfield, he’d be performing at an all-time high. In fact, it’s the opposite he’s been subjected to one of the worst slumps of his football career. Throwing eight interceptions in the last four games despite receiving the NFL MVP award just two years ago.  

Absolutely unreal that Jackson has accounted for 78% of the Ravens’ offense entering Sunday. Although, he missed one game, that offense still ranks seventh in the NFL.