Baltimore’s season took another painful turn on Sunday night, and this time the frustration was impossible to hide.
What began as a game that appeared to be swinging in the Ravens’ favor ended with their star quarterback watching from the sideline, injured and visibly upset.
Lamar Jackson’s night against the New England Patriots came to a sudden halt late in the second quarter, and the moment proved to be a defining one for both the game and Baltimore’s fading postseason hopes.
On a short read-option run, Jackson pulled the ball and moved forward before choosing to give himself up. As he went down, contact from Patriots safety Craig Woodson drove into his lower back. Jackson immediately stayed on the ground, signaling that something was wrong.
He would not return to the field. Afterward, Jackson made it clear he believed the hit crossed a line, stressing that he had already surrendered on the play.
“I gave myself up, and I got kneed in the back,” Jackson said. “I can’t finish the game with my guys. It’s BS.”
Tyler Huntley stepped in under center, but the Ravens struggled to maintain their earlier rhythm. Baltimore eventually fell 28-24, a loss that dropped the team to 7-8 and placed its playoff chances in serious jeopardy.
For Jackson, the disappointment went beyond the scoreboard. He felt the Ravens were controlling the flow of the game before his injury, making the outcome even harder to accept.
The physical toll was obvious on the sideline and later in the locker room. Simple movements caused discomfort, and sitting for extended periods was difficult. Jackson described the pain plainly, underscoring how much the injury lingered well after the final whistle.
Still, what seemed to bother him most was the sense that the opportunity slipped away at the worst possible time.
Injuries and regret
Jackson did everything he could to get back on the field. He received a Toradol injection at halftime and attempted to throw with trainers, hoping the pain would subside enough to play. It didn’t.
The Ravens officially ruled him out in the third quarter, leaving the offense without its leader during a critical stretch. Head coach John Harbaugh later referred to the injury as a bruise, noting that further testing would determine the severity.
This setback is only the latest in what Jackson himself has called a brutal season. He has battled issues with his hamstring, knee, ankle, toe, and now his back, marking multiple interruptions to his availability. Sunday’s game was the fifth time he was forced to exit early due to injury.
Despite everything, Jackson has not ruled out a return for the upcoming matchup in Green Bay. He acknowledged that an MRI would guide the next steps but made it clear that playing remains his goal.
As Baltimore approaches a critical point in its season, Jackson‘s health may ultimately decide how this turbulent chapter ends.
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