The Baltimore Ravens head into the final week of the regular season knowing everything comes down to Sunday night, and Lamar Jackson‘s health now sits at the center of their postseason hopes.
After a dramatic Week 17 that saw Derrick Henry overpower Green Bay and Cleveland upset Pittsburgh, the Ravens are still alive in the AFC North race.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Jackson is expected to return to practice on Wednesday, a notable step forward after he missed last week’s game entirely.
The Ravens quarterback was sidelined in Week 17 after suffering a painful back injury when he was kneed during Baltimore’s Week 16 loss to New England.
Last week, the Ravens believed Jackson might be able to play, but he never practiced and was ultimately ruled out. His return to the field this week, even in a limited role, signals progress. It does not, however, guarantee he will start on Sunday.
“There is still some question about whether or not [Baltimore] will have Lamar Jackson, their star quarterback, on the field for them,” Rapoport said Wednesday on Good Morning Football. “He is dealing with a significant back bruise. The team thought he would be able to play last week [but] he was not even able to practice.”
Those words capture the tension inside the organization. Baltimore is encouraged, but cautious, fully aware that rushing Jackson back could carry consequences.
Optimism builds as the stakes rise
Despite the uncertainty, Rapoport made clear that the tone around Jackson is far more positive this week than it was seven days ago.
“But this week, once again, there is some optimism that he’ll be back out there,” he continued. “Sounds like he is feeling better. Coach John Harbaugh wanted to make clear [that] when he is healthy, he will play [and] he will start.”
That message from John Harbaugh leaves little room for ambiguity. If Jackson is cleared, he will not be eased in. He will lead the Ravens into one of the biggest games of the season.
Sunday night’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers carries enormous weight for both sides. The winner secures the AFC North title and earns home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The loser is eliminated. There is no fallback.
“They do hope and believe that it will be this week in a game that they’ve got to have,” Rapoport concluded.
For Baltimore, Jackson‘s return would change everything. The offense looks far more dangerous with his mobility paired alongside Henry‘s punishing running style. Henry was dominant against Green Bay, and adding Jackson‘s dual threat ability would force Pittsburgh to defend every inch of the field.
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