Lamar Jackson Reportedly Unlikely to Play Against Texans, Could Miss 2-3 Weeks
Lamar Jackson is unlikely to play Sunday against the Houston Texans due to the hamstring injury he suffered in the Ravens' loss in Kansas City, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker, who added that the two-time MVP could be sidelined for up to 2-3 weeks.
"Hamstring injuries typically keep a player out for 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity, though a source said that Jackson will try to see if he could return in time for Sunday," Wacker wrote.
After facing the Texans (1-3) at home, the Ravens (1-3) host the Los Angeles Rams (3-1) in Week 6, have a bye in Week 7, and host the Chicago Bears (2-2) in Week 8.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on his podcast that his guess is that Jackson won't play against the Texans.
"I would say that there's a question as to whether he'll play this week and next week, and if they hold him out those two games, he basically gets a month off to rest the hamstring," Schefter said.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on "Good Morning Football" Wednesday that Jackson's status for Sunday's game "is in doubt," but the two-time MVP will try to suit up if he can.
Jackson hasn't missed a game due to injury since the 2022 season, when a knee injury sidelined him for the final five regular-season contests and the Ravens' Wild-Card playoff game.
If Jackson doesn't play Sunday, veteran Cooper Rush will start. Rush went 9-5 as a starter in relief of Dak Prescott over seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
After Jackson exited the game against the Chiefs midway through the third quarter, Rush went 9-for-13 for 52 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Looking at the Ravens' Two Biggest Problems
It's no secret that the Ravens have room for improvement on both sides of the ball. The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer identified five units that are struggling and ranked them based on level of concern.
Here's a look at the two most concerning:
- Pass rush
"Last year, the Ravens could stomach a relatively low pressure rate (34.5%, 18th in the NFL) because they made up for it with a high sack rate (7.5%, sixth). This year, their pressure rate is even worse (31.3%, 22nd), and their sack rate has been cut by more than half (3.1%, 31st). Their four total sacks are tied for second to last in the league. With defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike lost for the season, the Ravens are down their one reliable game-wrecker up front. In the defense's 102 pass rush snaps without him this season – a chunk of which have also overlapped with the absence of injured outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring), who led the team in sacks in 2024 — the Ravens have one sack, good for a 1% rate. Their pressure rate on those snaps is 22.5%, which would be third to last in the NFL this season.
"The Ravens haven't been able to blitz their way into success, either. They've sent five or more pass rushers after the quarterback 39 times this season. The results: 15 pressures and no sacks. Only three other teams haven't recorded a sack on a blitz this season: the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals."
- Pass blocking
"Jackson has been pressured on 40.3% of his drop-backs this season, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL among qualifying passers. Last year, he felt heat on 39.7% of his drop-backs, the seventh-highest rate, but was rarely sacked. Jackson bears some responsibility for his 15 sacks this season, along with Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken and the Ravens' receiving corps. But even basic four-man rushes — or three-man rushes with a 'spy' monitoring Jackson along the line of scrimmage — have given the Ravens fits. Their pressure rate against nonblitzes (35.2%) is eighth highest in the NFL, and their sack rate (12.1%) is the worst.
"With four starters returning and high hopes for left guard Andrew Vorhees, the Ravens' offensive line was expected to take a step forward in 2025. But the unit's blown-block rate (4.2%) on drop-backs is fourth highest in the NFL, and even Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum has struggled in pass protection. If left tackle Ronnie Stanley's ankle injury sidelines him for long, the Ravens could struggle to keep clean pockets against the Texans' and Rams' dynamic pass rushes."
Ravens' Inability to Get Takeaways Has Contributed to Their Losing Record
Getting more takeaways was a focus for the Ravens entering the season, but they have just two in four games. Only two teams have forced fewer turnovers.
The Ravens have committed four turnovers, giving them a -2 turnover differential, which is tied for 21st.
Sharp Football Analysis’ Warren Sharp noted that teams who win the turnover battle have won 88% of the time this season, which is the highest mark through Week 4 since at least 2000. Baltimore lost the turnover battle in all three of their losses.
Interestingly, the interception rate is the lowest it's been since at least 2000, according to Sharp, who said forcing fumbles has been the key to creating turnovers.
The Ravens have lost three fumbles (all by running back Derrick Henry). Only three teams have lost more. Conversely, Baltimore has forced just one fumble, which Roquan Smith returned for a 63-yard touchdown against the Browns.
Ravens Get D+ Grade for First Month of Season
USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz handed out report cards for the first quarter of the NFL season, and the Ravens were given a D+ grade.
"How did Baltimore stumble to a 1-3 start after looking virtually unstoppable for the first three quarters of the season opener against the Bills?" Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "Injuries are responsible for sapping a chunk of the defense's prowess, and the attrition has only accelerated in the last two weeks. But with Lamar Jackson and the offense unable to go it alone – and the two-time MVP also nursing a hamstring injury– the Ravens have supplanted the Chiefs as the most concerning top contender.
"A softer schedule and better health could give rise to yet another midseason surge. Until an uptick starts to take shape, however, Baltimore will be left to ponder how the rare level of continuity the team was set to enjoy came undone so quickly."
The Texans, the Ravens' next opponent, got an even lower grade (D-).
"In terms of discrepancy between preseason expectations and early results, there's no bigger disappointment than the Texans," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "The defending AFC South champions' plan to repair their offense by empowering C.J. Stroud with more responsibility and reworking the front has thus far backfired spectacularly, with the team averaging just 16 points per contest."
Ravens Remain Betting Favorites to Win AFC North
Despite their 1-3 record and injuries to Jackson and a host of defensive starters, the Ravens are still the favorites to win an unprecedented third consecutive AFC North title.
The Ravens' odds are -145, according to ESPN Bet. The first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) are next at +175, while the 2-2 Cincinnati Bengals (+1300) and 1-3 Cleveland Browns (+2000) are long shots.
One day after ESPN’s Rich Eisen said he believes the Ravens can "go on a run and win the division," he was a bit less optimistic after the report about Jackson possibly missing multiple games.
"It looks good for the Steelers so far, and the Ravens are entering dire strait waters right now," Eisen said on "The Rich Eisen Show."
