Mink: Making Lamar Jackson feel comfortable again starts with him feeling healthier. After missing three games with a hamstring injury, Jackson has missed three practices the past three weeks, all due to different injuries (knee, ankle, toe).
The good news is Jackson said he's feeling better in "some areas" on Tuesday, when he was a full practice participant. If Jackson can get back to his usual self from a physical standpoint, it will give the Ravens offense another layer.
Jackson is so adept at escaping defenders and buying time to make plays, even from the pocket. He hasn't been doing that as much this season, which has resulted in more sacks and fewer explosive plays.
Pass protecting at a high level will, of course, help any quarterback feel more comfortable in the pocket. The Ravens did a better job of it versus the New York Jets last week, and they'll need to continue that against divisional rivals Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the coming weeks.
The Ravens could also help Jackson out by running the ball more efficiently. It's not one answer. Everybody is culpable for the sluggish offensive performances in recent weeks.
Overall, my belief is that if Jackson can overcome these nagging injuries, it's only a matter of time before this offense can put it all together, like we saw at the start of the season when they scored 111 points in the first three games.
Brown: In this case, I think the short week could work out well for the Ravens' offense.
Jackson returned to practice Tuesday, which was the main concern after he didn't practice Monday. He didn't seem worried about his toe, and Head Coach John Harbaugh said Jackson looked good in practice.
The Bengals (3-8) have the worst defense in the NFL, ranked last in points allowed and yards allowed. They've given up at least 30 points in six of their 11 games. The Ravens have a history of playing well offensively against Cincinnati and beat them twice last season, averaging 38 points per game. The short week won't help the Bengals find answers.
Having a full week to prepare didn't help Baltimore's offense catch fire vs. the Jets, when they held the Ravens to 72 yards total offense in the first half. I understand your concern about the performance of Baltimore's offense in recent games, but having a few extra days wouldn't have guaranteed a better result. Meanwhile, playing on Sunday would've given Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow more time to get ready after his nine-game absence.
After Thursday, the Ravens will have 10 days to get ready for Pittsburgh. That extra time gives them an excellent opportunity to sort out their offensive issues and become more consistent and explosive down the stretch.
Mink: Yes, I expect the offensive line to continue to be a focus this offseason. Daniel Faalele is in the final year of his rookie contract, so Baltimore could need a new starting right guard. Emery Jones Jr. could be a top contender there or to compete with Andrew Vorhees for a starting job.
The Ravens drafted three offensive linemen in April – Jones, offensive tackle Carson Vinson, and guard Garrett Dellinger, who is now in Cleveland. Baltimore will likely use multiple draft picks on the offensive line again, and I could see a modestly-priced veteran guard being something General Manager Eric DeCosta explores.
Brown: Jackson's health is a top priority, but I don't think it was a mistake to play him against the Jets.
The Ravens needed that victory to get over .500. Starting 1-5 this season has given them little margin for error. I think Jackson gave Baltimore the best chance to win, even without feeling 100%.
Jackson didn't have gaudy stats against the Jets, but he didn't turn the ball over and threw for 153 yards. The Ravens may have won with Tyler Huntley starting, as they did in Week 7 against the Bears. However, Huntley passed for 186 yards against Chicago, not dramatically more production than what Jackson did on Sunday.
Playing through injuries is part of playing in the NFL, and that's what Jackson and others are doing, especially at this point of the season. Hopefully, the extra rest after the Thanksgiving game will help Jackson down the stretch. But whenever Jackson can play, I think the Ravens should ride with him.
