Sports
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Ravens Without Lamar Jackson Again: What's Next?
It’s tough to watch when your team’s star player is sidelined, especially when the season feels like it's hanging in the balance. For Baltimore Ravens fans, that’s precisely the situation they’re facing right now. Lamar Jackson, the dynamic quarterback who has led them to so much success, is once again going to be watching from the sidelines this Sunday. As reported by multiple outlets, including CBS Sports, Jackson has been ruled out for the second consecutive week with a hamstring injury. It’s a familiar storyline for the Ravens this season, one that’s clearly impacting their ability to find the end zone.
The numbers, frankly, aren't pretty. Since Jackson took over as the starter in 2018, the Ravens have struggled mightily when he’s not under center, holding a rather grim 4-11 record. They’ve lost their last five games without him, and as noted in the reports, scoring has been a significant issue, failing to top 17 points in any of those losses. This week, it's Cooper Rush once again stepping in. He had a tough outing last Sunday against the Texans, and now he faces a formidable Rams team that’s been potent offensively.
You can feel the concern among the players, but also a sense of solidarity. Wide receiver Zay Flowers has expressed confidence in Rush and the team, a sentiment echoed by center Tyler Linderbaum. They believe in each other, which is crucial. But when you're asking if Lamar Jackson is playing this week and the answer is no, it certainly raises questions about how this team can turn things around. Adding to the challenge, the Ravens are battling their own injury woes, though there’s some positive news with the potential return of key defensive players like Kyle Hamilton and Ronnie Stanley. Still, without their MVP quarterback, the path forward looks incredibly steep.
With a tough schedule ahead and the bye week looming, one has to wonder if this extended absence for Jackson, combined with the team’s struggles, will create a hole too deep to climb out of in the AFC North. What does this mean for the Ravens' playoff hopes?
The numbers, frankly, aren't pretty. Since Jackson took over as the starter in 2018, the Ravens have struggled mightily when he’s not under center, holding a rather grim 4-11 record. They’ve lost their last five games without him, and as noted in the reports, scoring has been a significant issue, failing to top 17 points in any of those losses. This week, it's Cooper Rush once again stepping in. He had a tough outing last Sunday against the Texans, and now he faces a formidable Rams team that’s been potent offensively.
You can feel the concern among the players, but also a sense of solidarity. Wide receiver Zay Flowers has expressed confidence in Rush and the team, a sentiment echoed by center Tyler Linderbaum. They believe in each other, which is crucial. But when you're asking if Lamar Jackson is playing this week and the answer is no, it certainly raises questions about how this team can turn things around. Adding to the challenge, the Ravens are battling their own injury woes, though there’s some positive news with the potential return of key defensive players like Kyle Hamilton and Ronnie Stanley. Still, without their MVP quarterback, the path forward looks incredibly steep.
With a tough schedule ahead and the bye week looming, one has to wonder if this extended absence for Jackson, combined with the team’s struggles, will create a hole too deep to climb out of in the AFC North. What does this mean for the Ravens' playoff hopes?
