Jackson's Brilliant Half Derailed by Ankle Injury as Huntley Closes Ravens' Win
Lamar Jackson left Baltimore's 24-18 victory over Tennessee at halftime with a left ankle injury, putting his status for Week 5 against Atlanta in doubt.
Lamar Jackson's dominant first half for Baltimore ended in injury when the final snap before halftime left the Ravens quarterback with a left ankle problem. Tyler Huntley stepped in for the second half to guide Baltimore to a 24-18 win over Tennessee on Sunday. Jackson's status for Week 5 remains uncertain as the team waits to learn the extent of the damage.
The Injury That Changed the Game
Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II sacked Jackson from behind on Baltimore's last offensive play before the half, per ESPN. Johnson's shoulder landed on the outside of Jackson's left ankle, which rolled beneath him. The quarterback did not return for the second half and left M&T Bank Stadium with his left ankle in a protective boot, the Baltimore Sun reported.
Jackson was due to have an MRI on the ankle on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, per NBC Sports. Coach Jesse Minter offered little clarity in his post-game comments, saying Jackson was "just dealing with a little bit of an ankle. I don't know enough about it right now, but we'll have to see where that's at," per ESPN. The early reports on his outlook differ. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson is believed to be day-to-day, per ESPN, while Yahoo Sports reported he is believed to be week to week pending the MRI. Either way, his availability for Atlanta next Sunday is now the Ravens' biggest immediate concern.
A Brilliant Half Cut Short
Jackson had been methodical and efficient before the injury. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns in the opening half, per ESPN. Those 222 passing yards were the fourth-most Jackson has produced in any opening half of his career, according to ESPN, a measure of how completely he had taken control of the game before the injury disrupted everything.
| Completions | Pass Yards | Passing TDs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson (1st half) | 15-20 | 222 | 2 |
| Huntley (2nd half) | 8-9 | 63 | 0 |
The Backup Steps In
Tyler Huntley's job in the second half was containment, not brilliance. He completed 8 of 9 passes for 63 yards, per ESPN, and Baltimore held on for the win.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward finished 20 of 31 for 222 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception for an 83.0 rating, per ESPN. Ward also ran 4 times for 27 yards, but it was not enough to overturn Baltimore's lead.
The Standings Reality
The win moved Baltimore to 3-1 on the season, per ESPN, keeping the Ravens competitive in the AFC North race. Tennessee, meanwhile, fell to 0-4, per ESPN, and is still without a win. A winless start puts the Titans under mounting pressure as the season reaches its quarter mark.
What Comes Next
The Ravens face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, 11 October, at 8:20 p.m. on NBC, per NFL.com. Jackson's absence would be a major blow for Baltimore's offence, and if the ankle keeps him out, Huntley would carry a much heavier workload than the eight-of-nine relief shift he delivered against Tennessee.
A day-to-day outlook would give Jackson a chance to face the Falcons; a week-to-week one would put that in doubt. The MRI is what separates the two, and until the team shares its result, Baltimore's preparations for Atlanta will revolve around one question: whether their quarterback can play.