Lamar Jackson injury update: star QB facing race against time ahead of crunch Packers clash

Lamar Jackson is hoping to play through the pain barrier to keep his, and the Baltimore Ravens’, season alive against the Green Bay Packers next weekend.

Jackson didn’t appear for the second half in the 28-24 Sunday Night Football loss to the New England Patriots after being hit in the side of his back by Craig Woodson.

The defeat to the Patriots meant the Ravens slipped to 7-8 for the season and will be eliminated if they lose at Green Bay next Saturday or the Pittsburgh Steelers win at the Cleveland Browns later that weekend.

Asked if he was intending to play against the Packers, Jackson said: “Yeah, that’s the goal. We’re going to do a little [MRI] scan [Monday] and then see what it shows.”

Jackson injury worries Harbaugh

Tyler Huntley stepped in at quarterback against the Patriots and would do so again if Jackson is ruled out. Coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson’s injury: “I don’t know how serious it’ll be. We’ll have to find out over the next couple of days.”

Jackson’s woes contributed to a disappointing day for the Ravens and they now face an uphill struggle to reach the postseason.

Their record without the two-time MVP under center is distinctly average (5-11) and they need two wins and results elsewhere to go their way.

“It’d be a challenge,” said safety Kyle Hamilton. “You’re talking about losing a guy who’s a multitime MVP and one of the best in the league. But I have the utmost confidence in ‘Snoop’ [Huntley] and ‘Coop’ [Cooper Rush]. We beat a Bears team with ‘Snoop’ at the helm, and you can see what kind of team they are now.”

Henry absence a headscratcher

Even without Jackson, Baltimore ought to have got the win against the Patriots, leading 24-13 early in the fourth quarter thanks to Derrick Henry’s two-yard touchdown.

Veteran running back Henry did not play a snap after that, missing the Ravens final two drives, something Harbaugh admitted afterwards was a mistake.

“Looking back, would I rather have had Derrick starting the drive? Yes,” Harbaugh said. “But Derrick was kind of ready for Keaton [Mitchell] to start that drive. And then, he was planning on coming in next. So, they were working that rotation.

“When you look back on it, I think it’s pretty easy to say, ‘Hey, he should have been in there or shouldn’t have been in there.’ But we’re rotating those guys throughout the game as two backs. But yes, [on a] game-winning drive, do I want Derrick Henry on the field? Sure, I do want him on the field.”