Lamar Jackson’s ankle has turned Sunday’s Ravens-Bengals matchup into something Baltimore knows too well: another game built around a quarterback who cannot go, and another test of how far the Ravens can bend their plan without breaking it.
Jackson was ruled out for Week 7, missing a third straight game because of the injury. Tyler Huntley will start in his place for the third consecutive week, keeping Baltimore in the same contingency mode it has had to use before.
Jackson said the swelling is behind him, but the pain is still there when he runs. He also said he was “dumb” for trying to help the team while still hurt.
That explanation matters because the Ravens are not dealing with a one-week absence that came out of nowhere. Jackson confirmed he has been dealing with a high ankle sprain, the kind of injury that typically comes with a multi-week absence. He had missed the previous two games and was trying to avoid a third, but he was still listed as questionable after a week of limited participation.
The result is a familiar setup for Baltimore, and not a favorable one. Since 2019, the Ravens are 0-3 against the Bengals without Jackson. Huntley has already been asked to keep the offense moving in his absence, and this will be his third straight start.
He has had moments in that role. Huntley helped lead a comeback win in Atlanta, but the offense stalled in a recent loss to Cleveland, when Baltimore failed to score after its first two drives. That uneven stretch now carries into a divisional game against a Cincinnati team that comes in healthy and rested after a bye week.
The Bengals’ timing adds another layer to Baltimore’s challenge. While the Ravens are working through Jackson’s injury and a growing list of absences, Cincinnati enters with the benefit of a full week off and a cleaner injury picture. That contrast is hard to miss in a rivalry game where the quarterback matchup would normally set the tone.
Baltimore is also dealing with more than Jackson. Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is out for the season with a pectoral injury, thinning the roster further as the Ravens prepare for a Bengals team that has had time to reset.
For the Ravens, the question is no longer whether Jackson’s ankle is bothering him. It is how long they can keep asking the rest of the roster to cover for his absence, and whether Huntley can do enough against a well-rested Cincinnati team to keep the game from slipping away early.