The Baltimore Ravens' first game without Lamar Jackson was an utter disaster.
With Jackson sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Ravens were forced to start Cooper Rush, and that went as badly as we expected and Baltimore is now 1-4.
It goes without saying that the Ravens need Jackson back as soon as possible, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to suit up this week. Initial reports suggested Jackson would miss multiple games, and it appears that will come to fruition.
Here's the latest on Jackson.
Lamar Jackson injury update
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Jackson is facing an "uphill battle" to play in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, which means we'll likely get another week of Rush.
"Lamar Jackson, their starting quarterback, still, I would say, status very much in doubt for this Sunday's game," Rapoport said. "We will see if he's able to play this week. Seems to me like a little bit of an uphill battle (for Jackson to play)."
With the Ravens playing on Sunday, the team will drop its first injury report of the week on Wednesday afternoon, so we'll know a bit more then. If Jackson is able to log any semblance of practice participation, it'll be a step in the right direction.
The Ravens will have a bye in Week 7, so the good news is Jackson will have an extra week to get right without missing another game. Baltimore will return from the bye to face the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Unfortunately, it might be too little, too late by then.
Barring Rush doing a complete 180 against a good Los Angeles defense, Baltimore is going to be 1-5 coming out of the bye and that will leave its playoff hopes in a precarious spot, to say the least.
Baltimore does have a fairly favorable schedule from Week 8 on, but there are no gimmes for a Ravens team that is in a bad, bad way this season.
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