If the Baltimore Ravens 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon wasn’t painful enough for Ravens fans, Baltimore also lost arguably it’s four best players to injury in the losing effort.
The big loss obviously came when the Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson in the third quarter of the loss after he was sacked by George Karlaftis of the Chiefs. Jackson came off the field and was quickly ruled out with a hamstring ailment.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Jackson will undergo tests on his hamstring today, Monday, September 29 to determine the severity of the injury.
At his press conference on Monday, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh told reporters about Jackson, “There was no way he was going to go back in. The injury precluded it. During the game you’re just playing the next series as a coach. There was no way he could go back into the game.”
Harbaugh added, “I know Lamar the way I know Lamar, if he could’ve gone in the game he would’ve been in the game. That’s how Lamar, that’s how he is. But I can assure you that he wouldn’t have been able to go back into the game under any circumstance.”
Harbaugh did not provide any other details on Jackson’s status, including whether he could practice on Wednesday or play in their week 5 game against the Houston Texans.
If there is any team that can’t afford to lose their star quarterback, it’s the Ravens, who gain such a large percentage of their yards solely through Jackson’s ability to pass and run the ball at an elite level. They’ll also have to change their game plan entirely if Cooper Rush is the long-term substitute for Jackson in a situation where he’s out for an extended period, as Rush, despite his name, is not a quarterback comfortable with running the ball.
In his eight NFL seasons as a backup QB, Rush has carried the ball 61 times for a grand total of 20 yards.
More Players Sidelined In Chiefs Game
Before we get too deep into the bad news, there is one sliver of hope amidst all of the injuries: Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson’s injury, as well as the others about to be listed are not season ending. So there’s your good news.
The bad news is that the other three players to leave Sunday’s game with injuries were linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf). Though none of these injuries are season ending according to Harbaugh, each player will undergo tests to determine the severity of the injuries early this week.
Each of these players are as essential to their respective units as Jackson is to the pass and run games. Their absence in the late stages of Sunday’s contest were very apparent, as Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs ran amok all over every aspect of Baltimore’s game.
Ravens Already In Deep Trouble After 1-3 Start
Every Ravens fan can probably be seen praying today after they were walloped by Kansas City, because they may now be missing four of their best players for at least a week or two, and they only have one win to hold up after four weeks.
It’s not like the Ravens have been crushed in their three losses, at least outside of Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. Their other two losses came by scores of 41-40 to Buffalo and 38-30 to Detroit, two tightly contested, high scoring games. Baltimore collapsed in the fourth quarter against Buffalo in week one, as they went into the fourth quarter leading 34-19. The loss to Detroit also came as a product of sloppy play late in the game.
With two formidable opponents waiting in the wings in the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams before their bye week in week seven, the Ravens focus now needs to be survive the next two weeks, then take the bye week to get healthy before the schedule lightens up.
Hope is still alive in Baltimore, though dwindling. How they respond to their poor play and injuries next week will say a lot about whether this team has what it takes to make another playoff run.
Insider Reveals Update on Lamar Jackson & Other Ravens Injuries