Ravens' Jackson thinks he'll be ready for wild-card game

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson thinks he'll be ready for wild-card game

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 1/10/23

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson seems to be hopeful that he'll be able to play on Wild Card Weekend in an effort to help his team defeat the reigning AFC champions, the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jackson has been out for the past five games with a knee injury that has been taking longer to heal than expected.

This is obviously a big game for the Ravens, who are the sixth seed after putting together a 10-7 regular season, so it makes sense that Jackson wants to play.

Not only does he want to play, but it sounds like he thinks he'll be able to.

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport told recently Pat McAfee on his show that Jackson "has told people he thinks he'll be back" in time for the playoff game against Cincinnati (h/t Baltimore Ravens website).

"He's been great. He's always in good spirits. He wants to play, there's no doubt, that's my feeling, head coach John Harbaugh told the media on Monday. "You know I love Lamar. I love everything about Lamar. Always have, always will. He's working hard, he's in good spirits."'

While these are notable reports and Ravens fans have to be feeling optimistic, it is worth noting that Rapoport tried to walk back a bit on the optimism.

"Other people who have watched him are not so sure," he said regarding Jackson's ability to make it back on time for the game. "Really, really a big question mark about whether or not he's going to be out there. And if he's out there, you want him to be all of the Lamar Jackson that's so, so, so good, and I just don't know if that's the case right now."

Super-backup Tyler Huntley was inactive for last Sunday's game against the Bengals with tendinitis in his right shoulder, but it's worth noting that he had started the previous four games as Jackson's replacement.

If Jackson can't go, the Ravens will undoubtedly be hoping that Huntley will be active. He's no former MVP, but he'll give the Ravens the best chance at upsetting the Bengals.

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