The news out of Baltimore on Saturday was bad for the Ravens, but good for the Chicago Bears.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who’d been trending toward a game-time decision with a hamstring injury, was officially ruled out for Sunday’s Week 8 clash. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was first to report the news.
The confirmation Jackson will be out followed a swirl of conflicting signals, with Jackson listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice before Rapoport revealed the Ravens QB had actually run the scout team. The Ravens later changed his Friday status to “limited.”
With Jackson out, backup Tyler Huntley will start. Huntley is an experienced understudy, but he’s obviously a huge downgrade. “Snoop” Huntley has thrown just 68 yards in relief this year. He started five games in 2024, completing 64.7% of his passes for 829 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Like Jackson, he’s mobile, but nowhere near as dangerous with his legs or his arm.
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Ruled Out Week 8 vs. the Chicago Bears: More on His Status
GettyLamar Jackson’s Week 8 status vs. the Chicago Bears has been Revealed. The Raven’s QB will not play.
From the Bears’ perspective, this is a big-time break. The 2023 MVP had been operating at peak efficiency through four games this season, with 10 touchdown passes against a single interception, all while remaining an undeniable threat as a runner.
Coming off a career-best 2024, Jackson is the heartbeat of Baltimore’s offense. Without him, the Bears face a steadier, less volatile unit. That doesn’t mean the Ravens should be overlooked. At 1-5, they’re desperate for a win, they’re playing at home, and they have one of the NFL’s most powerful running backs.
Without Jackson out, the Bears can expect a heavy dose of Derrick Henry, the NFL’s reigning TD leader, who is averaging 5.0 yards per carry.
“I think the number one coaching point is ‘how many hats can we get around the ball?’ If we’re expecting one guy to get the ball on the ground every time, that’s a tough proposition when you’re talking about this guy,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said about Henry.
“So, you’ve got to be able to hit him. You have to be able to wrap up. Essentially you have to be able to take his pistons away and take his legs away from him in terms of his ability to drive through contact. But I think more importantly than anything else, it’s ‘how many hats can we get to the ball?’ I think that’ll be critical.”
Bears Also Banged Up Entering This Game
The Bears got a gift with Jackson being ruled out, but they’ll be very shorthanded themselves. Tight end Cole Kmet (back) will miss the first game of his career, cornerbacks Kyler Gordon (groin/calf) and Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) are out, and both left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) and running back Roschon Johnson (back) will also miss Week 8.
“It’s a good football team that we’re playing,” Allen added. “I know things haven’t gone as well as they would’ve liked throughout the course of the season, but make no mistake about it, you watch tape, in particular, offensively this is a good football team and I think they run the ball exceptionally well. … They’ve got skill players all across the board. So, there’s a lot to have to contest with this week, in a tough environment going up to Baltimore.”
The Bears have a legitimate chance to steal one on the road if they play mistake-free on offense while also continuing to capitalize on a defense that has forced 15 turnovers over its last five games. It won’t be easy — road wins in the NFL never are — but the Bears couldn’t have asked for a bigger break Week 8. Now, they need to capitalize.
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