Three-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson will miss his second straight game Sunday.
The Baltimore Ravens ruled Jackson out of action Friday for their home game against the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium with the same hamstring injury that cost him last week’s outing.
Cooper Rush is expected to be the Ravens’ signal caller for the second straight week. Rush went 14 for 20 for 179 yards with three interceptions in Baltimore’s 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Ravens (1-4), who have won the division two straight years, have lost three straight games and are tied with the Cleveland Browns for last place in the AFC North. They are 2.5 games behind the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lamar Jackson Is Out For Baltimore’s Week 6 Game vs the Rams
Jackson sustained the hamstring injury in Baltimore’s Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, adding a level of insult to the injury of their slow start.
Jackson, a two-time AP NFL MVP who also has won the Pro Football Writers Association MVP in consecutive seasons, was off to another outstanding start despite his personal 1-3 record.
Rush, who has historically been a backup and spelled Dak Prescott as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, looked awful against the reignited Texans defense Sunday. Still, Rush has taken No. 1 reps all week, since Jackson was unlikely to play for the second straight week.
âWe have to be more efficient, on first and second down, especially, and get more manageable third downs,â Rush told The Athletic. “We were able to convert on a few kind of longer ones, but those are hard, those are rare. Just more efficiency, overall, to get us going.â
The Ravens will have their bye in Week 7, and their schedule gets more favorable in the second half. After the bye, Baltimore will play the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals in its six games out of the bye, when presumably Jackson will return.
Still, Baltimore isn’t punting on its game this week.
âI feel like if anybody is missing their starting quarterback on any team, itâll be a challenging week,â Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers on Wednesday, according to The Athletic. âWe believe in Coop, and we believe in what we have. We believe in our team, so I think weâll be all right.â
Ravens Defensive Backs Will Return
The Ravens were gashed for more than 400 yards of offense by C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense, prompting them to acquire multiple defensive backs this week — including controversial Super Bowl-winning safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Yet, the Ravens will get some much-needed relief in their secondary. Marlon Humphrey (calf) and safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) each participated in practice Friday and are expected to play against the Rams.
The Ravens are last in the NFL in points-against per game (35.4) and 31st in the NFL in total defense. Yet, Humphrey and Hamilton are each among the best at their position, and each would be much needed against the Rams, who are averaging nearly 25 points per game and love to throw the ball with Matthew Stafford, especially to star wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
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