The Baltimore Ravens will head into their Week 6 AFC North matchup without Lamar Jackson after coach Jesse Minter confirmed Jackson was ruled out following a week in which he missed every practice. The absence marks the second consecutive game Jackson will miss after sustaining a left ankle injury just before halftime of Baltimore’s 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 4; Jackson did not return for the second half and left the stadium in a protective boot.
Backup stability: Why the Ravens can be patient
Jackson has been ruled out for the Week 6 matchup after missing every practice this week, leaving Baltimore to lean on veteran backup Tyler Huntley, who took all the first‑team repetitions. Huntley’s three‑touchdown outing in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons helped power a 30-23 road victory and has eased the immediate urgency to rush Jackson back.
Huntley’s résumé in Baltimore and around the league underpins the club’s confidence. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Utah in 2020, he has built a reputation as a dependable backup, bringing mobility and a quick‑release rhythm that suit the Ravens’ offense. Huntley has previously stepped into starting duties during injury stretches in 2021 and 2022, earned a Pro Bowl selection after helping Baltimore reach the postseason, and — after brief stints with the Browns and Miami in 2024 — returned to Baltimore as experienced insurance. He has accumulated nearly 3,500 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns and more than 800 rushing yards in his career.
That track record, combined with his Week 5 performance and the first‑team reps this week, gives Baltimore tangible options as it navigates Jackson’s recovery. Yahoo! News framed Huntley’s play as the primary reason the Ravens can afford patience with Jackson’s return timetable.
Medical picture and messaging around Jackson
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport described Jackson’s ankle as an unusual sprain that does not fit the typical high‑ or low‑ankle classifications, saying the team needed to monitor how he progressed before determining availability. Yardbarker relayed ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith’s view that Jackson should remain on the sideline to fully recover, an opinion shaped in part by Baltimore’s current standing.
Coach Minter characterized the decision to hold Jackson out as one made “in his best interest,” Yardbarker reported. The team has been characterizing Jackson’s day‑to‑day updates privately, and Yardbarker noted the organization has not committed to a return date beyond this week.
Team context: defense, offense and the schedule
Baltimore’s on‑field results help explain the cautious approach. The Ravens sit alone atop the AFC North at 4-1, averaging 29.2 points per game (sixth in the NFL) and operating one of the league’s most productive rushing attacks at 5.1 yards per carry. That offensive balance has allowed the club to absorb Jackson’s absence without a collapse.
Yardbarker projected the immediate playoff and divisional math: a Ravens win would create a two‑game division lead, while a loss would leave the teams tied with Cleveland holding the head‑to‑head edge. The schedule ramps up after this weekend — Baltimore hosts the Bengals on Oct. 25, then faces trips to Buffalo and a home stretch with Jacksonville and the Chargers — a sequence many around the team view as more consequential for Jackson’s long‑term availability than the current Browns matchup.
For now, the practical storyline is straightforward: Jackson has been ruled out for Week 6, leaving Baltimore to lean on Huntley for another game; his recent play, including the three‑touchdown performance in Week 5, has given the Ravens a viable alternative while medical staff and coaches continue to assess Jackson’s ankle in the weeks ahead.
