Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed last week with a back injury, but all signs point towards the two-time MVP making his triumphant return to the field in a must-win Week 18 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson practiced on Wednesday for the first time in over a month, and the team is reportedly very confident he will play in the regular season finale.
Lamar Jackson Injury Update: Ravens QB Likely to Play In Week 18
This report is a great way for Ravens fans to celebrate New Year’s, as Baltimore will make the playoffs with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, while a loss means the team will get an early start to their offseason plans. Jackson has battled a series of injuries throughout the season, but a back injury suffered against the New England Patriots forced him to miss Week 17’s clash against the Green Bay Packers. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley kept the ship afloat while running back Derrick Henry guided the team to a 41-24 victory after running for 216 yards and four touchdowns on 36 attempts.
The Steelers, meanwhile, had the opportunity to clinch the division in Week 18 but couldn’t seal the deal against the Cleveland Browns. Aaron Rodgers and company struggled to move the ball without D.K. Metcalf and ultimately lost, 13-6, to rookie Shedeur Sanders and the 4-12 Cleveland Browns.
The AFC North is one of two unclaimed divisions in the conference, and the winner of this one will host a playoff game against the highest-ranked Wild Card team. This will likely not be the Los Angeles Chargers, as the team is resting quarterback Justin Herbert and seems content to lose Week 18 and claim the seventh seed. This leaves the Ravens or Steelers most likely opponents as the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, or Jacksonville Jaguars.
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