Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens
Getty
Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens.
The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2025 NFL season with high hopes of returning to their elite status in the league and becoming a legitimate Super Bowl title contender. John Harbaugh’s squad has all the right pieces, with a two-time NFL MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson under center and one of the best running backs in the game with Derrick Henry coming out of the backfield.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, things haven’t gone according to plan despite still having a potent offense that can put up 40 points on the scoreboard on any given Sunday. The tough schedule hasn’t done them any favors, as they faced the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs in three of their first four games, and now Jackson is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Heading into Week 5’s matchup against the Houston Texans, all eyes have been on Jackson’s playing status, as everyone knows that this team isn’t the same without its superstar leading the charge.
Ravens Must Pivot Due to Lamar Jackson Injury
Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens
GettyLamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have a problem vs. Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
According to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner, Jackson missed a third straight practice Friday due to the hamstring injury, meaning the team will almost certainly not have him under center on Sunday, with Cooper Rush likely getting the start and Tyler Huntley backing him up.
Lamar Jackson (hamstring) missed his third straight practice and is expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Houston.
Get ready for Cooper Rush. And maybe Tyler Huntley. pic.twitter.com/VDo0coChsV
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) October 3, 2025
With the Ravens losing three of their first four games of the 2025 campaign, it is not ideal that the team needs to pivot to Rush and or Huntley to shoulder the load moving forward.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jackson has officially been ruled out against the Texans.
Now official: Ravens have ruled out QB Lamar Jackson, who strained his hamstring during Sunday’s loss at Kansas City and didn’t practice this week.
Ravens host the Rams next Sunday, before their bye week, so Jackson could get two weeks of recovery for missing one more game. pic.twitter.com/kSvbusXSUV
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2025
Fortunately for Baltimore, the team remains as formidable as it gets offensively, boasting weapons like Henry, Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins. Still, it remains to be seen if Rush can play well enough to get them involved.
If the division rival Cincinnati Bengals‘ recent play without Joe Burrow is any indication, the Ravens will be facing a rough stretch without Jackson.
Cooper Rush Experiment Begins for Ravens
Cooper Rush Baltimore Ravens
GettyCooper Rush #15 of the Baltimore Ravens.
After taking over for Jackson during Week 4’s blowout loss to the Chiefs, Rush didn’t exactly instill any confidence that he could shoulder the load with the face of the Ravens franchise on the mend.
Rush completed nine of the 13 passes he threw, finishing the game with 52 passing yards and zero touchdowns. However, he didn’t turn the ball over, as he avoided throwing interceptions or fumbling the football, which is likely the only positive moving forward into Week 5’s matchup against the Texans.
The one thing the Ravens have going for them heading into Sunday’s game CJ Stroud and company at M&T Bank Stadium is that the Texans have been a mess this season and have yet to win a game on the road, sporting a record of 0-2 away from Houston, with only one win on the season at home against Cam Ward‘s Tennessee Titans.
That said, the Ravens might be able to take advantage of a Texans team that has struggled to return to form this season.