Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
Getty
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice after getting injured, causing panic among some fans.
It appeared the Baltimore Ravens avoided any sort of really bad news with a Lamar Jackson injury scare, but some fans aren’t sold after recent developments.
Jackson left the team’s practice on Aug. 20 with an apparent injury. Ravens beat reporters at practice said they saw the two-time MVP holding his arm or wrist. However, a Ravens spokesperson told the media Jackson got stepped on would be fine.
Lamar Jackson’s Absence Sparks Panic Among Ravens Fans
One day later, though, Jackson was not on the field for practice. Regardless of whether that was a precautionary move, some fans channeled Chicken Little over the seemingly negative development.
“I knew they were hiding something,” one X user replied to a tweet from The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, adding the famous “Everybody stay calm!” GIF from Michael Scott. Another user also went to “The Office” well with the “All I can do right now is put on a brave face” GIF.
Some fans used the news as a chance to unload on the team’s communications department.
“Out for a long time. Baltimore lies,” one user insisted. “Last time he was fine it was 7+ weeks. Of course they weren’t losing to Cleveland with or without him and they weren’t beating Buffalo Detroit or KC with him. So week 5 and beyond is the only time it’ll impact the record.”
Said another: “He left holding his wrist and they came out with that statement 😂😂😂”
Fans wanted names, too: “Who the hell is the spokesman is the question here?” another user asked.
In fairness to the rational, reasonable chunk of Ravens fans, not everyone freaked out. In fact, plenty of fans on social media assumed it was largely precautionary, which it probably is.
However, Jackson is one of if not the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL. He is the No. 1 reason they are a Super Bowl favorite. Losing him for an extended period of time, which we’ve seen in the past, would be a massive blow to a team that would have to turn the operation over to backup Cooper Rush.
The sensitivity for Ravens fans around a potential Jackson might extend beyond just how it could affect the team’s on-field prospects in 2025. Jackson and the Ravens went through an ugly patch back in 2022-23 when the quarterback was dealing with a knee injury. The hope when Jackson initially sprained his PCL was he’d only miss a few weeks. He ended up missing five regular-season games and the Ravens’ lone playoff contest.
Jackson felt compelled to issue a statement about his knee injury ahead of the Ravens’ wild-card game against Cincinnati. Jackson didn’t play in that game, and Baltimore’s season came to an end with Tyler Huntley under center.
remains unstable. I’m still in good spirits, as I continue with treatments on the road to recovery. I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything but I can’t give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans I’m still hopeful we still have a chance. 💜💜
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) January 12, 2023
It led to a seemingly uncomfortable situation for all involved.
“I’m hearing there’s just kind of frustration bordering on exasperation from the team, from the players, etc., that maybe Lamar isn’t giving it his all when maybe he could be, and I think this tweet is a reaction to that,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported in a video that week.