Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left Sunday night’s loss to the New England Patriots early, and did not return.
The precise nature and severity of the injury weren’t initially clear, though Jackson left the field at M&T Bank Stadium in pain after sliding late in the second quarter. The Ravens announced before halftime that Jackson was questionable to return with a back injury before ruling him out for the game in the third quarter.
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Jackson walked to the locker room in clear pain with trainers before the end of the half with 1:03 remaining.
Backup Tyler Huntley took over for Jackson just before the Ravens kicked a second-quarter field goal to tie the game at 10-10.
Though Huntley and the Ravens built up an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, Drake Maye and the Patriots came storming back to grab a 28-24 win late in the game. That officially secured their spot in the playoffs. Drake Maye threw for a career-high 380 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the win for New England.
Huntley finished throwing 9-of-10 for 65 yards in the loss for Baltimore, which now sits at 7-8 on the season and is all but eliminated from playoff contention.
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Another injury for Jackson
The ailment is the latest in a season that’s been filled with injuries for the two-time MVP. Jackson missed three games after Week 5 with a hamstring injury. Since his return in Week 9 against the Dolphins, Jackson has been sidelined in practices and limited by what the Ravens have announced as knee, toe and ankle injuries.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that he has no idea how long Jackson will be out, if at all. Huntley said that Jackson was “bummed” and could “barely move” when he saw him, via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
The Ravens, meanwhile, now sit at 7-8 and are fighting for their playoff lives. The Steelers beat the Lions earlier Sunday to improve to 9-6 and widen the gap in the AFC North. Another injury to Jackson — especially if it sidelines him beyond Week 16 — further stunts Baltimore’s long-shot hopes of making the postseason.