Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith and Ravens’ playoff hopes: Reading between the lines amidst Baltimore’s whirlwind week
Lamar Jackson remains questionable to play due to injury as the Baltimore Ravens prepare to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend. He has missed each of the last five games of the 2022 regular season but is likely to return for the playoffs. Jackson is currently dealing with a sprained PCL in his knee.
The 26-year-old suffered the injury in a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos. He was replaced by Tyler Huntley, who started each of the next four games. After suffering an injury of his own, Huntley was replaced by Anthony Brown, who made the start against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.
Since Lamar Jackson went down with an injury, the Ravens have severely struggled. They have lost three of their last five games, while posting a solid 8-4 record prior to the injury. Ravens' offensive production has been particularly alarming. They have failed to score more than 17 points in any of their last six consecutive games.
Lamar Jackson's availability for the NFL Playoffs will directly impact their outlook moving forward. With him, the Ravens stand a chance of making a run in the difficult AFC, but without him, they might as well just move on to the 2023 NFL offseason. Interestingly, they have already made a major financial roster move that could significantly affect their future.
The Ravens recently rewarded middle linebacker Roquan Smith with a five-year contract extension worth $100 million. This is the largest contract ever for a middle linebacker in NFL history. While this is great news for their defense, it may indicate that Lamar Jackson's days with the Ravens are numbered.
From @GMFB: #Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (PCL) faces an uphill battle to play vs. the #Bengals in their Wild Card game, per me and @MikeGarafolo. More uncertainty. … Meanwhile, Baltimore paid LB Roquan Smith on a 5-year, $100M deal. https://t.co/85Nbo8AefH
Lamar Jackson has been negotiating a new deal with the organization for more than a year, but the two sides have been unable to agree on the details. He is set to become a free agent during the 2023 offseason. This, paired with his current injury, means it's possible he's played his last game for the team that selected him in the 2018 NFL Draft.
If the two sides have already decided behind closed doors to go their separate ways this offseason, it's also entirely possible that Lamar Jackson has no motivation to try to get back on the football field for the playoffs.
It's possible he's making his health the number one priority as he continues to seek a new mega-contract, whether it be with the Ravens or with a different NFL team.
NFL playoff picks: Why Ravens aren't a safe bet
The Baltimore Ravens will be underdogs against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, whether Lamar Jackson plays or not. They have a chance to pull off an upset if Jackson is able to play, but it would be shocking to see them defeat the Bengals without him. The Bengals have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL lately, winning each of their last eight games.
The Bengals' winning streak includes convincingly defeating the Ravens in Week 18 by a 27-16 score. While the Ravens defeated the Bengals in their first matchup, it was all the way back in Week 5. Lamar Jackson played in that game, unlike Week 18.