UPDATE: Jackson (hamstring) has been ruled out this week vs. the Bears, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A desperate Ravens squad could be without their best player on Sunday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is questionable to play in Week 8 as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 28-year-old took part in Baltimore’s scout team during Friday’s practice. That’s not a great sign for his availability going forward.
Will the two-time MVP take the field against the Bears? Let’s break down what this latest news means for Jackson’s chances of suiting up this weekend.
Lamar Jackson status for Week 8
Despite their 1-5 record, the Ravens remain a playoff contender. That’s almost entirely due to Jackson, expected to return after the team’s bye last week. Since losing the quarterback against Kansas City in September, Baltimore has dropped two straight games. Backup QBs Cooper Rush and Tyler ‘Snoop’ Huntley have led the team to a combined 13 points during that time.
When healthy, Jackson is a clear difference-maker. Through four games this season, the dual-threat has thrown for 869 yards, ran for 166, and compiled 11 total touchdowns. Still, Baltimore only managed to go 1-3 with their face of the franchise active. Regardless, don’t expect the Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh to waive the white flag on this season. If Lamar is even close to 100%, he should suit up.
That’s what makes Saturday morning’s report so concerning. It’s unusual for a starting quarterback to play after taking part in scout team duties. At this point in time, Jackson is not someone fantasy football managers can count on. Finding a reliable backup quarterback, off the bench or on waivers, is essential. Fortunately for those who drafted Lamar, they’ve already gone weeks without the superstar in their lineups.
If Jackson is good to go, he’ll get to face a Bears defense allowing the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. That’s what makes this potential absence even more difficult. There’s a clear path to fantasy domination if Lamar is healthy. Unfortunately, the odds of that happening are looking less and less likely.
No matter what happens, fantasy managers are in a precarious spot. Those that invested draft capital in the star quarterback probably aren’t dominating their leagues. Still, selling Jackson now would mean getting pennies back on the dollar. In short, there aren’t many options other than rostering a quality QB2. This will be a situation to monitor until right before kickoff.
