OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Star safety and captain Kyle Hamilton laid down the challenge following last week’s win over Tennessee, the Ravens’ second straight victory to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Build on that success in Atlanta on Sunday night.

“I told the team after, ‘Let’s not be afraid to stack these games and go on a streak. It’s OK to go on a win streak, and we don’t have to regress every few weeks,’” Hamilton said. “I’m excited for us to carry what we did right and correct what we did wrong into the Falcons game.”

Of course, that’ll be easier said than done collectively if two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson doesn’t play. His Week 5 status remains in doubt because of the left ankle injury that’s sidelined him since the closing seconds of the first half in last Sunday’s 24-18 final over the winless Titans. Even if Jackson does manage to play in Atlanta, how close he’ll be to 100% is another story.

Yes, it’s time for the defense to step up after a mostly underwhelming start to the 2026 season. The standard is high — the defensive-minded Jesse Minter was hired as head coach to restore that — in Baltimore, but many thought the defense might be the side of the ball to lead the way early on, especially when considering the greater degree of personnel turnover for the offense and the anticipated learning curve for first-time play-caller Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator.

Instead, the offense has been the superior unit out of the gate while the Ravens defense enters Week 5 ranging between 10th and 19th in most major categories. If you prefer a more analytical perspective, Baltimore ranks 12th in defensive DVOA and 13th in expected points added per play on defense. While the defense has played well for stretches, the lapses have been tough to ignore, especially when they’ve surfaced in the fourth quarter.

To be fair, it’s hardly the disaster we watched early last season, but the defense has been closer to mediocre than great, especially with Dallas being the only high-quality offense the Ravens have encountered. With the Falcons having scored 80 points over their last two games coinciding with the return of starting quarterback Michael Penix, Baltimore’s defense needs to come ready to play its best football.

Hamilton called it a “loaded question” when asked how to slow down All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, whom Derrick Henry labeled “the best in the game” on Thursday. That’s high praise coming from a future Hall of Famer with more rushing yards than anyone since the start of 2024, but it’s difficult to argue after Robinson piled up just under 2,300 yards of offense as a runner and receiver last season.

Falcons wide receiver Drake London enters Week 5 ranked seventh in the league in receiving yards, and that’s with ex-Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush starting the first two games for Atlanta. And though off to a quiet start this season, tight end Kyle Pitts is coming off a career year in 2025 and more than capable of creating matchup fits.

Any hope for defensive success begins and ends with getting Robinson to the ground to keep him from wrecking the game, something Green Bay and New Orleans were unable to do the last two weeks.

“It’s an exciting challenge for us when you pride yourself on stopping the run,” inside linebacker Roquan Smith said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a runner, their offensive line, their receivers with their willingness to block. I think it’s a great challenge for us. I look at this as a front-seven game. It’s about showing up, and obviously, the whole world’s watching.”

It’s time for this defense to shine in prime time, especially if Jackson can only watch from the sideline.

Thursday’s injury report

Jackson remained absent from practice as doubts grow about his availability for Sunday night.

That uncertainty has led to a busy week for the offensive coaching staff preparing a game plan accounting for the possibility of Jackson playing while needing to cater to what backup Tyler Huntley does best. Doyle said the Ravens took a similar approach a couple weeks ago when top receiver Zay Flowers was questionable against Dallas, which prompted different call sheets for Flowers playing and for him sitting out.

“There’s a lot of stuff behind the scenes that has to go on,” Doyle said. “But I think that’s how you have to shape it. Guys that are worth game-planning around, you’ve got to have kind of a plan for with and without him, and sometimes that goes all the way up until Sunday.”

Outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (hamstring/calf), and just-acquired center Cam Jurgens (concussion) remained sidelined for Thursday’s practice. Still sporting a thick cast on his right hand following last week’s surgery on his finger, Hendrickson was working out on a side field during the portion of practice open to media. Jurgens isn’t expected to make his debut for his new team until Week 6.

Below is Thursday’s full injury report:

BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: OLB Trey Hendrickson (finger), CB Marlon Humphrey (hamstring/calf), QB Lamar Jackson (ankle), C Cam Jurgens (concussion)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Zay Flowers (foot), G John Simpson (groin), G Andrew Vorhees (foot)
FULL PARTICIPATION: TE Mark Andrews (hand), WR Rashod Bateman (shoulder), DL Calais Campbell (rest), S Kyle Hamilton (groin), WR Chris Moore (ankle), OT Ronnie Stanley (toe/ankle)

ATLANTA
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Yasir Abdullah (hamstring), DE Za’Darius Smith (concussion/back)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: LB Divine Deablo (hamstring), DE Samson Ebukam (hamstring), OT Jake Matthews (groin)
FULL PARTICIPATION: OT Michael Jerrell (ankle), DE Cam Thomas (shoulder)