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The Baltimore Ravens are in a must-win situation against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17.
And they likely will be doing it without their two-time MVP quarterback.
Lamar Jackson, who has had an injury-plagued season, continues to be doubtful for Saturday night’s game at Lambeau Field after leaving the team’s last game with a back injury.
If Jackson doesn’t go, veteran backup Tyler Huntley will get the start. And that means it will be a battle of the backup quarterbacks in Green Bay for the prime-time game on Peacock.
On Friday, Dec. 26, the Packers ruled quarterback Jordan Love out after he didn’t clear concussion protocol. Love sustained a concussion against the Chicago Bears last week. Packers QB Malik Willis, as a result, is then in line to start.
If the Ravens (7-8) lose to the Packers, Baltimore is eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC.
Here’s more on Jackson’s injury and Huntley.
Is Lamar Jackson playing vs the Packers?
It doesn’t appear that Jackson will play.
Jackson hasn’t practiced all week and was listed as doubtful on the Ravens’ latest injury report on Thursday, Dec. 25.
The Ravens traveled to Green Bay on Dec. 26.
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Lamar Jackson injury
Lamar Jackson sustained a back injury during the team’s Week 16 game against the New England Patriots. Jackson exited the game when he took a knee to the back after finishing a 3-yard scramble late in the second quarter.
Before the injury, Jackson completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards in what turned into a 28-24 loss.
Jackson’s back injury is the latest in an injury-filled season.
A hamstring injury in a Week 4 game in September forced him to miss the team’s next three games. Jackson has also battled through toe, ankle and knee injuries this season.
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Lamar Jackson injury update
Jackson has not been ruled out yet like the Packers did with their starter Jordan Love. But it doesn’t sound like Jackson will suit up.
He didn’t practice Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
“It’s not like a black and blue mark,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh told Baltimore media on Dec. 24. “These are deep-tissue contusions.”
Harbaugh described the seriousness of the injury:
“I’m not a medical guy, but I did see the MRI,” he said. “It’s legitimate, very painful. The muscles lock up around it, you can’t really move very well. He’s in the process now of loosening all that up. You can’t really say when it’s going to be right. He’s got to be able to play. He’s got to be able to be an athlete and go move.”
Harbaugh said Jackson doesn’t have to practice in order to play.
Lamar Jackson stats
Here are Jackson’s stats in 2025:
Games: 12 (he started 12 of the team’s 15 games but has left two these contests hurt)Attempts: 181Passes: 284Completion percentage: 63.7%Yards: 2,311Touchdowns: 18Interceptions: 6Rating: 101.4
Rushing stats: 63 runs, 340 yards, two touchdowns
Who is Tyler Huntley? Ravens backup quarterback
Huntley, 27, is well equipped to handle the commands if Jackson can’t go. He’s done it often and also has experience playing the Packers as a replacement for Jackson.
Undrafted out of Utah, Huntley began his career with the Ravens in 2020, serving as Jackson’s backup.
In 2021, he played in a career-high seven games and started four for an injured Jackson. One of those games came against the Packers late in the season. The Packers won, 31-30, clinching the NFC North title, but Huntley nearly led the Ravens to a fourth-quarter, double-digit comeback victory.
The Packers had a 31-17 lead with 5:34 left before Huntley rallied the offense with back-to-back rushing touchdowns on their final two possessions. After he scored his second TD, to trim the deficit to 31-30, with under 1 minute left, the Ravens elected to go for two and the win. But the two-point conversion failed and the Packers escaped with the win.
Huntley went 28 for 40 passing with 215 yards and two touchdowns, along with the two rushing TDs.
In 2022, he started the team’s final four games as well as the Ravens’ wild-card playoff game loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
After another year as the backup in 2023 that saw him start one game, Huntley signed with the Cleveland Browns in spring 2024. But he was cut after training camp and found a home again with the Ravens. It was temporary, though, as the Miami Dolphins signed him off the Ravens’ practice squad after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion early that season. Huntley started five games for Miami.
Huntley signed with the Browns again for the final few weeks of training camp this summer before being cut in late August.
He then rejoined the Ravens for the third time, initially to the practice squad, on Aug. 27. Huntley was elevated to the active roster in late October to start against the Chicago Bears, leading the Ravens, then 1-5, to their best victory of the season.
For the season, in four games, Huntley is 36 of 47 (76.6%) for 319 yards, one touchdown to go with 16 runs for 91 yards.