Lamar Jackson Says He'll Play for Ravens vs. Broncos After Knee, Back Injuries

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson intends to be on the field for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

The reigning NFL MVP told reporters on Friday he will play and his absence from practices this week was to give his body a rest.

Jackson missed back-to-back practices on Wednesday and Thursday with back and knee concerns leading into his team's home game against the Broncos on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Jackson has enjoyed a fantastic 2024 season, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns (two interceptions) and 2,099 yards. His 9.95 adjusted yards per attempt rank first in the NFL, as does his 115.4 quarterback rating.

The two-time NFL MVP is a candidate to win his third trophy thanks to his tremendous season, and the Ravens have fared well, going 5-3 in his starts.

Understandably, the Ravens haven't performed well in the Jackson era when the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner sits, going 4-9 overall, per Statmuse. Baltimore has also averaged just 16.6 points per game in those 13 matchups.

Long-time (and well-traveled) NFL veteran Josh Johnson would be the next man up if Jackson had to miss time. The 38-year-old has made 24 different stops over four different leagues from 2008 to 2024. He's been the Ravens' backup quarterback since 2023 but has been with Baltimore on three separate occasions (2016, 2021, 2023-2024).

For his NFL career, Johnson has completed 207-of-356 passes for 2,281 yards (6.4 yards per attempt), 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He's also rushed for 425 yards and one score.