The Baltimore Ravens‘ quarterback situation is in question following their Week 4 loss (20-37) to the Chiefs, as two-time MVP Lamar Jackson exited the game late in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.

NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Lamar Jackson’s injury could keep him out next Sunday against the Texans, citing Ravens head coach John Harbaugh’s comment as the source. “The way I know Lamar, if he could’ve gone in the game, he would’ve been in the game. That’s how Lamar is,” Ian posted on X.

Jackson suffered the injury during a sack with the Ravens trailing 30-13 at Arrowhead Stadium. The 28-year-old quarterback had 147 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception before exiting.

He was replaced by backup Cooper Rush and did not return as Baltimore fell to their third defeat of the season. According to NFL doctor Deepak Chona, Jackson is expected to miss around 2 to 3 weeks, which could keep him sidelined until Week 7.

This adds to the growing injury concerns for the 1-3 Ravens, who also lost key starters like linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), and a few more over the course of the game.

Jackson’s status for Week 5 remains officially ‘questionable’, with the Ravens yet to confirm whether he’ll be available against the Texans.

Initially, John Harbaugh refused to make comments on it, but now it looks like the head coach is worried, too, about the team’s upcoming performances.

Ravens’ chances of victory against the Houston Texans

The Baltimore Ravens’ upcoming home game against the Houston Texans presents an extremely difficult, if not desperate, situation for the 1-3 team.

The primary hurdle is a catastrophic injury crisis: their defense is a complete shambles, with most defensive starters expected to miss the next 3-4 games for a unit that has already surrendered a franchise-record 133 points through four contests.

Worse still, the fate of the offense, and perhaps the entire season, rests entirely on quarterback Lamar Jackson, who exited the Chiefs’ loss with a hamstring injury.

If Jackson can’t suit up, backup Cooper Rush will be forced to take the reins, severely diminishing Baltimore’s already struggling firepower. The 31-year-old stepped in late during the Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, completing 9 passes for 52 yards.

His preseason outings were mixed, most notably throwing for 198 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions against the Cowboys. While he brings veteran experience, Rush doesn’t offer the explosive playmaking Jackson does. With the Ravens already dealing with a wave of injuries, his ability to steady the offense will be tested right away.

While historical omens are poor (the Ravens failed to make the playoffs in their only two previous 1-3 starts), the Texans at home offer a slight silver lining. They are a much easier opponent than the elite teams the Ravens have recently faced. 

The Texans, while competitive this season, have struggled defensively, especially against mobile quarterbacks and backup-led offenses, making them a more manageable opponent.

A victory is technically possible for the Ravens if the backups can step up and the home crowd brings the energy, but the sheer volume of critical injuries makes delivering a good game a monumental challenge.