Quote (Terps @ 10 Nov 2018 10:32)
The Ravens might have to go with Lamar Jackson out of necessity.
Starting quarterback Joe Flacco is dealing with a hip injury that puts his status for next Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in question, according to several sources. The severity of the injury is unclear.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, didn’t respond Friday to a request for comment.
The injury occurred on the Ravens’ sixth play from scrimmage in last Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers as defensive end Stephon Tuitt drove Flacco to the ground. Tuitt was called for offsides. On the very next play, Cameron Heyward also hit Flacco.
Flacco finished the game and didn’t miss any plays, but it seemed like his hip was bothering him throughout. He kept trying to stretch out while he was on the field and instead of sitting on the bench the entire time while the Ravens defense was playing, which he usually does, Flacco kept walking up and down the sideline. At one point, he spoke to head athletic trainer Ron Medlin, but he never left the field for treatment. He didn’t play well against the Steelers, going 23-for-37 for 209 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
After the game, Flacco was asked whether he was affected by the early hit and he said that he wasn’t. However, he was walking with a noticeable limp in the locker room. Flacco, 33, has missed just six games in his 11-year NFL career and all of them came in the second half of the 2015 season when he tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee.
The injury comes at a time where the Ravens have lost three consecutive games heading into their bye week and the calls for Jackson to take over as the starting quarterback have intensified. While Harbaugh acknowledged Monday that the team wants to get Jackson, one of their two first-round picks in April’s draft, on the field more, he also reaffirmed that Flacco is the starting quarterback.
Jackson has played in every game and is currently second on the team in rushing. However, the majority of the time, he’s been used as either a runner or a decoy. Jackson has just 12 passing attempts this season. The only opportunities he’s had to lead the offense without Flacco on the field came when he played the final quarter and a half in a blowout victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week One and two weeks ago, when he played the Ravens’ final offensive series in a lopsided loss to the Carolina Panthers.
It was widely believed that Flacco would remain the Ravens starter as long as the team had realistic playoff hopes. They are 4-5 and two games in the loss column behind the Cincinnati Bengals, who currently hold the second AFC wild-card sport. However, the Bengals play the New Orleans Saints, one of the league’s best teams, Sunday and then they face the Ravens the following week.
“Joe has played well, so I don’t want to get into all of that,” Harbaugh said when asked if there was consideration being given to starting Jackson. “We’re rolling right now with what we have. But, of course, at some point in time. This guy is a quarterback. We’ve said from the beginning, and anybody that wants to dispute that, come to practice like you guys do, or you watch him play. He’s improving all the time. He’s getting better as a quarterback, an NFL quarterback, all the time.”
An injury to Flacco, though, could be the impetus for change, depending on how significant the issue is. One caller to Baltimore radio station, 105.7 The Fan, said that Flacco was seen this week on crutches, though those reports are unconfirmed.
The Ravens did not practice this week during their bye. Still, if it appears that Jackson will need to start, Harbaugh’s staff has some extra time to prepare the game plan against the Bengals with the rookie quarterback’s skill set in mind.
Flacco, coincidentally, has struggled throughout his career against Cincinnati. In 20 games against Marvin Lewis’ Bengals, Flacco has thrown 25 interceptions compared to 21 touchdown passes. The Ravens are just 9-11 in those games. In the first meeting between the two teams back in Week Two, Flacco was 32-of-55 for 376 yards, two touchdown passes and two interceptions in the Ravens’ 34-23 loss.
It, however, would be an interesting time for a quarterback to make his first career start. The Ravens essentially have to beat the Bengals next Sunday to remain in the playoff hunt. A fourth consecutive year out of the playoffs would almost certainly provoke change that could result in both Harbaugh and Flacco getting let go after the season.
How likely u think it is theyre putting on a show so flacco can step aside w a modicum of dignity rather than getting benched