Despite initial hopes he would only miss two weeks after suffering a knee injury in a Week 13 win over the Broncos, Lamar Jackson has missed the last three games and counting.
The Ravens fell out of the playoff race entirely last season when Jackson was forced to miss games down the stretch, but they’ve been fortunate enough to survive to this point and remain in control of their fate in the AFC North.
Still, with two huge divisional games to close out the regular season, Jackson’s status is a major question mark going forward.
Here’s what you need to know about Jackson’s status for the Ravens’ “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Steelers in Week 17.
Is Lamar Jackson playing tonight?
The Ravens ruled Jackson out for Sunday night’s game as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
Jackson hasn’t practiced since going down against Denver, so the writing was on the wall for another absence this week as he struggled to get back on the field even in a limited capacity.
MORE: John Harbaugh critical of Ravens’ offensive performance without Lamar Jackson
Jackson’s absence means Tyler Huntley will make his fourth consecutive start for the Ravens with their AFC North hopes on the line. A loss to the Steelers would mean a Bengals win over the Bills on Monday would eliminate Baltimore from AFC North contention.
The Ravens have already secured a playoff berth, and the opening round of the playoffs might be the most realistic target date for Jackson’s return if his health doesn’t improve quickly.
This will be Huntley’s second start against the Steelers this season, though he exited the first time with a concussion.
Ravens QB depth chart
| QB | Player |
| 1 | Lamar Jackson |
| 2 | Tyler Huntley |
| 3 | Anthony Brown |
Jackson’s absence means Huntley will make his fourth start of the season and eighth start of his NFL career.
Huntley has completed 67 percent of passes this season for 528 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions across three starts and other action. He has a 3-4 career record as a starter.
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Anthony Brown will serve as Huntley’s backup. He entered against the Steelers in Week 14 when Huntley suffered a concussion, playing well enough to guide the Ravens to a crucial win.