The Baltimore Ravens began preparations for their Week 5 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons without their star quarterback on the practice field. Jackson did not participate in the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media as he continues to deal with an ankle injury suffered during Baltimore’s 24-18 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The two-time NFL MVP was also unavailable during his usual Wednesday media availability.
With Jackson sidelined, Tyler Huntley took first-team reps as Baltimore prepares for the possibility of playing without its starting quarterback Sunday night against Atlanta. Jackson suffered the injury late in the second quarter against Tennessee when Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson landed on the back of his leg while recording a sack. Jackson was able to get back to his feet but eventually went to the locker room and did not return for the second half.
He was later seen leaving the stadium in a protective walking boot. The injury ended what had been an impressive afternoon for Jackson. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, helping Baltimore build a 24-7 advantage before his departure.
Initial reports offered some optimism that Jackson could avoid an extended absence, but his status for Sunday has become increasingly doubtful. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Jackson is dealing with an "unconventional ankle sprain" and has only an outside chance of playing against Atlanta. Rapoport added that Jackson could miss multiple games depending on how his ankle responds to rehabilitation, although the injury is not believed to require surgery or be a long-term issue.
Jackson's absence from Wednesday's practice only adds to the uncertainty surrounding his availability. Head coach Jesse Minter stopped short of providing a definitive timetable earlier this week. "I really don't think it's going to be crazy long-term, but we'll see what happens," Minter said Monday.
For now, Baltimore appears to be preparing Huntley as a potential starter, a role he's plenty familiar with. He could soon be called upon to do it again. Huntley stepped in after Jackson's injury Sunday and completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards while adding 16 yards on the ground.
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