Falcons get eyebrow-raising Lamar Jackson injury update ahead of Week 5 clash

Following the Atlanta Falcons' dominant win over the New Orleans Saints, Kevin Stefanski has made it clear that this team cannot lose focus. They're entering a short week and have another primetime matchup on the docket, and this time, they'll host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.

The Ravens are going to be a difficult opponent for a Falcons team that's faced little adversity across the last two weeks, but we're already getting good news about this matchup just hours after the 45-24 win. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson left Baltimore's Week 4 win over the Titans with an ankle injury and did not return, and his Week 5 status is now in jeopardy.

Ian Rapoport reported yesterday morning that the two-time MVP is dealing with a sprained ankle, which is only giving him an outside chance to play on Sunday against Atlanta, and there's a chance he could miss multiple games. And if he is inactive like we expect, it will be Snoop Huntley to get the start.

And facing Huntley over Lamar is obviously a great outcome for Atlanta. Just look at the difference in how the Ravens' offense operated between them in Week 4. They put up 24 points in the first half and did not score again the rest of the game, as their 24-7 halftime lead evaporated to just six points by the end of the game.

And while Huntley is a "Pro Bowler", that Pro Bowl nod is about as real as Manti Te'o's girlfriend. In 2022, he made just four starts in relief of the injured Jackson, and didn't even set the world on fire. That level of sample size or production is part of the reason the league is abolishing the Pro Bowl.

But no complaints here. Him starting over one of the best QBs in the business may swing this in the Falcons' favor.

The Falcons are likely going to face a Lamar Jackson-less Ravens team on Sunday

Lamar Jackson has been playing lights-out this season too. Believe it or not, the only qualified QB averaging more than his 10.1 yards per attempt is Atlanta's own Michael Penix Jr., who is averaging 10.6 per attempt. And he's thrown just one interception in just 96 pass attempts on the year.

There's a reason that Snoop is on his third stint as Baltimore's backup QB and has bounced around the league across the last three seasons. All he really will do is make it that Declan Doyle won't have to modify the system that much with No. 8 sidelined, but the talent gap between them is the Grand Canyon.

And while King Henry is still going to be an issue, at least they won't have to worry about the most electric mobile QB in NFL history on national TV. Through four weeks, the Falcons boast the best run defense in the NFL, which is good news, but they also haven't faced a run game as potent as Baltimore's or a running back as good as Henry. And Jackson playing would make it even tougher.

And while Huntley can move, he's nowhere near as dangerous as a scrambler, and he isn't as good of a decision-maker. He's thrown 10 interceptions in 16 career starts, and is averaging just 5.9 yards per attempt, so the downfield passing game is nothing to worry about. Their gameplan will be more about Henry and trying to get the ball out quick to guys like Zay Flowers, which this secondary can stop.

And given their offensive line is dealing with injuries to their top three centers, while John Simpson and Ronnie Stanley haven't been great either. Meanwhile, this Falcons' pass-rush leads the NFL in pressures through four weeks, and gave chase to Tyler Shough 36 times. So yes, even Lamar would struggle with this type of pressure, but Tyler Huntley may fold under it.

Facing a team as talented as the Baltimore Ravens will always be a tall task, but doing so without Lamar Jackson will make the chances of extending this win streak to three a whole lot easier.

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