As with any time Lamar Jackson gets injured, the outside noise is loud. The media always questions his ability to stay healthy and his longevity as a dual-threat quarterback, even though most of his injuries come from inside the pocket. Now, numerous outlets are asking whether the Baltimore Ravens should extend him.
That’s just crazy talk.
Jackson is still Baltimore’s quarterback of the future. The thumb injury is frustrating, and potentially missing the rest of the 2026 campaign is concerning. We’re focusing on the wrong thing, though — the offensive line is an issue.
The answer to Jackson’s injuries should be clear. It’s not forfeiting a future with Jackson and trading or denying him an extension. It’s extending him and fixing that awful offensive line.
You can’t part with an all-time great QB. You invest in him as long as he’s performing at a high level, and he still is.
Injuries can’t change Baltimore Ravens’ decision to extend Lamar Jackson
Injured or not, the Ravens must extend Lamar Jackson in the offseason. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Not in terms of financial flexibility, not in terms of building the best team possible for 2027.
I get it, the injuries suck, and it obviously hurts the team when Jackson isn’t on the field. These past two injuries have just been freak accidents, though.
In Week 4, Tennessee Titans edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II landed on Jackson’s left foot in about the worst way possible. The 254-pound athlete ran at Jackson at full speed and crashed down on him with full force.
On Baltimore’s first offensive play of Week 8, Jackson fired a pass toward Zay Flowers, but hit Gregory Rousseau’s arm on the follow-through. Obviously, it ended in a major thumb injury that requires surgery.
Lamar Jackson heads to the locker room after his first pass attempt with an apparent hand injury. pic.twitter.com/JVUQYjJV8H
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 1, 2026
You can’t blame Jackson for those. If anything, it’s the offensive line’s fault. Both times, the protection broke down and put him in harm’s way.
Baltimore Ravens must build a better offensive line around Lamar Jackson
The offensive line pieces are kind of there. The Ravens haven’t had a fully healthy unit blocking for Jackson yet. The front of Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Cam Jurgens, Vega Ioane, and Roger Rosengarten could look at least somewhat competent.
Still, on Sunday, the offensive line didn’t look close to NFL-caliber. Ioane’s return will fix some things, but one guy won’t solve everything. If they want a healthy Jackson playing his best football for years to come, at least one or two fixes need to be made next offseason.
Stanley and Simpson are the issues. While Jurgens, Ioane, and Rosengarten have offered glimmers of hope, the left-side duo hasn’t.
Stanley is the longest-tenured Raven and has been a stable blindside protector for years. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case anymore. Between injuries, age, and clear regression, he’s not as reliable.
It may be time to replace the veteran by selecting a tackle in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. Baltimore found an up-and-coming guard in the 2026 NFL Draft in Ioane; they could do the same at left tackle next year.
The team could cut him with a post-June 1 designation and save $16 million in cap space. If an above-average tackle is available in free agency, the Ravens could use their money to invest in Jackson’s blindside.
As for Simpson, he’s not the answer — that signing is looking like a disaster. You must find a new guard next year. Whether through free agency or the draft, Simpson can’t be a part of next year’s plans.
And by extending Jackson and erasing that monstrous $84.34 million cap hit, Baltimore would create space to build the best team around the two-time MVP.
Fixing the offensive line is only part of the equation, though. Jackson brings more to Charm City than his ability to make plays. His leadership is another reason Baltimore can't afford to move forward without him.
Lamar Jackson’s leadership is a must-have in Baltimore
You can’t deny Jackson’s leadership, will to win, and desire to play. Every time he goes down, everybody within the organization admires his work ethic to get back on the field.
Last year, he battled a hamstring injury and countless other health problems, and still managed to play 13 games. Jackson didn’t have to play through those injuries, but he suited up when he wasn’t even close to 100%, and almost willed a bad Ravens team to the playoffs in Week 18.
This year, it’s been a similar story. He carried this squad on his back, and after going down with a high ankle sprain, he returned three games later. For context, high ankle sprains usually take four to six weeks to recover from.
At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a heroic return from a potentially season-ending thumb injury.
Simply put, don’t question Jackson’s passion.
You have your vocal leaders, and you have those who lead by example. Jackson does both. Pair that with his MVP-caliber play, and he’s the kind of player you need in the corner for as long as possible.
Freak injuries like the one in Week 8 shouldn’t cloud the decision to re-up Jackson’s deal. The front office reworked his deal last offseason; it's time to extend him in 2027.
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