The Baltimore Ravens are entering their biggest matchup of the season in Week 18. They will square off with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, in what will be a winner-takes-all showdown. The winner will claim the AFC North crown and lock themselves into the final AFC playoff spot, while the loser will watch their disappointing year end at the hands of their most heated rival.
With the stakes so high, the Ravens desperately need a healthy roster. Their biggest question mark this week has been the status of quarterback Lamar Jackson. After leaving the team’s Week 16 contest with a serious back contusion, Jackson missed last Saturday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. Thanks to backup quarterback Tyler Huntley’s heroics, Baltimore still has a shot at the playoffs, and through two days of practice, it sounds like Baltimore will get their two-time MVP back just in time for the regular season finale.
Jackson was a full participant in practice on Wednesday. He was seen with extra padding on his back that day, but the team was optimistic about his recovery progress.
Lamar Jackson is wearing a flak jacket/some sort of protection at today's #Ravens practice (📷 @KRichardsonMMA) https://t.co/AMqMhHjIdD pic.twitter.com/h2YE5K4xWX
— Brian Wacker (@brianwacker1) December 31, 2025
On Thursday, he was once again a full participant and officially confirmed his status for Sunday night.
Lamar Jackson is ready to go vs. Steelers
After practice, Jackson spoke to the media and was asked if he would start in Pittsburgh. Jackson said:
“Yeah, 100%. I’m gonna be out there.”
He added that he will wear protective gear like he was seen wearing on Wednesday.
While it will be a breath of fresh air to see Jackson back, the gameplan should remain relatively the same as that from Week 17. Against the Packers, running back Derrick Henry had 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns. With Jackson, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken can open up the passing game more and start attacking the Pittsburgh secondary deep downfield for explosive plays. However, Henry should once again see at least 25-plus carries.
For most of the 2025 campaign, Jackson has been far from healthy. He missed three games with a hamstring injury and has been banged up by several lower-body injuries in the second half of the season. In Week 15 and Week 16, he finally looked healthy, and he had the offense back in a rhythm. This upcoming week, he might take another step back due to the back injury, but he should be able to lead a more threatening passing attack with his lively arm.
Obviously, you can not put Jackson in harm’s way too often. The offensive line has been subpar all year, and with a dangerous Steelers’ defensive line lining up on the opposite side, Monken can’t get too pass-happy. It should be another Henry game, where Jackson comes up big in passing situations when necessary.