Baltimore Ravens fans received a concerning announcement as star quarterback Lamar Jackson missed Wednesday's practice with a knee injury. Luckily, John Harbaugh expects Jackson to play on Sunday as they face off against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11. Regardless, Jackson, dealing with an injury, will always be worrisome, especially given that he already missed three games with a hamstring injury.
Unfortunately, this is yet another reminder that the Ravens' offensive line isn't up to par and they're putting Jackson in danger. While the Browns are just 2-7 this season, they have a quality pass rush led by Myles Garrett. Notably, Garrett has one fewer sack than the entire Ravens' defense.
Protecting Jackson while he's nursing this injury will be especially vital. Sadly, this group hasn't proven capable of doing so. As the Ravens try to make a playoff push, their o-line could derail things.
The Ravens' offensive line is putting Jackson at risk
As the defense has improved, Baltimore's offensive line has seemingly plummeted, and frankly, it's been an issue all year. Jackson has been pressured at a 40 percent rate, which ranks sixth in the league. Last season, Jackson was pressured 32.7 percent of the time, a number that ranked 21st. During Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, Jackson was hit three times and pressured 13 times.
Jackson has also been sacked 18 times, nearly as many as the 23 times he was sacked last season, and he has only played in six games. This is also despite Jackson's elite mobility.
Undoubtedly, the Ravens have some talent on their offensive front. Tyler Linderbaum is one of the league's best centers, and Ronnie Stanley is a Pro Bowl-level tackle. Nevertheless, they also have clear flaws, most notably, guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees. Fans have been begging Harbaugh to bench Faalele, especially following a poor showing against the Vikings. Even still, there's no guarantee that Emery Jones Jr., Corey Bullock, or Ben Cleveland will be better.
Despite a 4-5 record, there's plenty to be optimistic about, as the Ravens are immersed in a fight for a playoff spot. After all, the Ravens were considered clear Super Bowl contenders before the start of the season. Of course, Jackson, the two-time MVP, is a massive advantage for the Ravens. Jackson has a 70.6 winning percentage and is one of the league's most dynamic QBs. Additionally, the Ravens' defense has turned it around since trading for Alohi Gilman.
However, none of this will matter if the o-line can't protect him, and there's reason to be concerned about their ability to do this.