Ravens Line Struggles: Lamar Jackson Out With Thumb Injury

For Baltimore Ravens fans, the cost of Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills was immediate and steep. The team’s starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson, left the game after one play when his right hand struck outside linebacker Greg Rousseau. Jackson’s right thumb was placed in a hard cast, and he is expected to undergo surgery. Coach Jesse Minter confirmed that Jackson will be placed on injured reserve, making his return this season uncertain.

The injury left the team with backup Tyler Huntley, who played five drop-backs before exiting with a toe injury. That left undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano to start the rest of the game. Fagnano was sacked three times in three quarters. After the game, he wore a cast on his lower leg but said he was optimistic about playing Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He told reporters, "After a football game, you’re always going to have bumps and bruises."

The offensive line struggled to protect the quarterbacks against a Bills pass rush that had been among the least effective in the league earlier in the season. The Ravens were pressured on 55% of their drop-backs. They allowed a quick pressure, defined as 2.5 seconds or less, on 20% of drop-backs. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten and left tackle Ronnie Stanley each allowed a game-high six pressures on 31 drop-backs. Stanley was tagged with three quick pressures, while Rosengarten had two sacks attributed to him.

The rushing attack provided little relief. The team finished with 76 rushing yards, averaging four yards per carry. Running back Derrick Henry had 11 carries for 53 yards, marking his third straight game under 100 yards. It was his sixth game in the last seven weeks where he failed to reach that mark. The offense managed a season-low 144 total yards.

Inconsistency has plagued the line all season. The Ravens used their sixth different starting offensive line combination in eight games. Only John Simpson and Rosengarten have started every game. Center Cam Jurgens, acquired in early October to stabilize the middle of the line, has played only one snap with Jackson. Jurgens said, "It’s always ‘next man up,’ and it’s always tough."

General manager Eric DeCosta signed Simpson to a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason after Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum left for the Las Vegas Raiders. DeCosta had hoped the line would solidify by the winter months. Instead, injuries have been frequent. First-string center Danny Pinter suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. Reserves Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic suffered leg and knee injuries in Week 3.

Rosengarten acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. He said, "We need to be better.. It’s challenging, but no excuses. This is the NFL. This is the league of injuries." The team is scheduled to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.

Playoff odds for the Ravens have dropped to 24% following their third consecutive loss, according to The Athletic. The team must stabilize its offensive line if it hopes to compete for a postseason spot.