Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is day to day with 'significant' back contusion

Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun on Dec 22, 2025

Published in Football

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BALTIMORE — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is day to day after suffering a contusion to his back during Sunday night’s loss to the New England Patriots, coach John Harbaugh said Monday, less than 24 hours after the quarterback was knocked out of the 28-24 defeat at M&T Bank Stadium.

“It doesn’t look like it’s more than that,” said Harbaugh, adding that Jackson received treatment for the injury on Monday. “But, obviously, those are painful and tough. He had the MRI and everything, so there’s no issues beyond a good, significant contusion, which is obviously a serious deal.”

Jackson’s availability for Baltimore’s game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night at Lambeau Field remains to be seen, but even with the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s services, the Ravens’ playoff hopes are hanging by the thinnest of threads.

A loss to the Packers or a win by the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Browns in Cleveland the following day would eliminate Baltimore from playoff contention and put the final nail in a season that started with Super Bowl expectations and ended in painfully familiar fashion as so many others have in recent years.

Jackson took a knee to the back on a hit by safety Craig Woodson after a 3-yard carry late in the first half. The quarterback grimaced as he headed to the sideline, clapped his hands in frustration as he headed to the locker room and did not return to the game, watching the finish in street clothes from the bench.

Harbaugh said Monday that the hit, which occurred just after he went to the ground, was “close” to being late but that he didn’t see any “malicious intent.” He also thought Jackson, who completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards before exiting, played well.

“I thought Lamar was competing and doing a good job and fighting and made some really good throws,” he said.

In the locker room after the game, though, Jackson grimaced as he put on his socks and repeatedly winced as he spoke with reporters.

“My legs felt great,” Jackson said. “I just got kneed in the back in the red zone. I just couldn’t finish the game. I was trying.”

He also said that he received a Toradol shot and tried to make some throws in the locker room, but the pain did not subside and was too much to overcome.

“It’s BS, bro,” Jackson said of his latest injury in a season rife with them. “I can’t control that. I’m on the ground. I’m down. I gave myself up. I got kneed in the back, but yes, for the most part, you can say that because [I’m] getting injured, and then we’re fighting for a chance to make the playoffs. I can’t finish the game with my guys. It’s BS.

“I’m mad because I felt like the game was in our favor. Don’t get me wrong, my brother [Tyler Huntley] got out there — it still was in our favor — but I can’t control that. I wish I could. I can’t control it.”

This was perhaps the most painful affliction Jackson has suffered this season.

Earlier, he missed three games because of a hamstring injury. Knee, ankle and toe injuries also followed.

All of them, among other things, have surely impacted Jackson’s performance. In a dozen games this season, he has averaged 192.6 yards passing per game — his lowest average since 2022, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the year — and just 28.3 rushing yards, easily the lowest mark of his eight-year career.

If Jackson can’t play Saturday or in Week 18 in Pittsburgh, it would mark the third time his season has been ended because of an injury.

Asked on Sunday night how much pain he was in, Jackson winced again.

“Pain,” he said. “It hurts. [It] hurts.”

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