Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been ruled out for the team's Week 5 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons due to an ankle injury. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is set to make his first start of the season in Jackson's absence.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter expressed confidence in Huntley, stating, "We have a ton of confidence in [Huntley] to play really well. I think everyone on the team is excited to see that." Jackson sustained the ankle injury during the Ravens' Week 4 loss to the Tennessee Titans. While not considered a long-term issue, his availability for Sunday's game was uncertain.
The Ravens' offense has also been managing other injuries. Wide receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Zay Flowers dealt with injuries early in the season. Flowers has since returned from a hamstring injury, but Lane remains on injured reserve with a fractured wrist.
Baltimore will face a Falcons team coming off a decisive 45-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints. In that game, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown, while running back Bijan Robinson rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Huntley has a career record of 5-6 in 12 starts for the Ravens over six seasons. His last start was on January 4, where he led the team to a 41-24 win against the Green Bay Packers. Minter enters Sunday's game with a 3-1 record as head coach and will aim to secure a 4-1 start to the season.
Notably, Huntley also started the last regular-season game between the Ravens and the Falcons in 2022, leading Baltimore to a 17-9 victory. This upcoming game is scheduled for Sunday at 5:15 p.m. ET in Atlanta.