Ravens to sit MVP favorite Jackson vs. Steelers

Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJan 3, 2024, 03:28 PM ET
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Just like 2019, the Baltimore Ravens will rest NFL Most Valuable Player favorite Lamar Jackson in the regular-season finale.

This means Jackson will have at least a 19-day break before playing in the AFC divisional round.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday that Jackson would not play Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that has no playoff ramifications for Baltimore. The Ravens (13-3) clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye last week, but the Steelers (9-7) need a victory given that they have a 21.6% chance of reaching the postseason, according to ESPN Analytics.

“It’s really not any one thing that goes into it,” Harbaugh said. “Just all things considered, it seemed to be the right thing to do. We had conversations with Lamar and others and made the decision.”

Tyler Huntley will start for Baltimore, which will host a divisional-round game on Jan. 20 or 21.

“I’m cool with it,” Jackson said. “Me and Coach talked about it. I feel like it was best to sit me.”

The Ravens followed the same course with Jackson in 2019, when they secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC before the final game of the regular season. Baltimore sat Jackson and six other starters in the finale.

After a long layoff, Jackson and the Ravens looked rusty in a 28-12 upset loss to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round. Baltimore was held to a season low in points, and Jackson was 31-of-59 (52.5%) for 365 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

“2019 is over with,” Jackson said. “We’re always talking about it — I find myself talking about it. It’s different. That was just my first full season in the NFL. But it’s a lot different mindset, different group of guys. I feel like all-around we’re different.”

Harbaugh pushed back against the narrative that Baltimore’s offense was sluggish in that 2019 playoff loss, pointing out the Ravens totaled 530 yards.

“We didn’t score enough points, but it wasn’t like we weren’t moving the ball,” Harbaugh said. “I think we had really good practices and guys had good spirits. I think we had a good game plan; we just didn’t get the job done in certain plays. So that’s how football goes. I guess the long-winded point here is that you just look at where you’re at with your team at this time and make the decisions that are best as you see it.”

Jackson was one of 12 quarterbacks to start every game for his team this season, but Harbaugh is taking the safe route. Jackson did not finish the previous two campaigns because of late-season injuries — an ankle injury in 2021 and a sprained knee in 2022.

In his first full season since 2020, Jackson is the heavy betting favorite to win his second NFL MVP award after throwing five touchdowns and recording a perfect passer rating in a 56-19 rout of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. During Baltimore’s six-game winning streak, Jackson has thrown 14 touchdowns and two interceptions for a 109.8 passer rating, averaging 250.2 yards passing and 56.7 yards rushing.

Jackson is considered the best player on the NFL’s best team, but he could go against the grain statistically if he was named MVP. No quarterback has won the award when ranking outside the top 10 in passing yards and touchdown passes. Jackson ranks 14th in passing yards (3,678) and 10th in touchdown passes (24).

As far as other starters who might sit, Harbaugh said the team will first have to sort out its injury situation throughout the week. Baltimore had five starters not practicing Wednesday: wide receivers Zay Flowers (calf) and Odell Beckham Jr. (rest), guard Kevin Zeitler (quad/knee), safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf).

“It’s like a puzzle, except the puzzle pieces are constantly morphing in different shapes day by day,” Harbaugh said. “So by Saturday I’m sure it’ll all fit together.”