Jackson suffered the injury during the first half of Baltimore’s Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans. He was sacked on the final play before halftime when Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II landed on his left ankle. Jackson did not return after the break, leaving the Ravens to finish the game without their starting quarterback.

Before exiting, Jackson had completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, helping Baltimore build a 24-7 halftime lead. Tyler Huntley replaced him in the second half and completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards as the Ravens held on for a 24-18 victory. Although the initial hope was that Jackson could recover in time for Atlanta, his lack of practice ultimately led to the decision to keep him sidelined.

Who will start at QB for Ravens vs Falcons?

Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback against the Falcons, giving Baltimore a familiar option while Jackson recovers. Head coach Jesse Minter expressed confidence in the backup, who has previous starting experience with the Ravens and stepped in effectively against Tennessee. Huntley will now be responsible for leading the offense against an Atlanta team that has shown improvement with Michael Penix Jr. back under center.

The Falcons present a difficult challenge, particularly because of their ability to generate offense through both the passing game and the ground attack. Penix’s return gives Atlanta stability at quarterback, while running back Bijan Robinson remains a major threat who can change a game with his explosiveness. Without Jackson’s dual-threat ability, Baltimore may need to rely more heavily on Derrick Henry and its defense to keep the matchup under control.

Jackson is not the only notable absence for Baltimore. Outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson has also been ruled out because of a finger injury, marking another game he will miss while recovering from the issue. Meanwhile, center Cam Jurgens remains in concussion protocol and is not expected to make his Ravens debut until next week. With three important players unavailable, Baltimore will need contributions from its backups as it attempts to secure a win in Atlanta and avoid taking unnecessary risks with Jackson’s recovery.

Key takeaways

• Lamar Jackson was ruled out for the Ravens’ Week 5 game with an ankle injury.
• The QB completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards before leaving the game vs Titans in the first half.
• Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback for Baltimore against the Atlanta Falcons.

Travis Etienne Jr. is not playing today because he was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR) list due to a hamstring injury. He suffered and aggravated the soft-tissue injury during the third quarter of the New Orleans Saints Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Because he is on Injured Reserve, Etienne is required to miss a minimum of four games. His earliest possible return to the active lineup would be in Week 9. Hence, the Saints will have to use their RB depth chart to substitute him.

Saints RB depth chart vs Falcons

Without Etienne, the Saints will continue to use their run-by-committee, distributing the snaps across the depth chart. That is something the Saints have done even with Etienne healthy. This is their RB depth chart:

• Alvin Kamara
• Kendre Miller
• CJ Donaldson

Falcons RB depth chart vs Saints

The Falcons running game is way different. They do have an elite RB who is an absolute workhorse. Bijan Robinson has established himself as a top-tier player with incredible skills. This is the Falcons RB depth chart:

• Bijan Robinson
• Brian Robinson Jr.

Key takeaways

• Travis Etienne Jr. was placed on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.
• His earliest possible return from the mandated four-game absence is Week 9.
• The Saints will distribute snaps between Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and CJ Donaldson.

The Atlanta Falcons still have doubts regarding Tua Tagovailoa’s availability to serve as the backup quarterback today, with Michael Penix Jr. starting and Cooper Rush as the third-string QB.

On the Saints’ side, there is no major news at the quarterback position, though they will be without rookie Jordan Tyson. The starter position remains with Tyler Shough, with backup Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson as the third option.

Michael Penix as a key piece for the Falcons

The Falcons finally got Michael Penix Jr. back in Week 3, and the third-year quarterback proved to be the spark this offense needed to get rolling. Penix completed 18 of 25 pass attempts for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his 2026 debut against the Green Bay Packers.

Atlanta’s improved passing attack opened things up even more for Bijan Robinson. The Falcons’ star running back racked up over 200 scrimmage yards in Week 3, while wide receiver Drake London had a breakout 194-yard performance in Penix’s return. Health-wise, Atlanta is in fairly good shape entering Week 4.

A special matchup for the Saints

The Saints appreciate their great health status and will leave everything on the field in a very special game. The game will commemorate the historic “Domecoming” anniversary, the New Orleans Saints’ first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, on Monday Night Football on Sept. 25, 2006.

The New Orleans Saints are wearing a commemorative patch celebrating the Black-and-Gold team’s 60th anniversary season and the 20th NFL season of their return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

Key takeaways

• Michael Penix Jr. is QB1 for Atlanta, backed by Tua Tagovailoa and Cooper Rush.
• Tyler Shough leads New Orleans as QB1, backed by Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson.
• A 20th anniversary patch celebrates New Orleans’ Superdome return on Monday Night Football.

Tua Tagovailoa is not starting because Michael Penix Jr. has returned from injury to take the starting quarterback job for the Atlanta Falcons. Hence, Tua is now relegated to a backup role. The starting and backup QBs for tonight’s Saints vs Falcons matchup are set.

Tagovailoa was, at one point, scheduled to be the starter for Week 1. However, the former Miami Dolphins QB suffered a back injury. Now, he has been relegated to being a backup for another leftie signal-caller. As for the running backs, both the Saints and Falcons have their depth charts defined for this MNF game.

The first Falcons QB in 2026 was complicated

With Tagovailoa’s back injury and Penix still recovering from a knee injury, the Falcons used veteran Cooper Rush. He was just underwhelming throughout the first two weeks, even getting benched in Week 2 for 4th-stringer Jack Strand, who got intercepted immediately after entering the game.

Rush completed just 22 of 39 passes for 56.4% completion, 229 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Hence, the Falcons were grateful to see Penix coming back. Now, Tua is back, but he is QB2.

Penix shined in his 2026 debut

In his first game, Penix delivered on primetime against the Green Bay Packers. Penix completed 18/25 passes for a 72% completion. With that, Penix racked up 256 yards, and one touchdown. Penix threw an interception in his first drive, but he overcame the obstacles and delivered a very good perfomance.

His final tally saw him get a 101.4 passer rating. Now, Penix should be more settled and the offense should look even better. However, with Penix under center, wideout Drake London looked phenomenal with 194 yards, while running back Bijan Robinson had the same yards rushing.

Key takeaways

• Tua Tagovailoa is serving as the backup quarterback after Michael Penix Jr. returned from injury.
• Cooper Rush threw four interceptions and 229 yards across the first two weeks.
• Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards in his season debut.

Tyson is out with a hamstring injury for the game against the Falcons, and the update from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday was not a positive one. He is still “weeks away” from his return, Schefter wrote.

“(Tyson) is said to be making progress and feeling good but is still considered to be weeks away from returning to action,” Schefter shared via league sources. The loss is tough for New Orleans, as the rookie was expected to be a key part of the offense.

Saints taking no risks with Tyson

New Orleans is clearly prioritizing their player’s health to ensure he does not suffer a setback from an early return before he reaches 100%, a point Schefter also highlighted.

“The Saints have been intentionally deliberate with Tyson, who they feel is a key component to their future,” Schefter writes. “There will be medical checkpoints for Tyson to clear soon, and the Saints are pleased with the progress he has made in his recovery, sources said.”

What happened to Tyson?

Tyson hurt his right hamstring during joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 13. He did miss three games last season at ASU with a hamstring problem, but Saints coach Kellen Moore has said these are different issues.

The earliest that Tyson might return to the NFL, according to Schefter, is Week 7. He is eligible to return in Week 5, but it sounds like that will not be happening because the team is prioritizing a full recovery.

Key takeaways

• A hamstring injury keeps Jordyn Tyson sidelined, with reports stating he remains weeks away.
• Aug. 13 marked the joint practice where the right hamstring injury originally occurred.
• Week 7 represents the earliest potential return target for the rookie wide receiver.

Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. is missing today’s game because he is serving an eight-game NFL suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Pearce is eligible for reinstatement on November 2, 2026, and can return to the field in Week 9 when the Falcons face the Cincinnati Bengals, meaning he still has five games left to miss.

What did James Pearce do?

According to the investigation, he was arrested in February 2026 in Florida following a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, leading the NFL to take disciplinary action against the player.

He faced felony charges including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing/eluding police, resisting an officer with violence, and misdemeanor stalking.

He entered a six-month pretrial intervention/diversion program to have the charges dismissed if he meets the program’s conditions. As for the league’s disciplinary action, the NFL handed down an eight-game regular-season suspension without pay starting August 30, 2026.

Stepping up in place of James, edge rushers like Cameron Thomas and Azeez Ojulari have taken on larger roles as backups and rotational starters in his absence. Nevertheless, his absence remains a significant loss for the defense.

Key takeaways

• An eight-game suspension is being served by James Pearce Jr. for policy violations.
• November 2, 2026 marks his eligible reinstatement date before returning in Week 9.
• Cameron Thomas and Azeez Ojulari stepped into larger roles as edge rushers.

The veteran kicker has also put together an impressive résumé since entering the league with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. He has played for several teams, including the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.

Now wearing No. 6 for the Falcons, he continues to add to a career that spans nearly two decades. His experience makes him one of the most intriguing veterans on the roster, while his kicking numbers offer plenty of context for why the team turned to him.

How old is Nick Folk?

Nick Folk is 41 years old. The Atlanta Falcons kicker was born on November 5, 1984, in Sherman Oaks, California, and is entering his 19th NFL season in 2026.

He is one of the oldest active players in the league, but his recent production has allowed him to remain a reliable option at a position where experience can be especially valuable.

He entered the NFL in 2007 after the Dallas Cowboys selected him with the 178th overall pick in the sixth round of the draft. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and has remained in the league for nearly two decades, with one season away from the NFL in 2018.

What is Nick Folk’s longest field goal?

Nick Folk’s longest field goal is 58 yards. He established the career high during the 2025 season with the New York Jets, making the kick in Week 4. It surpassed his previous career best and helped cap one of the most accurate seasons of his career.

Before reaching 58 yards, his career long had been 56 yards, a mark he had reached during his first stint with the Jets. His 58-yarder in 2025 came during a season in which he made 28 of 29 field-goal attempts, finishing with a 96.6% success rate.

He has also shown that his recent success is not simply about long-range kicking. The Falcons noted that he led the NFL in field-goal percentage in each of the three seasons before joining the team, while making at least 95% of his attempts in that span.

How long has Nick Folk been in the NFL?

Nick Folk has been in the NFL since 2007 and enters the 2026 season with 19 years of experience. The Cowboys selected him in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he immediately became their primary kicker as a rookie.

He spent his first three NFL seasons in Dallas before moving to the New York Jets in 2010. He remained with New York through the 2016 season, then had stops with Tampa Bay, New England and Tennessee before eventually returning to the Jets in 2025.

Although he did not play in the NFL in 2018, he returned the following year with the Patriots and continued to build one of the league’s longest active careers. By the time Atlanta signed him in March 2026, he had appeared in 258 regular-season games and scored 1,826 points, according to the Falcons.

Which NFL teams has Nick Folk played for?

Nick Folk has played for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. He has played for the Jets twice, first from 2010 through 2016 and again in 2025.

His NFL career began with the Dallas Cowboys from 2007 to 2009. He then spent seven seasons with the New York Jets from 2010 through 2016, followed by a four-game stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017.

After sitting out the 2018 NFL season, he returned with the New England Patriots from 2019 through 2022. He moved to the Tennessee Titans for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, returning to the Jets in 2025 before signing with Atlanta in 2026.

His career path is:

• Dallas Cowboys: 2007–2009
• New York Jets: 2010–2016
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2017
• New England Patriots: 2019–2022
• Tennessee Titans: 2023–2024
• New York Jets: 2025
• Atlanta Falcons: 2026–present

When did Nick Folk join the Atlanta Falcons?

Nick Folk joined the Atlanta Falcons on March 12, 2026, when the team signed him as a free agent. The move came after his standout 2025 season with the Jets, when he converted 96.6% of his field-goal attempts and set his new career long.

Atlanta had been looking for more stability at kicker after using three different players at the position during the 2025 season. He also reunited with Falcons special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, who had worked with him in Tennessee in 2024.

The signing gave Atlanta one of the NFL’s most experienced kickers at a position where consistency is crucial. He had converted 85% of his career field-goal attempts and 96.9% of his extra-point attempts at the time of the signing, while ranking 16th in NFL history in total points scored.

Pearce Jr. is out for the game against the Packers on Thursday night as he is still serving an NFL-imposed suspension to start off the campaign. Pearce Jr. must serve an eight-game suspension after he violated the league’s personal conduct policy. During the offseason, the former first-round pick out of the University of Tennessee was arrested on domestic violence charges in February.

“Pearce was facing felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting arrest, as well as misdemeanor stalking. But, in May, Pearce entered into a pretrial intervention program,” as reported by ESPN. “If he stays out of legal trouble for one year, passes random drug tests and stays away from [ex-girlfriend and WNBA player] Rickea Jackson, the charges will be dropped.“

When could Pearce Jr. play again?

Although Pearce Jr. was allowed to play in preseason games and attend team activities, his eight-game suspension came into effect on Aug. 30. Pearce Jr. isn’t eligible to be reinstated until after Atlanta’s Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

Nov. 2 is the first day Pearce Jr. may be back with the Falcons, and he could be activated for Week 9 (Nov. 8) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

Falcons’ crowded injury room

To make matters worse for Stefanski and the Falcons in Wisconsin, Pearce Jr. won’t be the only absentee among the team’s pass rushers. Samson Ebukam has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, meaning Jared Ivey will have to fill in on the edge.

The Falcons currently have eight defensive players sidelined with injuries or suspensions: James Pearce Jr., Da’Shawn Hand, Anterio Thompson, Jalon Walker, Samson Ebukam, JD Bertrand, A.J. Terrell Jr., and Robert Longerbeam.

Coming into the game, sophomore cornerback Billy Bowman was questionable with an Achilles injury. However, he’s been declared active, giving Stefanski and Atlanta at least one positive note heading into the primetime standoff in Green Bay.

Key takeaways

• James Pearce Jr. is currently serving an eight-game league suspension for personal conduct.
• The edge rusher led Atlanta last season with 10.5 sacks during his rookie year.
• He becomes eligible for reinstatement starting on Nov. 2 ahead of Week 9.

Jacobs was placed on the list on August 30 after being charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property stemming from a May incident involving his then-girlfriend. The move is an administrative measure while the NFL conducts its own review and is not itself a final disciplinary decision.

Jacobs’ criminal case moved forward earlier this month when he pleaded no contest to the battery and criminal damage charges. He was found guilty of misdemeanor battery and received a $1,000 fine plus costs, while the criminal-damage charge was resolved through a deferred judgment agreement. The NFL’s investigation, however, remains ongoing.

Who is starting running back for Packers vs Falcons?

With Josh Jacobs unavailable, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to receive the largest workload at running back for Green Bay against Atlanta. Lloyd entered the season as one of the players expected to take on a bigger role in Jacobs’ absence, although the Packers have also used a rotation at the position through the first two weeks.

What’s Packers RB depth chart vs Falcons without Josh Jacobs?

Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson are behind Lloyd on the Packers’ running back depth chart and could also see meaningful opportunities Thursday night. Johnson was acquired from the Steelers before the season, giving Green Bay another option while Jacobs remains unavailable.

There is a potential suspension looming over Jacobs once the NFL completes its investigation. Under the league’s personal conduct policy, a domestic-violence suspension can carry a six-game baseline, although the final discipline can vary depending on the circumstances. Time spent on the Commissioner’s Exempt List can count toward a potential suspension, meaning the games Jacobs has already missed could become relevant to his eventual return timeline.

Parsons suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the Packers’ Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos last season. He later revealed that his surgery also included a procedure on his meniscus, adding another element to what has been a lengthy rehabilitation process.

Green Bay has taken a cautious approach with Parsons rather than rushing him back for the start of the season. The Packers placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning he is required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season as he continues working toward a return.

When will Micah Parsons return to play with Packers?

Micah Parsons is expected to miss more than the minimum four games required by his reserve/PUP designation. He has been following a nine-month rehabilitation timeline after his ACL surgery, with the Packers taking a long-term approach to his recovery.

Multiple reports have pointed toward a return sometime in October. Parsons himself has described a mid-October return as realistic, while the Packers have emphasized the importance of completing his rehabilitation before putting him back on the field.

That could be a reasonable target for Parsons, although there is still no firm return date. A potential Week 6 matchup against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, on October 18 has been mentioned as one possible point for his return, but Parsons will ultimately need to progress through his rehabilitation before that decision is made.

Coming off an oblique injury that ruled him out for the first two weeks of the season, Tagovailoa is back healthy. However, he didn’t get Stefanski’s nod, as the head coach is instead trusting Penix Jr. to be the team’s starting quarterback in what’s set to be a tough, primetime showdown on the road against the Packers.

It may come as a surprise to many given Tagovailoa was on top of the depth chart to start the season, but that was because Penix was out dealing with soreness from his knee surgery. Because of his back injury before the start of the regular season, Tagovailoa couldn’t make the most of his opportunity and didn’t play a single snap while Penix was sidelined.

Atlanta always considered Penix Jr. its QB1 and only brought Tagovailoa over from the Miami Dolphins to be a reliable backup option on a veteran-minimum, one-year contract.

Tagovailoa’s contract year in 2026

Make no mistake, there are far worse second-string quarterbacks to have than Tagovailoa, but his injury-prone and inconsistent resume raises question marks about him being a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Once the 2026 NFL season comes to an end, Tagovailoa will become an unrestricted free agent, though he will still make roughly $52.785 million (paid by the Dolphins) this year. That’s a lot of money for a backup quarterback… playing for another franchise.

In more ways than one, it makes sense why Stefanski is choosing Penix Jr. over Tagovailoa for the primetime road game at Lambeau Field. Throughout his entire career, though often exaggerated, Tagovailoa has struggled in such conditions, especially when playing up North and in the elements.

Tagovailoa’s track record against Packers

Against the Packers and at Lambeau, those are two things in particular Tua has struggled with. He’s only played Green Bay twice in his NFL career, registering two losses and completing 53 of 71 passes (74.6%) for 675 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. On paper, those numbers may not look too bad combined, but separately, they were disastrous showings.

Tua played with the Dolphins at Lambeau on Thanksgiving 2024. Miami fell 30-17, and while the final score may not show it, it was an ugly night for Mike McDaniel’s offense.

Tagovailoa and company found themselves down 27-3 in the second half, and it was only late in the game that Tagovailoa connected for two touchdown passes and was able to camouflage what was an awful night in Green Bay. Atlanta has a different team than Miami did, but such outings may still linger in Stefanski’s head when choosing between Penix Jr. and Tagovailoa.

Key takeaways

• Head coach Kevin Stefanski named Michael Penix Jr. as Atlanta’s starting quarterback.
• Tua Tagovailoa missed the first two games of the season with an oblique injury.
• He will earn roughly $52.785 million this year paid by the Miami Dolphins.