According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Minter revealed that Jackson is “definitely doing better” with his injury. However, he is still unsure whether Jackson will practice on Wednesday.

The head coach also added: “He’s doing everything he can to get back out there.” Will the Ravens get their star back on the field next weekend?

What injury is Lamar Jackson dealing with?

Jackson suffered a left ankle sprain during the second quarter of Baltimore‘s Week 4 victory over the Tennessee Titans when his ankle twisted awkwardly under a hit. Though he initially tried to tough it out, he was eventually ruled out for the second half and spent the following week in a protective walking boot.

After sitting out practice all week, Jackson was ruled out for the Ravens’ Week 5 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, handing starting duties over to Tyler Huntley. The good news for Baltimore is that the injury isn’t expected to keep him down for long, with reports indicating “some hope” that he can return to action this weekend.

Everything changes with Lamar on the field

When healthy through the first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season, Lamar Jackson was operating at an absolute MVP level and putting on a masterclass in efficiency. Shredding defenses through the air with a blazing 70.8% completion rate and a stellar 119.6 passer rating, Jackson was averaging over 10 yards per pass attempt while giving up just a single interception.

Beyond his pinpoint accuracy downfield, he continued to be a nightmare on the ground, tacking on 144 rushing yards to keep Baltimore’s offense operating at peak output.

Key takeaways

• Jesse Minter stated Lamar Jackson is “definitely doing better” following his injury.
• Lamar Jackson suffered a left ankle sprain in Week 4 against the Titans.
• Lamar Jackson achieved a 70.8% completion rate through the season’s first four weeks.

The Ravens head into this matchup without Lamar Jackson, who will be replaced by Tyler Huntley. Their passing attack, however, appears to be in good shape heading into their trip to Atlanta.

Rashod Bateman is another key contributor to the Ravens’ receiving corps, a unit that has been heavily utilized by the team. Will Baltimore improve to 4-1 by the end of Week 5?

Flowers’ injury concerns

Baltimore‘s explosive wideout has been fighting through a couple of physical bumps early in the season. After re-aggravating a hamstring strain back in Week 1 against Indianapolis that sidelined him for Week 2, Flowers worked his way back onto the field and was playing at full strength.

However, he popped back up on the injury report heading into Week 5 dealing with a foot issue, logging limited practice sessions throughout the week. Despite the questionable tag, he’s expected to grit it out and stay active, giving Baltimore a key weapon even as the offense manages nagging injuries across the board.

Flowers leads Baltimore’s offense

Zay Flowers has been playing like a true WR1 for Baltimore, serving as the focal point of their passing game. Across his first 3 games of the 2026 season, he’s hauled in 18 receptions on 22 targets for 352 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging a massive 19.6 yards per catch.

He’s consistently creating chunk plays—highlighted by a explosive 150-yard, 1-TD performance in the season opener against Indianapolis and a 118-yard outing with a score against Tennessee—while even adding a 20-yard rush to his total.

Commanding over a 30% target share in Baltimore’s offense, Flowers is proving to be Lamar Jackson’s absolute go-to playmaker whenever the Ravens need a big gain downfield.

Key takeaways

• Zay Flowers is expected to play against the Atlanta Falcons despite a questionable tag.
• Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson will miss the matchup and be replaced by Tyler Huntley.
• Zay Flowers has recorded 352 receiving yards and two touchdowns over three games this season.

Jackson was ruled out by head coach Jesse Minter on Friday ahead of a “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the surging Falcons, leaving Tyler Huntley as the team’s starter. After Jackson’s 2025 campaign was derailed by injury, the Ravens are hoping to avoid the same scenario.

Jackson is dealing with an “unconventional” ankle sprain, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. While the Ravens star is not dealing with a high-ankle sprain, according to reports, the injury is significant enough to keep him sidelined for at least one game.

Lamar’s return

Jackson missed the second half of Baltimore’s Week 4 game against the Titans after a Tennessee defender landed on his ankle. He limped back to the sideline before standing and watching the second half of a game the Ravens led comfortably most of the way.

Fortunately, the Ravens did not need him, hanging on to win 24-18 to improve to 3-1. Jackson was 15-for-20 for 222 passing yards and two touchdowns, adding 20 yards on the ground before leaving the game.

However, the Ravens and Jackson received a major update regarding his injury, indicating his return could come sooner than expected. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said that Jackson’s status for Week 6 against the surprising Cleveland Browns is unknown.

Nevertheless, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Lamar Jackson has a “real chance” to return in Week 6 against the Browns. Rapoport also stated Jackson has been “working like crazy” to get back on the field next week.

Key takeaways

• Tyler Huntley was named Baltimore’s starter after Lamar Jackson was ruled out.
• An unconventional ankle sprain keeps Lamar Jackson sidelined for at least one game.
• Week 6 against Cleveland gives Lamar Jackson a real chance to return.

For the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. entered the lineup, and Atlanta transformed into one of the NFL’s best offenses over the last two weeks. The Falcons put up 80 combined points against the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Penix serves as the starting quarterback, with Tua Tagovailoa as the primary backup and Jack Strand as the second backup.

On the Ravens’ side, they face trouble as quarterback Lamar Jackson has been ruled out of Sunday night’s game. The Ravens will start backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, who was 2-0 as a fill-in starter last season, while Joe Fagnano serves as the backup.

Lamar Jackson’s significant absence

Jackson injured his ankle during Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans. He didn’t play in the second half and left M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night wearing a protective boot on his left foot.

With Jackson as their starting quarterback, the Ravens are 79-32 (.712), averaging 28.4 points per game. Without Jackson since the start of the 2019 season, Baltimore is 6-11 (.353), with its average points per game dropping to 17.6.

The biggest drop-off from Jackson to Huntley is explosive plays. In four games this season, Jackson has thrown nine passes of 25 yards or longer, which ranks fifth in the NFL. In Huntley’s two starts last season, he totaled one completion of 25 yards or longer.

What the Falcons must capitalize on

The Falcons hold the advantage with the Ravens playing without Jackson. With Baltimore missing their leader and top offensive weapon, Atlanta should capitalize on its defense with strong defensive line play. However, a crucial performance from Penix will be needed to execute the offense and secure the win.

Key takeaways

• Lamar Jackson was ruled out for the Baltimore Ravens against Atlanta.
• Michael Penix Jr. serves as Atlanta’s QB1, backed by Tua Tagovailoa.
• Tyler Huntley starts at quarterback for Baltimore, with Joe Fagnano as backup.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Lamar Jackson has a “real chance” to return in Week 6 against the Browns. Rapoport also stated Jackson has been “working like crazy” to get back on the field next week.

Initially, the Ravens thought this was going to be a multi-week absence. However, it seems like the 2x MVP might be back sooner rather than later. Still, Jackson is unlikely to suit up in Week 5 vs Falcons.

Lamar Jackson’s stats in 2026 NFL season so far

Jackson has guided the Ravens to a 3-1 record, completing 68/96 passes for a 70.8 completion percentage. Jackson has 967 yards, six touchdowns, just one pick.

The dual-threat QB has also logged 144 yards and one rushing touchdown. Without him, the Ravens suffer huge downgrades on offense. Tyler Huntley is as close as stylistically possible to Lamar Jackson, but the quality clearly dips.

Tyler Huntley record as Ravens QB

Tyler Huntley has a regular-season record of 5–6 as a starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. However, he also managed to get a Pro Bowl selection during that span.

Key takeaways

• Lamar Jackson has a “real chance“ to return in Week 6 from an ankle injury.
• Jackson has completed 68 of 96 passes for 967 yards and six touchdowns.
• Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley holds a 5-6 regular-season starting record with Baltimore.

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.

Jackson’s injury came at a particularly important moment for the Ravens because they entered the second half with a 24-7 advantage. With a 17-point cushion, Baltimore lost its star quarterback for the rest of the game.

Now, the Ravens are scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars over their next five games. That stretch could become a major test for Baltimore, making Jackson’s health even more important.

What’s Lamar Jackson’s injury update?

Lamar Jackson was officially listed as questionable to return after suffering the ankle injury. He did not return to start the second half, with Huntley taking over at quarterback as Baltimore continued to protect its lead.

After the game, head coach Jesse Minter offer an update about Lamar’s situation. “I don’t know enough about it right now, but we’ll have to see where that’s at. Hopefully, it’s in a good spot.” Minter also admitted that there were talks about Jackson coming back to the game, but, ultimately, they decided to keep Huntley.

It’s important to note that Lamar was seen walking along the sideline and supporting his teammates after leaving the game. That does not provide a definitive indication of the severity of an ankle injury, but seeing the quarterback able to move around the sideline was certainly a positive development for Baltimore.

Key takeaways

• Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle injury against the Titans.
• Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley took over while Baltimore held a 24-7 advantage. The Ravens won 24-18.
• Jackson was listed as questionable to return and was seen walking along the sideline. A new update will be announced on Monday.

Before the end of the first half, Jackson attempted to escape from a sack by Jermaine Johnson II but got his left ankle twisted underneath the defensive end’s body. As Baltimore returned for the second half, Jackson was seen on the sidelines while Huntley warmed up.

Although the Ravens didn’t report any new development with Jackson, he didn’t return to the field against the Titans in Week 4. Fortunately for Baltimore, a favorable matchup against the 0-3 Titans helped them survive the evening even with Jackson unable to finish the game.

Ravens QB depth chart

With Jackson missing the rest of the game and Huntley filling in, the Ravens only had one option left on the quarterback depth chart. Skylar Thompson is on Injured Reserve (IR), meaning Joe Fagnano is the team’s third, emergency quarterback for Week 4 against the Titans.

Fagnano can only enter the game if something happens to Huntley and Jackson is downgraded to out for the remainder of the game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Lamar Jackson’s stats before injury

Jackson had gotten off to a hot start against the Titans in Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season. Before being listed as questionable at the half, Jackson had thrown 15 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing twice for a total of 20 yards, as well.

So far this season, and until he left the game against the Titans, Jackson has thrown 68 passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns, and an interception. It remains to be seen the extent of Jackson’s injury, though there is a scenario in which Baltimore played it safe and kept Huntley in the game just to be careful.

Key takeaways

• Ankle injury forced Ravens quarterback to exit the game against the Titans.
• Tyler Huntley came in under center to replace the injured starter.
• Lamar Jackson threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns before exiting the game.

With the Puerto Rican artist bringing more than three decades of pop hits and Sampaio adding his Brazilian funk and electronic sound, the performance quickly became one of the most talked-about parts of the night.

And, as always, social media had its own way of covering the action. From the funniest memes to the most entertaining fan reactions, here are some of the posts that captured the mood surrounding the halftime show in Brazil.

Ricky Martin’s NFL halftime show: Best reactions and memes

Key takeaways

• Ricky Martin headlined the Cowboys vs. Ravens halftime show alongside Brazilian DJ Pedro Sampaio.
• The performance featured over three decades of pop hits combined with Brazilian funk rhythms.
• Social media fan reactions and memes quickly highlighted the historic Maracana event.

The Brazilian DJ revealed that it would feature the largest dance cast he had ever performed with, with international choreographer Parris Goebel overseeing the choreography. That raises a natural question about the scale of the production…

How many people actually participated in the halftime show in Brazil? Well, there are a lot of volunteers and workers involved, including sound technicians, choreographers, dancers, producers and many more.

How many people worked behind the scenes at the NFL halftime show?

The NFL halftime show in Brazil likely involved dozens of people behind the scenes, with an estimated workforce of around 150 to 200 people across dancers, producers, sound technicians, stage crews and other staff.

Pedro Sampaio said he was bringing the largest cast of dancers he had ever performed with. The Brazilian artist was responsible for the musical production, while a big artist directed the choreography.

Beyond the performers on the field, a halftime show of this scale requires multiple teams handling choreography, musical production, audio, staging, lighting, technical operations and event coordination.

Who choreographed the Cowboys vs. Ravens halftime show?

Parris Goebel was the choreographer and creative director behind Pedro Sampaio’s portion of the Cowboys vs. Ravens halftime show, with Ricky Martin also participating in the performance.

She is an internationally recognized choreographer who has worked with major artists including Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Her previous projects include Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter Tour, Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII halftime show and Lady Gaga’s The Mayhem Ball tour.

The collaboration also marked Goebel’s first time directing the choreography for a Brazilian artist, according to Brazilian reports. The DJ said working with her had been a long-standing dream.

Key takeaways

• Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio performed together at the Maracana halftime show.
• An estimated workforce of 150 to 200 people worked behind the scenes.
• Parris Goebel directed the choreography for her first time with a Brazilian artist.

His appearance carried some extra weight after his surprise participation in the Super Bowl LX halftime show of Bad Bunny earlier in 2026. This time, the Puerto Rican superstar returned to an NFL stage as one of the main attractions.

With a performance built around his catalog and Sampaio’s Brazilian sound, the opening moments quickly became one of the key details for fans looking back at the show. So, what was the first song the iconic singer played?

What was Ricky Martin’s first song at the NFL halftime show?

Ricky Martin opened the Cowboys vs. Ravens halftime show with “Pikito Pikito”. The performance brought him back to an NFL stage after his appearance during the Super Bowl LX halftime show earlier in 2026 with Bad Bunny.

This time, his set was part of the league’s first regular-season game in Rio. His opening track immediately established the direction of his set, before the singer moved into the rest of his performance.

With a catalog spanning more than three decades, the artist had several major hits available for a show designed for a massive international audience. This is also why rumors began circulating about him and the Super Bowl LXI.

The combination of his global hits and Sampaio’s Brazilian sound made the Maracana performance one of the central entertainment moments surrounding the Dallas Cowboys-Baltimore Ravens game.

Key takeaways

• Ricky Martin opened the NFL halftime show in Rio with the song “Pikito Pikito”.
• The performance took place during the halftime break at Maracana.
• The show featured a collaborative performance alongside Brazilian DJ Pedro Sampaio.