Lamar Jackson’s ankle injury overshadows Ravens’ 24–18 win over Titans

BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes before leaving with an ankle injury, and the Ravens held off the Tennessee Titans 24–18 on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium despite going scoreless in the second half.

Baltimore improved to 3–1 after Malaki Starks recovered Tennessee’s onside kick with 1:12 remaining. The Titans had just closed a 14-point deficit to six on Cam Ward’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson and a two-point completion to Gunnar Helm. Tyler Huntley then took two kneel-downs to end the game.

Jackson’s status remains unresolved

Jackson completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, but his afternoon ended on a sack by Jermaine Johnson II with 12 seconds left in the first half. Jackson suffered an ankle injury on the play. Loop’s field goal followed, and Huntley replaced Jackson when Baltimore’s offense returned after halftime.

Head coach Jesse Minter said after the game that the Ravens “don’t know enough about it” to provide a further update on Jackson’s ankle. Minter said there were “some talks” about Jackson returning, but he remained out. The team’s initial postgame account did not establish the severity of the injury or a timetable for his return.

Huntley completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards and rushed four times for 16 yards. Baltimore retained possession without a turnover, but its scoring stopped after Jackson’s exit. Four punts and a missed field goal accounted for its second-half possessions before the final kneel-downs. The quarterback change left Baltimore protecting the 17-point lead it had built before the break rather than adding to it.

The Ravens head to Atlanta for Sunday Night Football next weekend with Jackson’s availability unresolved. His first-half production was enough to help secure this win; whether he can lead the offense in the next game remained an open question after Minter’s postgame update.

An early lead and a late escape

Zay Flowers caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Derrick Henry carried 23 times for 73 yards and scored Baltimore’s opening touchdown, while Mark Andrews added five catches for 27 yards and a touchdown.

The Ravens built their lead around early takeaways and a goal-line stop. Trenton Simpson intercepted Ward on Tennessee’s second offensive play and returned the ball 24 yards. Henry finished the ensuing possession with a 5-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-one, putting Baltimore ahead 7–0 with 12:09 left in the first quarter.

Tennessee answered with Tony Pollard’s 3-yard touchdown run at 5:56. Jackson put Baltimore back in front with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Flowers early in the second quarter.

The Titans then reached Baltimore’s 2-yard line, but Nnamdi Madubuike stopped Pollard on fourth-and-goal. The Ravens turned that defensive stand into an eight-play, 98-yard touchdown drive. Jackson’s 3-yard pass to Andrews made it 21–7 with 3:32 left in the half.

Kyle Hamilton forced a Carnell Tate fumble late in the second quarter, and Starks recovered it for Baltimore’s second takeaway. The Ravens converted the possession into Tyler Loop’s 64-yard field goal on the last play before halftime, taking a 24–7 lead. Jackson’s injury occurred on the preceding snap.

Baltimore could not extend that advantage after the break. Its first four second-half possessions ended in punts. A later 11-play drive took 6:20 off the clock but ended when Loop missed a 40-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining.

Joey Slye’s 33-yard field goal in the third quarter gave Tennessee its first points since Pollard’s touchdown. Ward led a late 70-yard touchdown drive after Loop’s miss, including a 33-yard completion to Tate on fourth-and-15. Robinson’s touchdown and Helm’s conversion made the finish close, but Starks’ onside recovery kept Tennessee from another possession.

Ward completed 20 of 31 passes for 222 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tate had nine receptions for 145 yards, and Pollard rushed for 48 yards on 16 carries.

Baltimore outgained Tennessee 384–297 and committed no turnovers, while the Titans lost the ball twice. Both teams converted two of 10 third downs. The Ravens’ 13 penalties for 131 yards helped keep Tennessee in the game; six of the Titans’ 21 first downs came by penalty.

Baltimore finished with 33:08 of possession and enough of its first-half advantage intact to close out the win. Jackson’s injury remains the central issue as the Ravens move into the next week.