The air in Baltimore is getting colder, and honestly, the tension around M&T Bank Stadium is getting pretty thick too. Everyone is asking the same thing. It’s the million-dollar question—or, well, the $250 million question if you’re looking at the contract. Is Lamar Jackson playing Week 8 against the Chicago Bears?
If you’ve been refreshing your Twitter feed or checking injury reports every five minutes, you know the vibes have been... let’s say "complicated." One minute he’s practicing, the next he’s a "DNP." It’s enough to give any fantasy manager or Ravens fan a serious headache.
The Reality of Lamar’s Hamstring
Basically, the situation is a mess. Lamar has been dealing with this right hamstring strain since that Week 4 heartbreaker against the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s already missed two games. We all thought the bye week would be the magic fix. A little rest, some rehab, and the two-time MVP would be back to breaking ankles by Week 8, right?
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Not quite.
The Ravens actually pulled a bit of a fast one on everyone earlier this week. They initially listed Lamar as a "full participant" on Friday, which sent the betting lines into a tailspin. People started hammering the Ravens -6.5 spread. But then, on Saturday afternoon, the team suddenly flipped the script. They downgraded him to "limited" and officially ruled Lamar Jackson out for Week 8.
It turns out he was mostly working with the scout team. Under NFL rules, if a starter is relegated to scout team duties because of an injury, they can't be listed as a full participant. It’s a technicality, but it’s one that has the league office looking closely at Baltimore for some potential "injury report gamesmanship."
Who Steps Up if Number 8 is Out?
Since Lamar is officially sidelined, the keys to the offense are going to Tyler Huntley.
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Remember him? "Snoop" Huntley was just signed back from the practice squad because Cooper Rush has been, frankly, struggling. Rush threw four picks in his recent starts, and Coach John Harbaugh clearly saw enough. Huntley knows this system like the back of his hand. He’s 5-9 as a starter, but he actually beat the Bears back in 2021.
He’s not Lamar. Nobody is. But he can run the RPO (run-pass option) stuff that makes this offense tick. The Ravens are sitting at a dismal 1-5 right now. This isn't just a regular season game; it’s a "save the season" game.
Why the Ravens are Being So Cautious
You’ve gotta wonder why they won't just let him play if he's "close."
- The Schedule: Baltimore plays again in just five days. They have a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9.
- The Risk: Hamstrings are notoriously "twitchy." If he goes out there at 80% and pops it again, his season is over. Period.
- The Investment: You don't risk the franchise player when the playoffs are already looking like a long shot.
What This Means for Your Fantasy Team
If you have Lamar on your roster, you’ve probably been screaming into a pillow. In the four games he actually played this year, he was lighting the world on fire—10 touchdowns and a 130.5 passer rating. He’s the most efficient he's ever been as a passer.
But for Week 8, you need a backup plan. If Huntley is on your waiver wire and you’re desperate, he’s a decent "poor man’s Lamar" because of the rushing floor. Just don't expect 40 points.
Honestly, the bigger worry is for guys like Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. Without Lamar’s ability to freeze linebackers with his legs, the passing windows get a lot smaller.
The Bigger Picture in Baltimore
There’s a lot of drama behind the scenes right now. Veteran players reportedly cleared out the "fun" stuff from the locker room—ping pong tables, pinball machines, all of it. They’re trying to find their grit.
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John Harbaugh is under a microscope. The defense has been ranked in the bottom quarter of the league, and there are even rumors about bringing Dean Pees back out of retirement to fix the scheme. If the Ravens lose to the Bears without Lamar, the "fire everyone" chants are going to get very loud in Maryland.
The team has been average at best without Jackson, going 5-12 in games he’s missed since 2019. That tells you everything you need to know. He is the system.
Actionable Steps for Week 8
If you're tracking this game for betting or fantasy, here is how you should handle the "no Lamar" news:
- Pivot in Fantasy: Swap Lamar for a high-floor streamer like Kirk Cousins or even Huntley if you need the rushing upside.
- Watch the Lines: The spread has already dropped significantly (from -6.5 to around -1.5). If you think Huntley can manage the game, the Ravens at home might still be a value play, but it's risky.
- Monitor the Dolphins Game: Since Lamar was ruled out early for Week 8, keep an eye on his practice status this coming Monday. The short turnaround for Thursday night means he needs to be on the field by Tuesday to have a shot.
- Check Your Defense: If you're playing the Ravens' D, be careful. If the offense can't stay on the field without Lamar, the defense is going to get gassed early.
The Ravens are basically fighting for their lives right now. It’s weird seeing them at the bottom of the AFC North, but that’s the NFL for you. One injury changes everything.