Baltimore Ravens fans held their collective breath when Lamar Jackson left Sunday's win over the Denver Broncos with a left knee injury.
After the game, head coach John Harbaugh delivered good news that the injury wasn't season-ending. On Monday, the prognosis appeared to improve, with Harbaugh telling reporters that Jackson is "week-to-week."
"He's been through the MRIs," Harbaugh said. "I would say it's kind of week-to-week. It's gonna be a weekly thing."
He also didn't rule out a Week 14 return against the Pittsburgh Steelers while noting that it's unlikely.
"It's probably less likely for this week, but it's not impossible. And after that, it will become more and more likely."
It was later reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter that Jackson suffered a sprained PCL. Though there is no updated timetable on Jackson's return, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson missed four weeks in the middle of the 2021 season with a similar injury.
While losing Jackson for any time is suboptimal during the stretch run of the season, confirmation that he's not looking at a long-term recovery adds up to a relief in Baltimore.
Jackson appeared to sustain the injury during a first-quarter sack.
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— highlight heaven (@lowdarkhell) December 4, 2022
He left the game after the hit and did not return. He reportedly suffered a knee sprain, while testing on Monday apparently didn't reveal further damage.
Tyler Huntley replaced Jackson at quarterback as the Ravens rallied for a 10-9 win. Huntley projects to start as long as Jackson is sidelined. The Ravens, meanwhile, signed free agent quarterback Brett Hundley to their practice squad Monday.
The Ravens improved to 8-4 and remain tied with the Cincinnati Bengals atop the AFC North despite concerns about their execution in games where they've blown leads. If the postseason started next week, they'd secure the AFC's No. 3 seed as division champions and host a first-round playoff game.
They face a favorable schedule with four straight games against the Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and the Steelers again in Week 17; all of those opponents are projected to miss the playoffs. A potentially critical game against the Bengals awaits in the Week 18 regular-season finale.
The news is good for Jackson, who's playing on the final season of his contract and hoping to secure a lucrative long-term deal in the offseason.