Why Lamar Jackson didn't play vs Houston Texans on Sunday. Latest on Ravens star's injury

Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens' two-time NFL MVP quarterback, did not play in Sunday's Week 5 game against the Houston Texans.

Updated on: Oct 5, 2025, 23:45:42 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens' two-time NFL MVP quarterback, did not play in Sunday's Week 5 game against the Houston Texans due to a hamstring injury sustained during the team's 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. The injury occurred late in the third quarter when Jackson exited after being sacked, and he did not return.

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on from the sideline during the second quarter against the Houston Texans (Getty Images via AFP)

The Ravens officially ruled him out for the Texans game on Friday, after he missed all practice sessions during the week, confirming the severity of the strain.

Coach John Harbaugh described the decision as precautionary, noting Jackson’s determination to play but emphasizing the injury’s impact.

Jackson’s absence marks his first missed game due to injury since the 2022 season’s wild-card loss, a streak of durability that ended with this setback. Cooper Rush started in his place, marking his debut as a Ravens starter, with Tyler Huntley elevated from the practice squad as backup.

The injury’s timeline remains unclear, with reports suggesting a week-to-week status. Some speculate a 2-3 week absence, potentially aligning his return with the Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Rams or post-bye in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. Jackson’s early-season stats, 869 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, one interception, and 166 rushing yards.

“I’ve kind of been here before,” Rush said Friday. "Whenever a franchise QB goes down, it’s always a ‘sky is falling’ feeling everywhere you are. It’s normal, and if you have to go out there on Sunday and do what you have to do, it’s nice knowing you had a whole week to prep for it, so things like that are good.”

The Ravens are without several key players on Sunday, ruling out three All-Pros: linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), and fullback Patrick Ricard (calf). Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) has also been sidelined.

Star safety Kyle Hamilton sat out practice on both Thursday and Friday with a groin issue.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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