Skip to main content

Did Lamar Jackson’s knee injury hold him back Sunday vs. Cincinnati?

By Kevin Brown

Did Lamar Jackson's knee injury hold him back vs. Cincinnati? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Before returning to practice last Friday ahead of the Ravens’ Week 5 matchup with Cincinnati, quarterback Lamar Jackson missed two straight regular season practices for the first time with what was called a “non-serious” knee injury. 

The result: Jackson rushed past the line of scrimmage just twice against the Bengals defense, the least amount of carries in his young career as a starter. The previous low for Jackson’s rush attempts since taking over Week 11 of the 2018 season for an injured Joe Flacco was Week 1 of last season – a 59-10 drubbing of the Dolphins.

Still, Jackson made sure he wasn’t blaming any knocks for an apparent lack of mobility. 

“(My knee) was alright,” Jackson told media postgame. “It didn’t really affect me at all.”

Luckily for the Ravens, a less-mobile Jackson didn’t hold back Baltimore’s relentless defense in their 27-3 win to improve to 4-1. Against more talented and complete teams like the Chiefs, who handily defeated Baltimore in Week 3, the Ravens will need more dynamism that NFL fans have come accustomed to with Jackson’s explosiveness. 

This season, Jackson has reached double digit rush attempts just once in Week 2 against Houston. His most productive rushing game in 2020, though, came against Kansas City when he averaged 9.2 yards per carry. The following week, Jackson exploded for one of the highlights of his season with a career-long 50 yard touchdown against Washington. 

RELATED: Ravens’ offense still striving for better after Sunday’s win over Bengals

Between then and this past Sunday, however, a knee injury may be the reason why Jackson stayed in the pocket. It possibly impacted his passing game as well, sporting the lowest quarterback rating since dropping an egg in the playoffs against the Titans last year. Throwing 19-for-37 for 180 yards, two TDs and an interception still get it done, but it wasn’t at the impressive, dazzling level Jackson showed often during his unanimous MVP campaign in 2019. 

He’ll be aiming to get back on track during practice this week. 

“I wish I could’ve been out there,” said Jackson, who said a non-Covid-19 related illness also played a role in his missed practices. “But this week, it’s going to be totally different because I’m going to be out there every day. So, I’m going to be good.”

“Yes, I expect him to practice the whole week,” coach John Harbaugh told media on Monday. “So, he should be good to go.”

With Jackson ready to return back to practice, it’s not unlikely Jackson opts to remain in the pocket against an otherwise porous Philadelphia secondary. It’s the same secondary that allowed Steelers rookie wideout Chase Claypool to score four touchdowns. With a similarly speedy wide receiver in Marquise “Hollywood” Brown for Jackson, Baltimore’s offense could get back on the right track without such heavy reliance on their No. 1-rated defense in Week 6. 

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Matt Amodio’s ‘Jeopardy’ winning streak ends after 38 consecutive victories

Biden warns another terrorist attack ‘highly likely’ at Kabul Airport; Americans told to stay away

Naomi Osaka ‘refreshed and happy’ as she kicks off her Olympic campaign with dominant victory against Saisai Zheng