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Lamar Jackson exits game with back injury (0:31)
Lamar Jackson heads to the Ravens locker room early with a back injury. (0:31)
Jamison HensleyDec 21, 2025, 10:15 PM ET
- Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
BALTIMORE -- Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson did not play the second half of Baltimore's 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday night because of a back injury.
Jackson exited with less than two minutes remaining in the first half of a game that was critically important to Baltimore's playoff chances. As he went to the locker room, the two-time MVP winced and then slapped his hands together in frustration.
The Ravens initially said Jackson was questionable to return, but officially ruled him out late in the third quarter.
Tyler Huntley, who had thrown one touchdown and no interceptions in three games this season, took over for Jackson. Huntley finished 9-of-10 passing for 65 yards.
Jackson was injured on a 3-yard run when Patriots safety Craig Woodson's knee landed on the lower left side of Jackson's back. After handing off the ball on the next play, Jackson went to the sideline in pain.
The Ravens have reduced Jackson's number of rushing attempts this season. Jackson was injured on just his second designed run of the game and his 27th of the season, which ranks seventh among quarterbacks.
This has been a challenging season for Jackson, who has dealt with injuries to his hamstring, knee, ankle, toe and now back. He has missed at least one practice for six straight weeks.
The loss dropped the Ravens (7-8) to two games back of the first-place Steelers. Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North with a Ravens loss at Green Bay on Saturday, or by winning at Cleveland on Sunday.
