Jackson and Hendrickson Are Out — Huntley's Falcons Test Just Got Harder
GOATIFYThe Baltimore Ravens have their answer at quarterback for Sunday night, and it is not the one a 3-1 team wanted. Lamar Jackson will miss the Week 5 trip to Atlanta because of an ankle injury, leaving Tyler “Snoop” Huntley to start against the 2-2 Falcons. Baltimore will also be without edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, while several other starters enter the weekend with uncertain availability. This is no longer a simple case of asking a backup to keep an otherwise healthy contender moving. The coaching staff must manage a different offense, a thinner pass rush and decisions across the offensive line and secondary. Jackson's absence is confirmed; how long it lasts is not. That distinction should shape the way Baltimore approaches both this game and the difficult stretch that follows.
Cover: Lamar Jackson with Baltimore during 2025 preseason, All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 4.0. Archival photograph.
Two Confirmed Absences Turn a 3-1 Start Into a Stress Test
The Ravens announced Friday that Jackson would not play after missing every practice of the week. His left ankle was injured late in the first half of Baltimore's 24-18 victory over Tennessee, and he did not return after halftime. The absence was anticipated as the week progressed, but an official ruling changes the conversation: there is no longer a late-game-day decision to prepare for. Baltimore can build one starting plan around Huntley rather than waiting for a final test of Jackson's mobility.
The loss is substantial because Jackson had been operating at an unusually efficient level. Through four starts, he completed 68 of 96 passes, a 70.8 percent rate, for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. His 10.1 yards per attempt and 14.2 yards per completion were among the most striking figures in his early-season profile. That is not merely the production of a runner who keeps plays alive; it is the work of a passer repeatedly creating large gains. Replacing those gains with shorter completions requires Baltimore to sustain more successful plays on every drive.
The second confirmed absence sits on the other side of the ball. Hendrickson will miss another game with a finger injury after a procedure the previous week. Baltimore added the veteran pass rusher to create problems for opposing quarterbacks, yet the team now faces a prime-time opponent without his normal contribution. Mike Green is expected to start again in his place. The immediate question is whether the remaining rushers can affect the pocket without demanding extra blitzers who might expose coverage behind them.
Head coach Jesse Minter has emphasized that Baltimore's identity does not disappear when one extraordinary player is unavailable. That is the right principle, but it still needs practical execution. The running game, receivers and protection calls must produce reliable early downs, while the defense cannot assume Jackson will rescue a stalled possession with an explosive scramble. A 3-1 record provides room to absorb one difficult night; it does not make the missing production easy to replace.
Archival photograph: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 4.0; not the October 2026 game.
Huntley's Experience Is Real, but His Margin for Error Is Smaller
Huntley is not being asked to learn the building in three days. He has started 11 games for Baltimore, going 5-6, and the Ravens won both games he started during the 2025 season against Chicago and Green Bay. Across his time with Baltimore and Miami, he has appeared in 31 regular-season games and made 16 starts. Those experiences matter because the most difficult part of a backup assignment is often recognizing pressure, getting the offense aligned and understanding which risks are worth taking before the snap.
The Titans game offered a useful but incomplete preview. Huntley completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards after replacing Jackson, helping Baltimore protect its advantage, but the Ravens did not score in the second half. The completion percentage looks reassuring until it is paired with the lack of points. Moving the chains occasionally is not the same as threatening a defense over four quarters. Atlanta will have an entire week of film and preparation for the replacement quarterback, not a sudden midgame adjustment.
The offense should therefore be judged on whether it gives Huntley answers, rather than on whether he can recreate Jackson's best plays. Quick throws, manageable third downs, play-action looks and an organized run game are sensible ways to reduce the number of obvious passing situations. Derrick Henry's presence can force defenders to respect the backfield, but the line still needs to win enough individual blocks to prevent Atlanta from squeezing every first down into a long-yardage problem. An occasional designed quarterback run may remain available; expecting the same improvisational range as Jackson would be a poor basis for the plan.
Huntley has shown he can win with this franchise. He has not shown that Baltimore can simply exchange quarterbacks without changing its approach. That is why the most revealing number on Sunday might not be his total passing yardage. It could be the proportion of drives that reach the red zone without a penalty, sack or negative run forcing the offense behind schedule. A controlled, efficient game would be a success even if it looks very different from the explosive version of Baltimore fans are used to watching.
Archival photograph: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0; not the October 2026 game.
Atlanta's Running Game Raises the Stakes
The Falcons are 2-2 but enter Sunday with consecutive wins. Baltimore must account for running back Bijan Robinson and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. while preparing to play without its usual starting quarterback and one of its top pass rushers.
Robinson creates difficult choices for linebackers and defensive backs. Baltimore needs sound tackling and gap discipline. An aggressive pass rush will help only if it does not expose the defense to easy throws or open running lanes.
Atlanta also has several players listed as questionable, including left tackle Jake Matthews. Their eventual availability will affect the matchup, but questionable does not mean out. The final inactive list will clarify the Falcons' options.
Both teams will be looking for manageable third downs. The Ravens can lean on their running game to keep Tyler Huntley out of predictable passing situations, while Atlanta will try to give Penix similarly favorable opportunities.
Archival photograph: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 4.0; 2025 Falcons action.
Atlanta's own personnel decisions could also affect the game plan on the edge. A returning left tackle would strengthen protection for Penix, while uncertainty at defensive end could influence how the Falcons contain Henry and Huntley. The coaching staffs have to prepare for both versions rather than assuming the final injury report settles the lineup. For Baltimore, the challenge is to maintain a balanced approach even if the opening possessions are difficult. One unsuccessful series should not trigger an immediate abandonment of the run or a series of low-percentage deep throws.
Flowers, Humphrey and the Offensive Line Make the Next Decisions Critical
The Ravens' remaining availability questions could determine how comfortably Tyler Huntley operates. Wide receiver Zay Flowers is questionable with a foot issue after a week without a full practice. Baltimore must prepare for the possibility that its leading receiving options change on Sunday. Short, well-timed passes work best when receivers and quarterback share clear expectations.
New center Cam Jurgens is not expected to debut until next week. Guard Andrew Vorhees is questionable, leaving questions about continuity in front of Huntley. The line's communication matters when the opponent changes its pressure looks.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned to limited work Friday but remained questionable. Chidobe Awuzie could step in if necessary. The secondary must remain organized while the pass rush operates without Trey Hendrickson.
Baltimore visits Cleveland on October 18 and hosts Cincinnati on October 25. There is no confirmed return date for Lamar Jackson. Sunday is an immediate challenge, but the staff also has to consider the next two games. A stable plan for Huntley offers the team a way to compete without relying on an uncertain recovery timetable.
Archival photo: Polly Irungu / MDGovpics, CC BY 4.0, Baltimore stadium in 2025.
There is also a practical difference between an official injury designation and a prediction about a player's workload. Flowers and Humphrey may be active yet limited, and the coaching staff will have to make adjustments during the game. The final lineup should determine which plays are emphasized, not a plan written days earlier. For Huntley, that means knowing his first and second options on each pass concept. For the defense, it means communicating clearly about coverage and pressure assignments before Atlanta can take advantage of a mismatch.
Sunday's question is not whether Tyler Huntley can become Lamar Jackson for one night. It is whether Baltimore can build a coherent version of its offense around a capable backup while covering the defensive loss of Trey Hendrickson and managing several questionable starters. The Falcons have enough momentum and enough offensive talent to punish sloppy drives, especially if Robinson is allowed to dictate the rhythm. Baltimore has a winning record, a proven run-game foundation and a quarterback who has delivered victories in relief before. None guarantees the outcome. The clearest path is controlled possessions, disciplined defense and no attempt to rush Jackson back before he is ready.
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