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Lamar Jackson’s return to action couldn’t come at a more critical moment for the Baltimore Ravens. As the team sits at 2–5 and faces mounting pressure to keep its postseason hopes alive, the two-time MVP made it clear that the margin for error has disappeared. Ahead of Thursday night’s matchup in Miami, Jackson said the Ravens are treating every game from here on out as a playoff contest.
“Coach [John Harbaugh] touched on that with us in a team meeting,” Jackson said after Tuesday’s practice. “Each and every game is going to be like a win-or-go-home game. It’s do-or-die right now, each and every week.”
Jackson Takes Leadership Role Amid Struggles
Even while sidelined for three games with a hamstring injury, Jackson’s influence never waned. After a tough 37–20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, he requested the removal of all non-football distractions from the Ravens’ locker room. Ping-pong tables, basketball hoops, gaming consoles, and even televisions were taken out — a move Jackson said was necessary to reset the team’s mindset.
“I told [head equipment manager] Kenico Hines to take out all the games, ping-pong, turn off the TVs — if we could’ve taken out the TVs, they’d be gone too,” Jackson said. “We have a lot of work to do. I appreciate Mr. Steve [Bisciotti] for putting that in for us, but right now, it’s time to focus.”
The decision initially sparked reports that Harbaugh had ordered the cleanup, but the coach later clarified that it came from team leadership — with Jackson leading the charge. The equipment, Jackson noted, won’t return until offseason workouts resume.
Back from Injury and Ready to Lead
Jackson’s return marks 32 days since his last game action. Before his hamstring injury, he was in MVP form — leading the NFL with a 130.5 passer rating and guiding an offense averaging 32.7 points per game. Now fully recovered, Jackson said he feels “great” and doesn’t anticipate any rust when he takes the field Thursday.
“That’s what practice is for,” he said. “We had a great day today. We’ll execute tomorrow, and come Thursday night, we’ll just fly.”
Jackson acknowledged that managing the injury required patience and discipline. “You don’t want to rush a hamstring injury back and make it worse,” he explained. “You could end your season or even your career that way.”
Ravens Enter ‘Do-or-Die’ Stretch
As Baltimore looks to build momentum after snapping its losing streak against Chicago, Jackson’s leadership and renewed focus have set the tone. The Ravens face a daunting schedule, but their quarterback believes the adversity has unified the locker room.
“This is the first time we’ve started this slow,” Jackson admitted. “We’ve got to treat every game like the playoffs. It’s win or go home.”
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