This is officially the Baltimore Ravens’ worst start to a season in a decade. And the nadir of their 1-3 start to the season: The 37-20 loss to the Chiefs. And adding salt to the wounds for John Harbaugh, he saw four of his starters leave the field with injury and not return: middle linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Nate Wiggins (elbow), and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle). But the worst of them all was when QB Lamar Jackson hurt his hamstring.

For Ravens fans, their worst fears regarding Lamar Jackson’s hamstring injury and its potential impact on his future in the game this season have been confirmed, as a preliminary prognosis from independent NFL physician Dr. Deepak Chona of Sports Medicine Analysis, shared via X, suggests.

This suggests a potential absence that could extend up to 2-3 weeks. To recall what happened, one of the most important reasons for the Baltimore Ravens‘ Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was the injury to franchise quarterback and two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Jackson suffered a right hamstring injury midway through the third quarter, exiting the game with the Ravens trailing 30-13. He did not return for the remainder of the 37-20 defeat, instead sitting on the sideline bench and occasionally flexing his injured leg.

 “#Ravens Lamar Jackson – Hamstring. Severity TBD. Avg = 2-3 wks. Bye = Wk 7”

As the game ended, Jackson’s comments were unavailable because the player had left the field, leaving his status for future weeks uncertain. Head Coach John Harbaugh declined to offer an update on the severity, stating Jackson would undergo further evaluation on Monday. And now the QB will not be back on the field for quite some time. Even before he got injured, Lamar Jackson wasn’t having a good day on the gridiron.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense absolutely blitzed him all day long. According to ESPN, Jackson was under intense pressure on a staggering 56% of his dropbacks. That’s the highest pressure rate he’s ever faced in a game! But what made it so bad wasn’t just the pressure; it was the mistakes. Jackson committed two crucial turnovers: an interception and a fumble.

The real turning point came late in the second quarter. Trailing 13-7, the Ravens went for it on a crucial 4th-and-1 in their own territory. With a defender screaming right at him, Jackson threw an incomplete pass, handing the ball over to the Chiefs. Kansas City immediately scored a touchdown, stretching their lead to 20-7, and the Ravens never recovered. 

But, even with a healthy roster, it is difficult to see the Ravens making it to the playoffs this season.

Ravens will struggle even with a healthy Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens are definitely in a tough spot. Their current season recently hit a low point with the brutal 37-20 blowout loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, dropping their record to a dismal 1-3, their worst start since 2015. While injuries are absolutely hammering the team, this single reason isn’t enough for the magnitude of the struggles the Ravens are facing to win. The defense is giving up points at a historic rate, having allowed a staggering 133 points through four games, the most in John Harbaugh’s entire 18-year coaching career.

Yes, their three losses came against legitimate Super Bowl contenders: the Bills, Lions, and Chiefs. But the real problem is that the Ravens aren’t just losing to great teams; they are choking away winnable games as well. They failed to execute and close out crucial moments against both the Bills and the Lions.

If the Ravens want any hope of securing a strong and competitive playoff, they need to stop relying on star power like a healthy Lamar Jackson. They must urgently fix their defensive breakdowns and eliminate the uncharacteristic turnovers that are currently sinking their season