The Baltimore Ravens are staring down a rough October. There’s no Hollywood guarantee for a 1-4 team searching for its spark. With January a long way away, and their star quarterback Lamar Jackson’s health uncertain, Baltimore’s narrative clings to a precipice. And the veteran voices of Baltimore don’t see any hope as of now.

It wasn’t supposed to look like this. The Ravens entered the season expecting to fight for playoff control, not survival. But with just one win so far and a shaky defense, the team looks more lost than locked in. And as longtime Ravens PA announcer Bruce Cunningham sums it up, the only possible direction from here is upwards:

“Stranger things have happened, and we’re sitting here, I’m looking at October 6th. … Season doesn’t end until January. A whole lot of things can happen between now and then, but we’re not seeing any reasons for hope right now. I think things are going to get better, but only because I don’t think they can get worse.”

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For the Ravens, it’s a gut punch loaded with the fatigue the city feels after back-to-back heartbreaks and the tension of seeing a contender edge toward becoming a cautionary tale. The defense has been leaking points. They now rank 31st in the league after Week 5. The numbers? Baltimore’s defense has allowed 408.8 yards and 21 touchdowns already. The offense, meanwhile, has been grinding without Lamar Jackson.

Jackson’s unique dual-threat playmaking made this team tough to beat. But his hamstring trouble has been a heavy blow. When he last played against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, the Ravens rushed for 166 yards. Without Lamar? Week 5 against the Houston Texans saw Baltimore drop to just 44 rushing yards.

Off the field, coaches are juggling lineups, trying to patch holes, but it’s clear the team isn’t built for this kind of grind. History shows the Ravens can rally (like their 2012 comeback), but right now, that feels far away. It all boils down to one question in Baltimore: When will Lamar Jackson be back on the field? But even that doesn’t have a simple answer.

Lamar Jackson’s Week 5 uncertainty

Jackson’s status for the Los Angeles Rams game in Week 6 could change everything. FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer noted there’s an “outside shot” of him playing, adding the team isn’t ready to shut him down just yet. If he sits out, the Ravens get a three-week rest, including the bye week. That could be a better long-term play. But the short-term impact could be a brutal 1-5 record.

The Ravens are set to be back on the practice field on October 8. If Jackson is ruled out again, the task falls to the current starting quarterback, Cooper Rush, and the backup, Tyler Snoop. But that Week 5 44-10 loss still weighs heavily, and without Jackson, oddsmakers will probably continue to view the Ravens as underdogs in a tough division.

The Ravens need their star back to change the season’s direction. But they might also pivot towards preserving his health. Until Lamar Jackson suits up again, Cunningham’s words echo around Baltimore: things can’t get much worse. For now, we wait for the updates from the practice field.