NFL legend urges Lamar Jackson to play through pain ahead of playoff clash
NFL legend Michael Vick vented his frustration with injured quarterback Lamar Jackson as the Baltimore Ravens star is set to miss his team’s clash with the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs on Sunday.
Jackson has missed six straight weeks of practice since suffering a PCL sprain. In his absence, the Ravens finished the 2022 regular season with 10-7 record and secured a place in the playoffs via the Wild Card round.
In a tweet, Jackson recently referred to his injury as a ‘Grade 2’ sprain that is a borderline Grade 3 issue. The problem was originally listed as ‘week to week’ by head coach John Harbaugh, and Jackson has missed the last five contests.
The Ravens were reportedly hopeful Jackson would be able to suit up in their opening playoff match but it appears unlikely. Vick - a four-time Pro Bowler in his career - expressed his dismay at the situation and suggested it was possible to play through such an injury.
“It’s the playoffs, you’re three games away [from the Super Bowl],” Vick said. “Put a brace on it. Get it going. Put a brace on it, let’s go… I played a whole season with a sprained MCL.”
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During the same segment on Fox NFL Kickoff, iconic former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton preferred to focus on Jackson’s decision to go public with his injury status. Jackson took to social media to give his side of the saga and Payton suggested his Baltimore teammates are surprised by how slow the process has been.
Payton added: “With a lower body injury, he’s going to be up in the press box. He’s not going to be on the field for me.”
Lamar Jackson's 2022 season was derailed by a PCL injury, ruling him out of the Baltimore Ravens' final five matches of the regular season (Terrance Williams/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Harbaugh hopes to have Jackson back and available if the Ravens advance to the Divisional Round, although that could prove difficult with both Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown set to face the Bengals. The starting quarterback will be revealed close to the start of the game on Sunday night.
Selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2018, Jackson won the 2019 MVP and became the second unanimous winner of the award after Tom Brady thanks to his dominant campaign. Jackson is one of the NFL’s most exciting players and is currently betting on himself amid contract turmoil.
Jackson is hoping to secure the latest long-term contract awarded to a quarterback, but he has already turned one blockbuster offer down and is currently due to be a free agent this offseason with an uncertain future. He reportedly to have turned down an offer worth $274m over six years to keep him in Baltimore through 2027, with $133m fully guaranteed.
Jackson’s Ravens face Joe Burrow and the AFC North-winning Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday night.
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