The many implications of Lamar Jackson missing yet another game vs. Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens will have their work cut out against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday with Lamar Jackson sidelined for a third consecutive game. The two-time MVP quarterback won't go head-to-head with Joe Burrow as a sprained ankle keeps him out, with Tyler "Snoop" Huntley taking the reins.

This is a colossal break for the Bengals and that's putting it lightly. They can't guard the middle of the field or tight ends, which is where Lamar loves to attack. They're also yielding five yards per carry versus the run. Not great when you're facing Lamar and Derrick Henry.

To be fair, Huntley is a dynamic runner in his own right. Just not quite the elite player Lamar is when healthy. But my goodness. Lamar being out has much larger ramifications beyond Week 7.

Suddenly Joe Burrow isn't the AFC North's most injury-prone QB

Guess you could make the argument that the disgraceful Deshaun Watson has had his fair share of injuries but I'm talking more about the true elite quarterbacks in Lamar and Joe.

It's interesting. Here we are another week removed from the following stat and the gap between Jackson's missed games and Burrow's over the last five years has grown.

I swear to you. Not a peep out of anyone about Lamar's lack of durability but they're always ready to be all over Joe on it. Granted, a couple of the seasons Lamar had cut short, the Bengals capitalized to win the AFC North on both occasions. Let's not pretend those two things aren't related, much as I love this team.

But that's beside the point. Or rather the plural points I'm trying to make. But for purposes of this subsection, it's straight up dumb to call Burrow injury-prone and not slap Jackson with that exact same label.

The pressure on Lamar couldn't be more intense

Whereas Burrow has a long career ahead of him because so much of ewhat makes him special happens from within the pocket, much of what makes Lamar a true game breaker is what he can do with his legs. Honestly, if he was as good of a passer as Burrow, he could gut it out on a sprained ankle and just accept that he can't run like he normally can.

I mean come on. Burrow had surgery on his turf toe and came back nowhere near 100% last season to play at a very high level. That's where the QBs are just different.

I've long maintained that Jackson's game won't age well because of all the hits he takes as a runner and from within the pocket. It's just not sustainable. We've seen that play out in real time.

Also, Lamar is his own agent and can't seem to work out a long-term extension in Baltimore. Maybe the Ravens are less inclined to negotiate now that he's had yet another injury setback. Right? Weird vibes all around that organization in recent years as Lamar has choked time and again in the playoffs and the very well-respected John Harbaugh was ousted from his post, or left by his own will or whatever.

All that psychological scar tissue from playoff flops is mounting. Jackson is now struggling to stay healthy more so than Joe Burrow. That's a major red flag. He turns 30 in January and hasn't sniffed a Super Bowl. Lamar's top running mate, King Henry, turns 33 just after the new year, too.

Hear that sound? The silence? That's what losing sounds like. Feel like it's gonna be a somber crowd at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday once Burrow and Co. shred that Ravens defense. Rut-roh...

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