The Baltimore Ravens are still in the playoff hunt after Week 17, and Shannon Sharpe has a radical idea about what they should do for their final game.
On Saturday, John Harbaugh’s squad dominated the Green Bay Packers 41-24 on the road to prevent elimination. Then, on Sunday, they got another break when the the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers lost 13-6 at the already-eliminated Cleveland Browns to force a winner-take-all showdown in Week 18.
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And in the aftermath of the Browns’ win, Sharpe suggested that the Ravens keep Lamar Jackson on the sidelines for Tyler Huntley, who had 107 yards and a touchdown to Zay Flowers during the win at Lambeau:
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“Some might see this as a hot take, but IF* I’m the Ravens. I’m going with Huntley as my starter. King Henry getting at least 30 carries more IF* needed.”
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In a related development, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport gave this major update on Jackson’s condition ahead of Week 18 on NFL Game Day:
“The fact that Lamar Jackson, who’s dealing with a back bruise, could in fact be back next week, gives them a little more hope.”
Ravens extending Lamar Jackson will not be surprising, says insider
As the 2025 season comes to a close, the Ravens organization has had to contend with speculation that Lamar Jackson is disgruntled and wants out of the franchise. Trade rumors have already circulated online linking him to the likes of the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets.
But for ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, another scenario is more plausible: the quarterback extends his contract. Just before Saturday’s game at the Packers, he said:
“Something has to change with his deal and with his future with the team, which causes everybody to re-evaluate a little bit. … There’s been some unpredictability day-to-day as to whether he’s actually going to practice and be available.
“All that comes to a head, but at the end of the day, he is a two-time MVP, wildly productive. It certainly would be no surprise if Baltimore tries to negotiate further and keep him long term.”
Jackson’s current contract is itself a product of protracted negotiations. Having been franchise-tagged to start the 2023 offseason, he threatened a trade out of the Ravens unless they met his demands.
The stalemate ended just before the Draft, when he agreed to a then-record five-year, $260-million extension, including a $72.5-million signing bonus that was also the largest in NFL history at the time.
Edited by Andre Castillo
