NFL: Flacco threatens surgery – takes over Lamar Jackson?

The Baltimore Ravens may have to start their rookie quarterback earlier than planned: Joe Flacco is reportedly on the brink of surgery – Lamar Jackson would be ready for the event.

Ravens-Reporter Jeff Zrebiec from The Athletic reported the news first, NFL-Network-Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed a little later: “Flacco is currently being examined more closely because of a hip injury, depending on how severe the injury is, then the intervention threatens if necessary.

Baltimore’s quarterback apparently suffered the injury early in the match against the Pittsburgh Steelers the week before. Flacco played the game to the end, but now there is a serious danger that he will have to miss out for some time.

The Ravens have their Bye Week this week, before the Cincinnati Bengals will be in the 11th week – an immensely important game for Baltimore in the battle for a playoff ticket. Should Flacco fail, first-round rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson would take the helm; and with his athletic skills as a runner, the offense could get a whole different face.

So far Jackson has only been on the field for a few individual plays to present a few other looks to the Defense and to implement occasional trick plays. Head Coach John Harbaugh had previously indicated that Jackson might soon be allowed on the field for an entire drive to collect more continuous playing practice – if Flacco’s Worst Case occurs, he would have to take over in a flash.