Lamar Jackson Injury: Insider Highlights NFL Rules After Caleb Williams Loses Three Key Weapons

Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, exited his Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a hamstring injury, making his weekly availability a major topic of discussion among football fans. After the Ravens' Week 7 bye, speculation grew that Jackson would return for Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, especially after he was listed as a full participant in Friday's practice.

However, the Ravens retroactively changed Jackson's status to OUT for the Week 8 game nearly 24 hours later, sparking criticism from fans and analysts who accused the team of foul play. This sudden reversal left many confused and frustrated, particularly those who had placed bets based on the initial report of his health.

According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, the Ravens may not have violated any rules by downgrading Jackson's status. Rapoport explained that Jackson took scout team reps instead of his usual QB1 reps during Friday's practice, meaning he did not fully participate as the starting quarterback. Under league rules, this justified the change from full to limited participation, potentially protecting the Ravens from penalties like losing a draft pick.

Despite this explanation, questions remain about why the Ravens initially listed Jackson as a full participant if they knew he wasn't taking QB1 reps. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears are also dealing with multiple key players being sidelined for Week 8, including Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Braxton Jones, Cole Kmet, and possibly Jaylon Johnson, which could make this one of the least competitive matchups of the 2025 regular season.

Looking ahead, Ravens fans and Jackson can hope for his return in future games, as the team and supporters await updates on his recovery and availability.