Jackson injures hamstring as Ravens fall to 1-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he didn't know the severity of quarterback Lamar Jackson's hamstring injury, which heightens the concern surrounding his club's worst start in a decade.

Jackson left midway through the third quarter of Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after being sacked by defensive end George Karlaftis and did not return. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player sat on the bench for the remainder of the game, occasionally flexing his injured right leg.

"There's nothing that looks like it's season-ending by any stretch for anybody," Harbaugh said after watching five of his starters exit with injuries.

Asked if Jackson could have returned to the game if the score were closer, Harbaugh replied, "I really don't have the answer to that right now."

Jackson was not made available to reporters after the game.

His injury came as Baltimore fell to 1-3, which has happened twice previously in franchise history (2005 and 2015). The Ravens failed to make the playoffs in each of those seasons.

Before he was hurt, Jackson recorded his worst performance of the campaign, struggling against Kansas City's blitzes. After not turning the ball over during the first three outings, Jackson threw an interception and later fumbled when he ran into center Tyler Linderbaum. Jackson was under duress on 56% of his dropbacks, which was the highest pressure rate he has ever faced in a game with at least 10 dropbacks, according to ESPN Research.

Jackson has proved to be durable in recent seasons. He hasn't missed a game since he was sidelined for the final five regular-season games in 2022 with a knee injury. If Jackson can't play Sunday against the visiting Houston Texans, Cooper Rush will make his first start for Baltimore.

"Praying for Lamar," Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. "I don't know how serious it is, but we'll see."

In addition to Jackson, the Ravens watched four other starters leave with injuries and not return: middle linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Nate Wiggins (elbow), and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle).

The Ravens' defense, which is allowing an NFL-worst 33.3 points per game, already was short-handed, having entered Sunday's game without four starters. Baltimore placed defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and defensive end Broderick Washington (ankle) on injured reserve Saturday and made outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) and nose tackle Travis Jones (knee) inactive.

"Obviously, it sucks," Ravens running back Justice Hill said of the mounting injuries. "Hopefully, they return quickly."

Harbaugh said he is "concerned but not overwhelmed" by the 1-3 start.

"The three losses are against probably three of the top teams in the league, for sure," said Harbaugh, whose Ravens also fell to the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions. "That's just the hand we've been dealt, but it doesn't really matter. We've got to win the next game. Then, once you win the next game, then you have a chance to start stacking some wins. That's what we've got to do big-picture-wise."