Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson has long been the driving force behind the Baltimore Ravens, but the team’s 1-3 start this season suggests even he can’t carry them alone.
Jackson suffered a hamstring injury during Baltimore’s 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 and has now been ruled out for Week 5 against the Houston Texans, casting doubt over the Ravens’ playoff hopes. Surprisingly, former NFL MVP Cam Newton sees Jackson’s absence as a potential silver lining, and here’s why.
Why Cam Newton Believes Lamar Jackson’s Week 5 Absence Could Help the Ravens
Jackson is currently the fifth-best quarterback in the league based on PFSN’s QB Impact metric, receiving a B grade through his first few games. He has thrown for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception, while also adding 166 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Despite Baltimore’s struggles, he has managed to keep the offense productive, putting up 111 points through the first three matchups, the most ever for an NFL team with a losing record at that point in the season.
The bigger issues for Baltimore have been turnovers and a struggling defense. Derrick Henry’s fumbles have hurt the team’s momentum, and the Ravens rank dead last against the run, allowing opposing backs to consistently find room to operate. On top of that, the defense is giving up an average of 33.3 points per game, the worst mark in the NFL so far.
With this outlook, many worry that Jackson alone can’t carry the Ravens to the playoffs. Newton shares that concern but sees a silver lining: he believes Jackson’s absence in Week 5 could force other players to step up and take greater responsibility, potentially strengthening the team in the long run.
Cam Newton:
“If they don’t have Lamar Jackson in this particular game coming up, I think that will be a positive. It’s almost like, watching the Baltimore Ravens, they’re waiting on everybody else to make the play. … If Lamar doesn’t play, now it puts the onus on… pic.twitter.com/WZmgZl9O8f
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) October 3, 2025
“If they don’t have Lamar Jackson in this particular game coming up, I think that will be a positive,” he said on First Take. “It’s almost like, watching the Baltimore Ravens, they’re waiting on everybody else to make the play. … If Lamar doesn’t play, now it puts the onus on everybody…Everybody has to hold up their end of the bargain. That type of play is what we’ve been waiting on all year.”
Newton’s point could hold if Jackson only misses one game, but there are growing concerns about a longer absence. NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that Jackson is unlikely to play in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Baltimore Sun notes the team is leaning toward caution.
“Given the nature of the injury, he also could be out for up to 2–3 weeks,” wrote Brian Wacker. That timeline would keep Jackson out until after the bye, potentially delaying his return until Week 8. Unless Cooper Rush and the rest of the Ravens step up in his absence, Baltimore’s playoff hopes could be in serious jeopardy.