Alex Smith Makes Bold Ravens Super Bowl Claim Amid Lamar Jackson Injury

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Alex Smith believes the team has championship potential, and he supports sitting star QB Lamar Jackson to safeguard that opportunity. On Oct. 25, the Ravens announced Jackson would miss the Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to an ankle injury, as reported by ESPN's Jamison Hensley. Tyler Huntley will take over as the starting QB for the third straight game.

Smith expressed his support for this decision, emphasizing the importance of getting Jackson back to full health if they aim for a Super Bowl victory. "This is a team that's capable of winning the Super Bowl," he stated. "In order to do that, we gotta get Lamar [Jackson] healthy." Smith argued that Huntley, the capable backup, makes sitting Jackson a sensible choice.

He also admitted that critics would criticize the team if Jackson played through a bad ankle and performed poorly. In the previous matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore faced an extra safety creeping towards the line on every snap, which often targeted Derrick Henry. Smith noted that defenses typically avoid this tactic when facing Jackson in the backfield.

Jackson's performance in four games shows a completion rate of 70.8%, 967 passing yards, 6 touchdowns and 1 interception, along with 144 rushing yards and 1 rushing score on 19 carries. Huntley, who has played in three games, starting two, has a similar mobile profile, with a completion rate of 70.8% for 429 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, as well as 68 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Without Jackson starting, the Ravens stand at 1-1 this season. Jackson is among five players sidelined, joining Elijah Sarratt, Jaylinn Hawkins, Andrew Vorhees and Broderick Washington. The Ravens currently sit at 4-2 in second place in the AFC North, trailing the Browns who share the same record. The Bengals are last in the division at 3-2, and a Cincinnati victory would put them ahead of Baltimore, dropping them to a 4-3 record.