The Baltimore Ravens are waiting for more clarity regarding Lamar Jackson's ankle injury, butthe early news appears encouraging, for the most part. Head coach Jesse Minter told reporters Monday thathe doesn't believe the injury will be a long-term issue, but here's something else worth noting. He also said Jackson's availability for Sunday's primetime matchup against the Atlanta Falcons
remains uncertain.That could be gamesmanship. Most would take the OVER on Jackson sitting out. Fortunately for Baltimore, their QB1 offered another outstanding performance before leaving Sunday's victory over the Tennessee Titans.
He completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns while helping build a lead that ultimately proved large enough to survive
without him. Whether Jackson returns in Week 5 or shortly after his first month, it reinforced why he remains one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.
With that in mind, here's how the AFC North quarterback hierarchy looks entering Week 5 (and a bit of detail on Ravens backup QB Tyler Huntley).
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Before suffering his ankle injury, Jackson was carving up Tennessee's defense. In addition to completing 75 percent of his passes, he added another 20 rushing yards. The opponent deserves consideration, but so does the efficiency. Despite their record, the Titans have played well on defense.
Jackson looked completely in control of Baltimore's offense and continues to create explosive plays both through the air and on the ground. The Ravens will go only as far as Jackson can take them this season, but through four weeks, he has looked every bit like the quarterback capable of carrying championship expectations.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow shouldered an enormous workload in Week 4. With injuries affecting his supporting cast and Cincinnati generating little production on the ground, Burrow attempted 54 passes and threw for 428 yards. The Bengals ultimately fell short, but Burrow largely kept them competitive.
The two interceptions prevent him from challenging Jackson for the top spot this week, but Burrow remains one of the division's most dangerous quarterbacks. According to Cincinnati.com, Burrow is now 1-35 in his NFL career when trailing at any point in the final eight minutes of a game.
3. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson has quietly engineered one of the AFC North's more surprising storylines. The Cleveland Browns sit at 3-1, Watson owns a 6-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and he has posted a 101.2 passer rating through four games.
He's not quite performing at the MVP-caliber level he once reached with the Houston Texans, but that won't be true if this level of excellence continues. This is unquestionably the best quarterback play Cleveland has received in quite some time, and perhaps most encouraging for Browns fans is that there still appears to be room for improvement.
4. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers produced solid numbers in Week 4. His 299 yards passing and three TDs exceed Watson's numbers, but Watson threw fewer interceptions, averaged more yards per completion (8.1 vs. 7.5), and finished with a higher passer rating (94.0 vs. 83.2).
Most importantly, Deshaun Watson won the game, which gives his Browns a better record than the Steelers and an early head-to-head tie-breaker. Don't put Rodgers out to pasture, though. The veteran quarterback has looked significantly better over the past two weeks than he did at the start of the season.
Still, the overall body of work places him behind the three quarterbacks above him. The head-to-head loss vs. Watson doesn't help him either. Rodgers continues to make impressive throws and can still elevate an offense. Still, questions remain about whether Pittsburgh has enough around him to compete consistently in one of football's toughest divisions
Worth mentioning: Tyler Huntley could see his first start of the season
If Jackson can't play Sunday night, Baltimore could do far worse than turn to Tyler Huntley. He completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards in relief against Tennessee and helped the Ravens avoid mistakes while protecting a lead.
More importantly, he is no stranger to stepping into difficult situations. Huntley has started games, won games, and earned his teammates' trust throughout his time in Baltimore. No quarterback replaces Lamar Jackson. That's simply reality. Still, if Huntley is called upon in Week 5, the Ravens have a backup who can keep them competitive while Jackson works his way back to full strength.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Where Lamar Jackson ranks among AFC North QBs entering Week 5
