The Houston Texans can't celebrate last week's win over the Tennessee Titans for much longer, as a huge road match against the Baltimore Ravens looms in Week 5.
This matchup looked like it was going to be a tall task, but the injury report coming out of Baltimore cast a way better forecast for the Texans. According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) didn't practice for the second straight day, and his status for Week 5 is in doubt. Safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) sat out of Thursday's practice after being limited on Wednesday.
Ravens' Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton Both Miss Practice on Thursday
Jackson suffered his hamstring injury in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and didn't return after stepping out. Hamilton is trending in the wrong direction after being on the field yesterday.
Jackson is clearly one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he's put that on display once again this season. He's leading the NFL in passing touchdowns (10) with 869 passing yards and 166 rushing yards. Hamilton is also one of their best players in the secondary, as he's second on the team in total tackles (31) with two pass breakups and one TFL.
If neither guy plays for the Ravens, that will work in the Texans' favor. This will be the fourth time that QB C.J. Stroud will be facing Baltimore, and he's 0-3 in these outings. The Texans already put themselves in a hole and need to climb out of it. Not having to play against Jackson is a bonus in itself, as the Ravens have Cooper Rush as their backup.
Last week, when Rush had to step in, he went 9-of-13 for 52 yards. While he has started games in his NFL career, he is way less of a threat than Jackson. Meanwhile, the Ravens' secondary has been hit with a ton of injuries, as Nate Wiggins (elbow) and Chidobe Awuzie (ankle) are questionable, and Marlon Humphrey (calf) is doubtful.
Not having Hamilton is just the latest player to join the injury report, and that's bad news for the Ravens. The Texans need every win they can get in 2025 to get back to .500 and fight for a playoff spot, and the Ravens' latest report indicates they could have a golden opportunity to leave Week 5 one step closer to the .500 mark.