Lamar Jackson left Monday night’s game against the Browns shortly after suffering cramps. Jackson, who completed 124 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter before leaving the game, was replaced by Trace McSorley, with the Ravens six points ahead. However, the Ravens quickly fell behind without Jackson when Brown’s quarterback Baker Mayfield put the Browns 6:33 ahead on a five-yard run.
After nearly two full holdings on the bench, Jackson returned to the game two minutes ahead after McSorley left the field with a knee injury. Jackson faced a four-and-four on the Browns 44-yard line and ran to his right before meeting a wide-open Marquise Brown to give the go-ahead. JK Dobbins, who scored a touchdown at the beginning of half, converted Baltimore’s subsequent two-point attempt to put Baltimore 1:51 ahead.
“I didn’t pull a Paul Pierce” said Jackson, which alluded to the former NBA star’s bizarre exit during the 2008 NBA finals. “I had cramps.”
Jackson, who threw 163 yards while running 124 more, made four passes for 38 yards in the last possession of the game. Jackson set up Justin Tucker’s 55-yard field goal two seconds from time when the Ravens left Cleveland with an unlikely 47:42 win.
“I had cramps,” Jackson told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game. “I had to take a few fluids because of the cold and we came back with the win. I tried to come back. I stretched. I saw what was going on. You came back.”
After Jackson was treated during the Ravens’ first possession in the first quarter, he was back on the sideline after the Ravens got the ball back 6:29 to the left, one point behind. Jackson, who didn’t come back into the game until McSorley sustained an injury on the eighth game of the drive, said he would be back in the game regardless of the injury.
“I still came in no matter what,” said Jackson, who returned to the game with a wrap around his upper arm. “It’s win or go home for us. We have to win.”
With the win, the 8-5 Ravens remain firmly anchored in the AFC playoff picture. You are currently in a duel with the 8-5 Dolphins for the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC.
