Lamar: Every game is 'do-or-die' for Ravens now
Quarterback Lamar Jackson sees little margin for error if the 2-5 Baltimore Ravens intend to make a playoff push.
"Coach (John Harbaugh) touched on that with us in a team meeting: Each and every game is going to be like a win-or-go home game," Jackson said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "It's do-or-die right now, each and every week."
Jackson has missed three games since sustaining a right hamstring injury against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28. Harbaugh expects him to return to the lineup against the Dolphins on Thursday.
"I feel very confident about it," the coach said Monday.
Jackson said his hamstring "feels great," and the Ravens listed him as a full participant in practice this week. The dual-threat quarterback doesn't expect to be hindered ahead of his possible return.
"That's what practice is for," Jackson said. "I feel like we had a great day today. We'll execute tomorrow. Come Thursday night, we'll just fly."
While sidelined due to injury, Jackson displayed his leadership behind the scenes. The 28-year-old instructed the team's head equipment manager to remove recreational amenities from the locker room.
"I told him to take all the games, pingpong, turn off the TVs - if we could have taken out the TVs, they'd have been out of here, too," he said. "I appreciate Mr. Steve (Bisciotti, team owner) for putting that in for us, but we had to focus. I wouldn't say people don't take the job seriously - don't get me wrong - but I didn't feel like it was time for that. We have a lot of work to do."
Baltimore has posted a 1-2 mark without the two-time MVP this season. Tyler Huntley led the team to a 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears last weekend. The Ravens enter Thursday's prime-time matchup third in the AFC North.
Jackson passed for 869 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception before his injury, earning a 130.5 passer rating.