There's no uncertainty as to whether the Ravens need quarterback Lamar Jackson. There's plenty of uncertainty as to when he'll be able to play.
With him, they're 3-1. Without him, they're 1-2. With losses to the Browns and Bengals in the past eight days, the Ravens have started 0-2 in the AFC North for the first time since 2007.
Jackson made it clear on Friday that he's dealing with a high-ankle sprain, suffered in Week 4 against the Titans. He said at the time, as to the possibility of playing on Sunday against Cincinnati, “Right now, I’m heading in the right direction."
One day later, the Ravens downgraded Jackson from questionable to out.
With a Sunday trip to Buffalo coming, followed by a short-week visit from the Jaguars, Jackson's return becomes critical. Absent Jackson, Baltimore's 4-3 record could sink to 4-5 by next Friday.
So the question of the week in Baltimore becomes whether Jackson will play against Josh Allen and the Bills. As mentioned on Sunday's Football Night in America, it's unknown within the building whether he'll be able to return on Sunday — and any effort to predict when he'll be able to play is a guess.
Jackson made it clear during his Friday press conference that it's an issue of pain tolerance, and that the ankle sprain is keeping him from being as mobile as he needs to be. That's no surprise. A high-ankle sprain takes more time to heal than other types of sprains. He explained that he doesn't want to play if doing so would potentially hurt the team.
The challenge this week for the Ravens will be to get the eventual starter ready for the game. If Jackson is listed as a "full" participant on Wednesday, Thursday, and/or Friday, it will mean he has taken 100 percent of his normal first-team reps. Which also will mean that, if he doesn't play, backup Tyler Huntley won't be getting the first-team reps in preparation for Buffalo.
With or without Jackson, the next two games become critical to Baltimore's season. Win both, and they're right on track for reaching their goal. Lose both, and it could be another season without a ticket to the postseason party.
The chances of going 2-0, and not 0-2, will be much greater if Jackson is able to play. It's something that we'll find out as the current week unfolds.