Ravens hold off Titans 24–18 after Lamar Jackson leaves with ankle injury

Baltimore built a 17-point halftime lead and then had to defend it without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens beat Tennessee 24–18 on Sunday, improving to 3–1 after Jackson left with an ankle injury and the Titans made the finish uncomfortable.

Derrick Henry ran for 73 yards and a touchdown against his former team. Jackson threw for 222 yards and two scores before halftime, while Zay Flowers finished with eight catches for 118 yards. Tyler Huntley completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards in relief, but Baltimore did not score after the break.

The play that created the Ravens' cushion came on defense. With the game still close in the second quarter, Tennessee reached the Baltimore 2-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, Tony Pollard took a direct snap and was stopped for no gain by Nnamdi Madubuike. A potential tying touchdown became a change of possession.

Baltimore then drove 98 yards in eight plays. Jackson connected with Rashod Bateman for 28 yards and Flowers for 52, moving the Ravens from their own goal line into scoring position. Mark Andrews finished the possession with a 3-yard touchdown catch, putting Baltimore ahead 21–7 with 3:32 left in the half.

The Titans had already paid for another mistake. Trenton Simpson intercepted Cam Ward on Tennessee's opening possession, setting up Henry's 5-yard touchdown. Pollard answered with a 3-yard scoring run, but Jackson's 19-yard touchdown pass to Flowers restored Baltimore's lead early in the second quarter.

A late-half Tennessee turnover added to the damage. Kyle Hamilton forced a Carnell Tate fumble and Malaki Starks recovered it, giving Baltimore another possession. Jackson was sacked on the drive's final offensive play and did not return after halftime. Tyler Loop still converted the opportunity with a 64-yard field goal as the second quarter expired, making it 24–7.

Ward and Tate kept Tennessee in the game. Ward finished with 222 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception; Tate caught nine passes for 145 yards. Joey Slye's third-quarter field goal cut the margin to 14, and the Titans' defense kept Baltimore from extending it. Loop missed a 40-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee's final touchdown drive included a 33-yard completion to Tate on fourth-and-15. Ward then found Wan'Dale Robinson for a 3-yard score with 1:12 remaining and completed the two-point conversion to Gunnar Helm. Starks recovered the ensuing onside kick, allowing Huntley to kneel out the game.

Jackson's availability for the next game remains unresolved. The Ravens' updated injury report cited Ian Rapoport's report that Jackson is believed to be day-to-day and Jamison Hensley's report that he left the stadium in a walking boot. Coach Jesse Minter said after the game that the team did not yet know enough about the ankle injury. The day-to-day report does not clear Jackson to play at Atlanta. Baltimore also lost Marlon Humphrey, Andrew Vorhees and Durham Smythe to injuries during the game.

The Titans fell to 0–4 and host Houston next Sunday. Baltimore visits Atlanta for Sunday Night Football, with its next preparation week now including the question of who will be available at quarterback.