Ravens to start QB Cooper Rush vs. Texans with Lamar Jackson out?

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is questionable for the team’s Week 5 game against the Houston Texans. Jackson is dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him out of last week’s 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

He hasn’t practiced this week (as of Thursday) and now reports indicate he may miss not only this week’s game, but also next week’s contest against the Los Angeles Rams. The Ravens have a bye after that, so the team may want to keep Jackson on the shelf through Week 7.

The Houston Texans we set as 2-point favourites on the NFL odds board before Thursday’s news came out, but this line may shift significantly if/when Baltimore does officially make Jackson out.

In the meantime, backup quarterback Cooper Rush has been prepping like he’ll be taking the snaps for this week at least. The 31-year-old journeyman quarterback came on last week after Jackson’s injury in the third quarter and connected on nine of his 13 pass attempts for 52 yards. This is Rush’s first season with the Ravens. Before that he posted 14 career starts with the Dallas Cowboys.

Through four games in the 2025 season, Jackson has completed 68 of 95 pass attempts for 869 yards with a 10-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His passer rating is 130.5. Jackson has also rushed 21 times for 166 yards, an average of 7.9 yards per carry, with one rushing touchdown.

The Ravens are just 4-10 without Jackson in the lineup since 2018.