Lamar Jackson’s Status Uncertain for AFC North Showdown.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that quarterback Lamar Jackson’s availability for Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers remains undecided. The matchup will determine the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs. Jackson is recovering from a back contusion suffered on Dec. 21 and did not play in Baltimore’s 41–24 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Harbaugh explained that Jackson is still working through the injury and that more clarity should come later in the week when the team returns to practice. The injury occurred during a Dec. 15 loss to the New England Patriots, when Jackson took a knee to the back. Harbaugh described the injury as painful, noting that Jackson was unable to practice last week. However, the coach expressed cautious optimism, saying Jackson showed improvement as the week progressed. Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, has guided the Ravens to four AFC North titles, including the previous two seasons. This year, however, has been one of the most difficult of his career. In addition to the back injury, Jackson has dealt with hamstring, knee, ankle, and toe issues. In 12 starts, he holds a 6–6 record, averaging 192.6 passing yards per game and ranking 24th among quarterbacks with at least 10 games played. His 340 rushing yards mark a career low.

While Jackson has been sidelined, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley has stepped in effectively, winning both of his starts against playoff teams Chicago and Green Bay. Huntley completed 78.6 percent of his passes for 293 yards, threw two touchdowns without an interception, and rushed for 113 yards in those games. Despite Huntley’s success, Harbaugh emphasized that Jackson will start if he is healthy enough to play.

Sunday’s game marks the first time the Ravens (8–8) and Steelers (9–7) will meet in a season finale with the division title on the line. The winner will host a wild-card playoff game, while the losing team’s season will come to an end.

When asked whether the high-stakes matchup could impact job security for himself or Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, Harbaugh dismissed the idea, calling the pressure of such games a privilege and a sign of competitive success.