Lamar Jackson's Ankle is Holding the Ravens' Sunday Plans Hostage

Lamar Jackson's ankle is officially the most important joint in Baltimore right now. Ian Rapoport reported on Good Morning Football that Thursday's practice is the ultimate litmus test for whether the Ravens quarterback suits up this Sunday.

If you are holding a ticket on the Ravens or just have Jackson in your fantasy lineup, you are officially on practice-report watch. A Thursday absence is usually the death knell for a Sunday start in the NFL, while even a limited session keeps the dream alive.

"Ian Rapoport reported on Good Morning Football that Thursday's practice will go a long way in determining Jackson's Sunday status."

The Ravens are coming off a tight 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans last weekend, a game where every offensive snap mattered. Jackson is the entire engine of this offense, and removing him turns a dynamic attack into a very predictable viewing experience.

Trying to run the Baltimore offense without Lamar is like trying to play a video game with a broken controller. You can press all the buttons you want, but the character on screen is just going to run straight into a wall.

The betting markets are essentially frozen in place waiting for this practice report to drop. Oddsmakers know better than to hang a firm number when the difference between Jackson and a backup is worth nearly a touchdown on the spread.

Keep an eye on the local beat reporters tweeting out blurry videos of the stretching line this afternoon. If Jackson is out there jogging, Baltimore can breathe, but if not, it is time to start looking at backup plans.